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Another year, another Ballon d’Or ceremony. And, once again, the voices within the women’s football community find themselves echoing past frustrations. Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí won the main prize again, but the prestigious event, which should celebrate the pinnacle of football achievement, remains steeped in a troubling history of disrespect towards the women’s game. Instead of progressing, it feels as though the ceremony is trapped in a cycle that undermines…

It won’t come as a surprise to regular readers, but I really don’t care about the Ballon d’Or despite having followed it since I was a kid. Things you achieve on the field of play are just inherently more meaningful to me than baubles others give you. Still, I respect its history and the fact that, as a kid, it introduced me to one Sokol Kushta, who finished 30th in…

England manager Sarina Wiegman has said it is “really disappointing” that the Ballon d’Or ceremony is once again clashing with the women’s international break, meaning nominated players and coaches will not be able to attend the ceremony in Paris on Monday night. England trio Lucy Bronze, Lauren James and Lauren Hemp all made the 30-player shortlist for the Ballon d’Or Feminin while Wiegman has also been nominated for the Coach…

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal became the youngest ever winner of the Kopa Trophy at Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, an award which recognises the best under-21 player in men’s football. Yamal also finished No. 8 in the voting for the men’s Ballon d’Or. The 17-year-old has enjoyed a breakout year for club and country, helping Spain win the European Championship last summer and playing a prominent role in a…

The winter transfer window won’t reopen in Europe for a while yet, but there are plenty of moves in the works and gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!

If the football part of your brain is still wondering, “How do Barcelona do it?” then perhaps you’re thinking about their astonishing 4-0 win against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday (stream a replay on ESPN+, U.S. only) — the second time the Catalans have logged this result at Los Blancos’ HQ in three seasons. Equally, it might be because you’re still stunned at watching Barça’s incessant production…

Nigeria have been awarded a 3-0 victory over Libya, and three vital points, from their scheduled Africa Cup of Nations qualifier earlier this month which they refused to play after being stuck in a remote Libyan airport for half a day before the match. The disciplinary committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Saturday awarded the match to Nigeria 3-0, putting them on the brink of qualifying for…

Atlético Madrid cannot provide a timeline for defender Robin Le Normand’s return from a traumatic brain injury, manager Diego Simeone said on Saturday. “We still don’t have a clear idea about his return. The important thing is that he comes back well. That’s the only thing we care about,” Simeone told reporters on Saturday at a news conference ahead of his side’s visit to Real Betis in LaLiga. The 27-year-old…

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has said he has chosen to “deny” and “ignore” his team’s 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham because the red card shown to Bruno Fernandes during the game was subsequently rescinded. Spurs dominated United at Old Trafford on Sept. 29 as goals from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke served to increase the pressure on Ten Hag following his team’s stuttering start to the…

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou believes promising teenager Mikey Moore is ready to start a Premier League game but vowed not to rush the winger’s development. Moore made only his second senior start for Spurs in Thursday night’s 1-0 Europa League win over AZ Alkmaar. The 17-year-old switched to his favoured left-sided position in the second-half and tormented AZ full-back Seiya Maikuma, prompting James Maddison — Spurs captain for the evening…