PARIS (AP) — Spanish midfielders Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí won the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or award on Monday, Oct. 28, as the world’s best soccer players, while Real Madrid snubbed the star-studded ceremony in Paris in apparent protest. Barcelona's Spanish player Aitana Bonmati, left,...
Lionel Messi may be considered by many as the greatest soccer player of all time, but the Argentina star was omitted from the list of nominations to win this year’s Ballon d’Or award — the sport’s most prized individual honor. The record eight-time winner and holder of the trophy did not...
LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- Lionel Messi has been named Time magazine's "Athlete of the Year" for 2023 after a trailblazing season marked by an eighth Ballon d'Or award and his ground-breaking move to Major League Soccer's Inter Miami. Argentina's Lionel Messi (AFP) Time said the Argentine superstar had...
BANGKOK (AFP) -- Star French striker Kylian Mbappe can win the Ballon d'Or in "any team", Ronaldinho told AFP Sunday, Dec. 3, but the Brazilian would like him to win it with Paris Saint-Germain, "a big club." Brazil's football superstar Ronaldinho (left) and France's Kylian Mbappe (AFP) "A great...
PARIS (AFP) -- UEFA and the Amaury group, owner of L'Equipe and France Football magazine which created the Ballon d'Or, announced on Friday, Nov. 3, they had signed a partnership to co-organize the awards ceremony starting next year. The Paris-based Amaury group will remain the owner of the Ballon...
PARIS (AFP) -- Lionel Messi won the eighth Ballon d'Or of his remarkable career at a glittering ceremony in Paris on Monday, Oct. 30, while Spain's World Cup-winning star Aitana Bonmati took the women's prize. Inter Miami CF's Argentine forward Lionel Messi reacts on stage with his trophy as he...
LONDON (AFP) -- Pep Guardiola says Lionel Messi should have his own category at the Ballon d'Or but admitted the World Cup winner and Manchester City hotshot Erling Haaland would both be deserving winners of the prize. Argentina's football legend Lionel Messi (AFP) Messi, who recently left...
PARIS (AFP) -- Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland are among the leading contenders to win this year's men's Ballon d'Or, while Spain World Cup star Aitana Bonmati leads the nominees announced on Wednesday, Sept. 6, for the women's prize. Inter Miami's Argentine forward Lionel Messi. (AFP) Messi, who...
PARIS (AFP) -- Lionel Messi on Friday, May 5, apologized for going on an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia that led to Argentina's World Cup-winning captain being suspended by his club Paris Saint-Germain. *Paris Saint Germain's (PSG) football club supporters gathered in front of the club's...
Paris Saint-Germain's Argentine forward Lionel Messi reacts after being awarded the the Ballon d'Or award during the 2021 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on November 29, 2021. (AFP) Lionel Messi admitted winning the Copa America with Argentina might...
Robert Lewandowski (AFP) Robert Lewandowski threatens to deny Lionel Messi a record-extending seventh Ballon d'Or title as the prestigious awards ceremony returns Monday after it was cancelled last year because of the pandemic. The Bayern Munich and Poland striker pilfered a Bundesliga record 41...
