Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati wins women’s Ballon d’Or
Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati has won the women’s Ballon d’Or, France Football has announced. The 25-year-old enjoyed a fine year for club and country – winning a league and Champions League double before playing a pivotal role in Spain’s World Cup success, where she also won the Golden Ball. Bonmati beat Chelsea and Australia striker Sam Kerr into second place, with her Spain and Barcelona team-mate Salma Paralluelo coming third. Two of England’s Lionesses who reached the World Cup final made the top 10, with Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps fifth and Rachel Daly of Aston Villa 10th. Manchester City were crowned the men’s team of the season after Pep Guardiola’s side delivered the treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. Meanwhile, City’s Erling Haaland won the Gerd Muller Trophy for the world’s top-scoring striker after hitting a record 56 goals last season. Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez won the Lev Yashin Trophy for goalkeeper of the year after his starring role in his nation’s World Cup win. England international Jude Bellingham was voted the Kopa Award winner for the best under-21 player in the world. The Real Madrid and England midfielder picked up the trophy after the 20-year-old finished 18th for the main award. Bellingham has hit 13 goals in 13 appearances since moving to Madrid in the summer, including a double to lead Real to victory in his first El Clasico against Barcelona on Saturday, but his success was for last season – where he shone for Borussia Dortmund and England. Read More Jude Bellingham wins Kopa Trophy at Ballon d’Or ceremony EIHA to make neck guards mandatory from 2024 following death of Adam Johnson Andy Murray admits he’s not enjoying playing tennis after Paris disappointment
2023-10-31 05:51
Cole Palmer shows he can replace Riyad Mahrez — and become Man City’s missing piece
It was the sort of goal Riyad Mahrez has tended to score for Manchester City, the kind that helped the Algerian strike 39 times in two seasons when he was not even always a first choice. Yet it was not Mahrez: he is gone to Al-Ahli and if a deluxe squad player looked irreplaceable, there came an illustration that City have a potential successor with some similar qualities. But, even though it came in the first game since Mahrez’s departure, perhaps not for this season. Out of the academy, off the bench, Cole Palmer scored City’s first spectacular goal at Wembley since Ilkay Gundogan two months earlier. This time it did not yield silverware: City’s last three competitive games, separated by the summer, have consisted of a trio of finals and they lost the least important, perhaps cruelly for Palmer, who had more reason to pronounce himself “gutted” than most. As Arsenal brought in their £105 million signing, Declan Rice, City brought on the local lad who cost them nothing. As Mahrez used to, he cut in from the right flank and curled in a shot with his left foot. As Mahrez increasingly was, he was a substitute; an impact sub at that. That impact was diminished by Leandro Trossard’s deflected 101st-minute equaliser and a loss in the subsequent shootout. Many a Community Shield can be forgotten; this might not be remembered as Palmer’s day after all. But it was an illustration of ability, it remains to be seen where it will be glimpsed again this season. City have not bought anyone to take over from Mahrez. Yet if there is a vacancy in a squad that, after Raheem Sterling left last year, now looks shorter of wingers, Palmer could still be headed for the exit. He has a queue of suitors and City will consider loaning him out. Brighton are thought to be keen. Burnley were, though they have a stack of wingers. Palmer may not take the path of Phil Foden, the young Mancunian who stayed in Manchester. If his route is into the City side, he may require a long and winding road. “He wanted to play more minutes last season,” Guardiola said. “We have to talk with the club. I don’t know what is going to happen with him to find a solution with him.” Palmer hinted that first-team football elsewhere may be preferable to cameos at the Etihad Stadium. “We’ll have to see what the plan is for next season and hopefully play as many games as possible,” he said. He made the most of a quarter of regulation time at Wembley. It was enough to earn him the player-of-the-match award, albeit before the late drama added a different sheen to proceedings. When he entered proceedings, he seemed the lesser partner in a double act, brought on with Kevin de Bruyne. When they combined, the Belgian’s first assist of the season was rather overshadowed by the finish, curled around Aaron Ramsdale. It was Palmer’s fifth goal for City. A man who scored 52 last season had exited with an expected goals score of 0.00. It was a sign of the lack of service to Erling Haaland. As starting the season by drawing a blank in the Community Shield is now an annual routine, it feels less of a concern than the Norwegian’s underwhelming debut against Liverpool last year. Haaland’s importance is obvious after a campaign that was the most productive of any player’s since Dixie Dean was in his heyday. If there is a reason to argue it is still greater this season it is because City’s two summer departures, Mahrez and Gundogan, had a shared attribute: each could prove prolific, whether from a deeper or wider position. It was most useful in the false-nine years, the interregnum between Sergio Aguero and Haaland. They were the respective top scorers in the two previous seasons. Yet it is a skillset City have yet to import: Mateo Kovacic has come in for Gundogan but rarely finds the net. So far, no winger has joined. Guardiola started with technicians – in Kovacic, Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva – who are infrequent scorers. He began with two who got into double figures last season, Julian Alvarez and Haaland, who got half the way to triple figures. He brought on two more, in Foden and De Bruyne. Subdued at the start, City looked brighter with an injection of impetus from the Belgian and a moment of class from Palmer. It was a reminder that they have often prospered by allying their assurance in possession with moments of individual brilliance, often from De Bruyne or Mahrez. But even as Palmer suggested he may be the heir to the Algerian, it was followed by the feeling that it will not be at City just yet. Read More How much added time? Football’s new guidelines and the impact they will have Arsenal ‘obviously paid way too much’ for Declan Rice, says Roy Keane Can Mikel Arteta become Pep Guardiola’s greatest nemesis – or merely the latest? How much added time? Football’s new guidelines and the impact they will have Keira Walsh: England’s deep-lying playmaker in profile Raphael Varane says players’ opinions ignored over ‘damaging’ new guidelines
2023-08-07 20:17
Millennial Money: The questions you aren’t asking (but should) during open enrollment
Open enrollment is no one’s idea of a good time, but health coverage is a crucial part of your financial health
2023-10-17 20:47
Woodside, unions remain at odds over wages at Australia's largest LNG facility
SYDNEY Woodside Energy said on Wednesday "positive progress" was being made on wage disputes at Australia's largest liquefied
2023-08-16 12:24
Kevin Turen death: 'Euphoria' producer's 10-year-old son navigated their Tesla when his dad suddenly fell ill and died
Kevin Turen known for 'Euphoria' was driving his Tesla when a medical emergency caused his death
2023-11-16 21:56
Analysis-US debt-ceiling deal dooms Biden's revolutionary tax plans
By David Lawder WASHINGTON U.S. President Joe Biden's 2020 campaign promise to make wealthy Americans and corporations pay
2023-06-01 18:26
US couple struggle to bank huge haul of pennies
A couple in Los Angeles attempt to cash in dozens of bags filled with the coins found in a basement.
2023-06-10 08:27
NCAA committee recommends dropping marijuana from banned drug list for athletes
An NCAA medical committee is recommending the removal of marijuana from its banned drug list and suggesting that testing should be limited to performance-enhancing substances
2023-06-17 08:23
Switzerland to become a net importer of cheese this year for the first time
The head of the Switzerland's dairy association says the country will import more cheese than it exports this year for the first time
2023-07-09 00:59
French police thwart €600,000 champagne heist
Thieves steal two truckloads of expensive bubbly but the loot is recovered after a high-speed chase.
2023-11-13 00:54
Mike Williams Suffers Nasty Knee Injury vs. Vikings
Mike Williams' knee injury didn't look good.
2023-09-25 04:16
Why does Andrew Tate feel sorry for transgender community? 'Heartfelt condolences to young people who fall under trap'
Andrew Tate's comments have triggered a wave of backlash and concern for the stigmatization and misunderstanding of transgender individuals
2023-07-13 16:19
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