Former England striker Wayne Rooney has insisted that he holds no ill feelings toward Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast, he insisted that Lionel Messi is a better footballer.
Rooney and Ronaldo were at United together between 2004 and 2009, winning three Premier League titles and a Champions League.
“I absolutely love Messi, love watching him play and that was the only reason because I think Messi had a little bit more in terms of how he played and taking players on and whatever,” Rooney said.
“Ronaldo’s a killer and people think because I’ve said Messi is better than Ronaldo, I don’t like him or speak down on him.”
Rooney played in the United team that lost two Champions League finals against Messi’s Barcelona in 2009 and 2011.
LaLiga president, Javier Tebas, has claimed that Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal was denied the 2025 Ballon d’Or because of his age.
Tebas has however expressed his optimism that Yamal will soon win the award.
Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain finished top in the Ballon d’Or voting this year, with 18-year-old Yamal as runner-up.
Yamal however went home with the Kopa Trophy for best young player, a prize he has now won back-to-back.
“If he had been older than 23, he would have won it, too, I’m sure, but since he was younger, they gave him the other one [Kopa trophy],” Tebas said.
But unlike Tebas, Barcelona President Joan Laporta had admitted that Dembele won the prize because PSG lifted the Champions League trophy.
Chelsea narrowly avoided a Carabao Cup upset on Tuesday night as they came from behind to beat Lincoln City 2-1 in the third round.
Tyrique George delivered a goal and an assist to spare the Blues’ blushes, while goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen endured a torrid evening in Robert Sanchez’s absence.
The Club World Cup holders were rattled for large parts of the tie and looked in danger of being dumped out by League One opposition before turning the game around early in the second half.
Lincoln strike first
Chelsea carried a hangover from their weekend defeat to Manchester United, with Lincoln starting the brighter side.
Lewis Montsma struck the post before Rob Street capitalised on poor defending to fire the visitors ahead in the 42nd minute.
The west Londoners looked flat and disjointed at the break, offering little threat in attack while looking shaky at the back.
George inspires fightback
Things shifted just after the restart when George lashed in a powerful strike from the edge of the area to make it 1-1.
Moments later, Facundo Buonanotte danced through the defence to slot home the winner in the 50th minute.
Despite the quick turnaround, Chelsea never looked entirely comfortable. Jorgensen, deputising in goal, produced an error-strewn performance that kept Lincoln interested until the final whistle.
Nervous progress
Maresca’s side clung on to book their place in the next round, but the display will raise fresh concerns.
While George’s influence was a major positive, Chelsea’s defensive woes and Jorgensen’s struggles leave plenty for the Enzo Maresca to address going forward.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele has hailed Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal after edging him to the 2025 Ballon d’Or on Monday night in Paris.
Dembele, who spearheaded PSG’s historic treble-winning campaign last season, claimed football’s top individual prize ahead of Yamal and Vitinha.
Dembele’s treble-winning campaign
The Frenchman registered 37 goals and 16 assists across all competitions as PSG secured their maiden Champions League title alongside Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.
His heroics left voters with little doubt as he clinched the Golden Ball at the Théâtre du Châtelet.
Barcelona also enjoyed a stellar year under Yamal’s influence, lifting La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.
However, their Champions League semi-final exit tilted the balance in Dembele’s favour.
Classy words for Yamal
In his emotional acceptance speech, Dembele lauded his teenage rival: “Lamine Yamal is an exceptional young man. A wonderful player with great maturity. I believe he will win several Ballon d’Or awards.”
Tribute to family
The PSG star also fought back tears as he thanked those closest to him. “To my mother, I want to thank you. You have always been there for me, mama,” he said.
“To my family, we have experienced so much together. We have been through it all. We will always be together.”
Future battle for football’s biggest prize
Dembele’s prediction for Yamal may not be far-fetched. At just 18, the Spaniard has already carved his name into football’s elite, recording five goal contributions in his first three games of the new campaign before picking up an injury.
Dembele himself has also been nursing a knock but is expected to feature when PSG host Auxerre in Ligue 1 next weekend.
Ousmane Dembélé has officially been crowned the winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or, capping off an extraordinary year in which he inspired Paris Saint-Germain to a historic treble.
The Frenchman beat competition from Barcelona’s teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal and fellow PSG teammate Vitinha to claim football’s most prestigious individual honour at the glittering ceremony in Paris, France.
PSG’s treble hero rewarded
Dembélé’s Ballon d’Or triumph comes after a season where he played a decisive role in PSG’s Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Champions League victories.
His pace, creativity and consistency finally earned him global recognition, securing his place among the game’s elite.
Lamine Yamal makes history
While Dembélé claimed the main prize, 18-year-old Lamine Yamal cemented his own piece of history by winning the 2025 Kopa Trophy as the best young player in the world.
The Barcelona sensation becomes the first ever player to win the award back-to-back, making him one of football’s brightest talents.
Other Major winners on the night
Portuguese striker Viktor Gyökeres was handed the Gerd Müller Trophy after finishing as Europe’s top scorer, while PSG manager Luis Enrique was named Best Men’s Manager, recognised for masterminding the club’s treble success.
Meanwhile, former PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma picked up the Best Goalkeeper Award. The title follows his incredible performance while with the Ligue 1 side.
PSG was also named best team in Europe in 2025, after their strong showing across all competitions.
A Frenchman on top again
Dembélé becomes the first French player since Karim Benzema in 2022 to lift the Golden Ball, marking a remarkable chapter in his career.
From battling injuries earlier in his journey to conquering the world stage, the 28-year-old has now etched his name into football’s history books.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony is just around the corner, with the football world waiting to see who will be crowned the best of the season.
On the men’s side, frontrunners include PSG star Ousmane Dembélé and Barcelona duo Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.
But while many assume the award carries a huge cash prize, the truth is that the Ballon d’Or itself does not come with direct financial compensation.
No cash prize, just the trophy
The winner receives only the Ballon d’Or trophy, organized by France Football and UEFA, which is valued at about $3,500. It is not made of solid gold despite its appearance.
Bonuses and endorsements fill the gap
What the Ballon d’Or lacks in prize money, it makes up for in career impact.
Players who win often trigger lucrative bonuses in their club contracts, while endorsement deals with global brands can run into the tens of millions.
The award also boosts a player’s transfer value and global visibility overnight.
Beyond men’s football
This year’s gala, as is usually the case, will also celebrate women’s football, with Real Madrid and Colombian star Linda Caicedo among the nominees in the young player category.
Additional honours will go to the best coach and best club of the season, ensuring recognition across the sport.
Marcus Rashford was left out of Barcelona’s starting lineup against Getafe on Sunday after arriving late for a pre-match team meeting, according to reports in Spain.
The Manchester United loanee, who had scored twice in the Champions League win over Newcastle days earlier, was instead named on the bench by head coach Hansi Flick.
Rashford was introduced at half-time with Barcelona already two goals up through Ferran Torres, and he later provided the assist for Dani Olmo’s strike that sealed a 3-0 victory at Camp Nou.
Flick enforces strict punctuality rules
Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reported that Rashford was only two minutes late, but Flick’s zero-tolerance policy on punctuality left him with no chance of starting.
The German coach has applied the same measure to other players including Inaki Pena, Jules Kounde and Raphinha in recent months.
Previous disciplinary history
It is not the first time Rashford has been dropped for lateness. Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag benched him in December 2022 for oversleeping, though the England forward came on to score the winner at Wolves.
Positive response from the forward
Despite the setback, Rashford responded well by making an instant impact off the bench.
Meanwhile, Flick downplayed the disciplinary angle after the match, insisting his team selection was based on “rotation.”
Atalanta manager Ivan Juric says the disagreement with Ademola Lookman is over following the Nigerian’s return in the 3-0 Serie A victory against Torino.
Lookman made his first appearance of the season as an 87th-minute substitute, ending weeks of speculation over his future.
Rift settled
Juric confirmed after the match that the matter had been resolved, stressing that Lookman had addressed both him and the squad.
“Lookman? That’s a closed issue. The group is solid. He spoke with me and the team on Monday.
“He has a great winning mentality: now we need to get him back physically fit,” Juric told Tuttosport.
Importance to squad
The coach noted the forward’s mindset and reiterated his value to Atalanta, particularly with tough fixtures ahead, including a meeting with Juventus.
Transfer speculation ends
Lookman was linked with a move away in the summer, but the club stood firm on keeping him.
With his reintegration, Juric says the focus is now on football and restoring the player to peak condition.
Gabriel Martinelli struck a dramatic late equaliser to salvage a point for Arsenal in their 1-1 draw against Manchester City at the Emirates.
The Brazilian forward’s delicate lob in stoppage time cancelled out Erling Haaland’s ninth-minute strike, denying Pep Guardiola’s side a statement away win in the Premier League.
Haaland strikes early
City made the perfect start when Haaland finished a sweeping move he had initiated, slotting past David Raya for his 13th goal of the season.
The Norwegian forward looked back to his devastating best, troubling Arsenal’s backline with his physical presence.
Mikel Arteta’s selection choices left Arsenal sluggish and lacking creativity in the first half, with Viktor Gyokeres ineffective up front and summer signing Mikel Merino caught out in midfield.
Guardiola, meanwhile, named the same starting XI for a third successive match, a first in four years.
Arsenal rally after changes
The introductions of Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze at half-time transformed Arsenal’s performance.
Saka’s delivery and Eze’s sharpness gave the hosts new momentum, with Martin Zubimendi and Eze both testing Gianluigi Donnarumma.
City, however, remained dangerous on the counter. Jeremy Doku set up Haaland for a one-on-one, only for Raya to deny him.
Guardiola then shut down the contest with defensive changes, reverting to a back five as time ticked away.
Martinelli delivers late drama
With City seemingly closing out the game, Arsenal found a breakthrough in stoppage time.
Eze’s lofted ball unlocked the defence, and Martinelli lifted a clever finish over Donnarumma, the first goal the Italian conceded in City colours.
