• FIFPRO announces its shortlist for 2024

FIFA has unveiled the final shortlist of 26 players nominated for inclusion in the 2024 FIFPRO Men’s World XI, celebrating their outstanding performances for their respective clubs.

This exclusive award is determined by the players themselves, making it the only global honor based solely on votes from professional footballers. Manchester City leads with eight representatives in the shortlist, a testament to their exceptional performances across all competitions last season.

The FIFPRO Men’s World XI aims to assemble the best starting XI from the top football talent worldwide over the past year. The nominees come from a pool of over 28,000 professional footballers spanning 70 countries. Each player selects the top three goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards from an initial list of 250 candidates.

The final team consists of the goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards with the highest number of votes. The remaining outfield player with the most votes completes the prestigious XI.

Who are the players on FIFPRO’s final shortlist for 2024?

Goalkeepers:

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on FIFPRO reveals its shortlist for 2024.

The 30 players vying for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, which honors the best male player in the world over the past season, have been announced.

Real Madrid stars Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior are the leading contenders, with either potentially becoming only the fifth different winner in the last 17 years, following two decades of dominance by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Both Bellingham and Vinicius had outstanding seasons, helping Real Madrid secure La Liga and the Champions League titles, with Bellingham scoring 23 goals and Vinicius 24.

However, their hopes for international success fell short, with Bellingham’s England losing in the Euro 2024 final and Vinicius’ Brazil underperforming in the Copa America.

Other top contenders include Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Nico Williams, and Lamine Yamal, all of whom will be aiming for high placements in the final rankings.

Notably, many expected Messi to be nominated after leading Argentina to another Copa America victory, but the 37-year-old did not make the shortlist. Ronaldo was also left out for the second consecutive year, marking the first time in 21 years that neither has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or.

Ballon d’or 2024 nominees

• Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid/England
• Ruben Dias – Man City/Portugal
• Phil Foden – Man City/England
• Federico Valverde – Real Madrid/Uruguay
• Emiliano Martinez – Aston Villa/Argentina
• Erling Haaland – Man City/Norway
• Nico Williams – Athletic Club/Spain
• Granit Xhaka – Bayer Leverkusen/Switzerland
• Artem Dovbyk – Girona/Roma/Ukraine
• Toni Kroos – Real Madrid/Germany
• Vinicius Junior – Real Madrid/Brazil
• Dani Olmo – RB Leipzig/Barcelona/Spain
• Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen/Germany

They're all here!

But… who should win it? #ballondor pic.twitter.com/SrkHBrJtuI

— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 4, 2024

• Martin Odegaard – Arsenal/Norway
• Mats Hummels – Borussia Dortmund/Roma/Germany
• Rodri – Man City/Spain
• Harry Kane – Bayern Munich/England
• Declan Rice- Arsenal/England
• Vitinha – PSG/Portugal
• Cole Palmer – Chelsea/England
• Dani Carvajal – Real Madrid/Spain
• Lamine Yamal – Barcelona/Spain
• Bukayo Saka – Arsenal/England
• Hakan Calhanoglu – Inter/Turkey
• William Saliba – Arsenal/France
• Kylian Mbappe – PSG/Real Madrid/France
• Lautaro Martinez – Inter/Argentina
• Ademola Lookman – Atalanta/Nigeria
• Antonio Rudiger – Real Madrid/Germany
• Alejandro Grimaldo – Bayer Leverkusen/Spain

Here's the full recap of the 2024 Men's Ballon d'Or nominees!#ballondor pic.twitter.com/B9AG4nrc0N

— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 4, 2024

When is the Ballon d’Or 2024 winner announced?

The Ballon d’Or will be presented to the best male player on 28 October at the annual ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on 2024 Ballon d’Or nominees – revealed.

Manchester City players showcased their dominance in the FIFPRO World Men’s Team, which FIFA unveiled at an awards ceremony in London. The team, comprised of the best men’s players from the previous season, was determined by votes from over 28,000 professional footballers.

Six stars from Manchester City, who achieved a remarkable Treble last season, featured prominently in the team. Surprisingly, there was no representation from Manchester United players. Lionel Messi was the sole player outside of Europe to secure a spot in the team, which adheres to a 3-3-4 formation and highlights the best men’s players.

In addition to the player accolades, Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, was named the Best FIFA Men’s Coach. Guardiola guided several of the City stars included in the team to extraordinary success during the previous season.

The recognition solidifies Manchester City’s exceptional achievements and the impact of their players and coach on the world football stage.

2023 FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World XI

Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois.

Defenders: Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ruben Dias.

Midfielders: Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Jude Bellingham.

Forwards: Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior.

🚨 Introducing the 2023 FIFA FIFPRO Men's #World11, voted for exclusively by players.#TheBest | @FIFAWorldCup | @FIFAcom pic.twitter.com/nZjisXo8OQ

— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) January 15, 2024

Speaking on the six players included in the team, Man City director of football Txiki Begiristain said: “To win five trophies in 12 months is incredible and we are delighted to see so many of our players recognised for their incredible contribution.

“The whole squad were outstanding and the club is very proud to have six players named in the Team of the Year.

“Everyone at the club worked incredibly hard and they continue to have a determination to bring even more success.

“It’s a very special group of players and this is a deserved tribute to the hard work and desire that runs throughout the club.”

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on 2023 FIFA FIFPRO World 11 winners revealed.

The shortlist for the world’s most prestigious individual football award has been unveiled in anticipation of the ceremony scheduled for October 30 in Paris. Leading the pack are Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland, two of the standout contenders for this coveted accolade.

Messi’s inclusion is especially significant as he was absent from the shortlist last year. If he secures the men’s Ballon d’Or this year, it would mark his eighth win of the award, with Cristiano Ronaldo closely following with five victories. Additionally, Messi earned the Best FIFA Men’s Player award for the second time in February.

The announcement of the winner is scheduled to take place during a ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30.

Messi’s leadership was instrumental in Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 World Cup in December, a major achievement that had eluded him throughout his remarkable 21-year career until then.

Messi had a mixed year for his club. He struggled at Paris Saint-Germain, but he did help the team win its 11th Ligue 1 title as they were eliminated from the Champions League at the round of 16 stage for the second consecutive season.

He chose to join Inter Miami on a free transfer this summer instead of staying in Paris, and he immediately made a difference by helping them win the Leagues Cup and advance to the U.S. Open Cup final.

Erling Haaland, who was also nominated, could be Messi’s toughest rival for the honour. The Norwegian forward helped Manchester City win the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League by tallying 52 goals in 53 games across all competitions.

In his first season in England, the 23-year-old shattered the Premier League’s single-season goal-scoring record with 36 goals.

The striker also took up a number of individual honours for his outstanding exploits, including PFA Player of the Year, Premier League Player of the Season, and Men’s Player of the Year from the Football Writers’ Association.

As expected, the list of nominees for this year’s award is heavily populated by players from Manchester City and Argentina.

Seven individuals who played pivotal roles in Manchester City’s triumphant treble-winning season, including Erling Haaland, have secured spots on the shortlist. Additionally, four Argentine players, including Lionel Messi, who contributed to their nation’s historic third World Cup victory, have also earned well-deserved nominations.

Full list of men’s Ballon d’Or nominees:
André Onana – Manchester United/Cameroon
Josko Gvardiol – Manchester City/Croatia
Karim Benzema – Al Ittihad
Jamal Musiala – Bayern Munich/Germany
Mohamed Salah – Liverpool/Egypt
Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid/England
Bukayo Saka – Arsenal/England
Randal Kolo Muani – Paris Saint-Germain/France
Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City/Belgium
Bernardo Silva – Manchester City/Portugal
Emiliano Martínez – Aston Villa/Argentina
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Napoli/Georgia
Rúben Dias – Manchester City/Portugal
Nicolo Barella – Inter Milan/Italy
Erling Haaland – Manchester City/Norway
Yassine Bounou – Al Hilal/Morocco
Martin Ødegaard – Arsenal/Norway
Julián Álvarez – Manchester City/Argentina
Ilkay Gündogan – Barcelona/Germany
Vinícius Júnior – Real Madrid/Brazil
Lionel Messi – Inter Miami/Argentina
Rodri – Manchester City/Spain
Lautaro Martínez – Inter Milan/Argentina
Antoine Griezmann – Atletico Madrid/France
Robert Lewandowski – Barcelona/Poland
Kylian Mbappé – Paris Saint-Germain/France
Kim Min-jae – Napoli/South Korea
Victor Osimhen – Napoli/Nigeria
Luka Modric – Real Madrid/Croatia
Harry Kane – Bayern Munich/England

The nominees for the 2023 Men’s Ballon d’Or are here! 🤩🏆

Plenty of Premier League representation! 👊 pic.twitter.com/VplS8vkZGD

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 6, 2023

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Ballon d’Or 2023: All the men’s nominees.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has revealed that key defender John Stones will not participate in Saturday’s derby against Manchester United.

Despite recent victories over Chelsea in the FA Cup and the Premier League, City is still aiming to rebound from one of their worst performances under Guardiola, when they were eliminated by Southampton in the Carabao Cup in midweek.

The defending Premier League champions have been in a rut since the beginning of November, losing points to Brentford and Everton while also losing Ruben Dias at the back, which has caused them to fall behind Arsenal in the developing title fight.

Stones’ departure increases the pressure on an immensely improved Manchester United.

“[Stones] is not ready. I think everyone else is fit,” Guardiola said on Friday.

Stones has been an important player for City this season, starting almost every Premier League game when fit.

RELATED:

• Pep Guardiola gives warning to his players ahead of Manchester United derby showdown.
• Man United boss Erik Ten Hag pressed on Weghorst transfer & Pellistri future
• Pep Guardiola comments on Man City’s shocking EFL Cup loss to Southampton.

His absence now means Guardiola may turn to Aymeric Laporte for the first time in a league game since the World Cup, or even keep Kyle Walker at centre-back.

Guardiola appeared to hint City were not sufficiently prepared to face Southampton, while Ilkay Gundogan questioned the desire and the hunger in the squad following the defeat.

The City boss insists he is not concerned about any lingering hangover from that one.

“Normal preparation for a game,” he said.

“City fans cannot complain what this team is able to do, have done, do and will do. We cannot talk on behalf of the fans, they are brilliant. I know what they think.

“What happened didn’t surprise me, it happened. It happens because we do four Premier League titles in five years. Sometimes this competition shows me in terms of consistency what we have to do. This is our strength in previous seasons.

“After back-to-back [titles] two times, this could happen. We are not ready to go there and be ourselves. Not talking about winning the Carabao Cup or winning games, be ourselves. I was a little concerned it could happen, I don’t know if it will happen again.”

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Manchester City suffer serious injury setback ahead of Manchester derby.

Group H champions Portugal will face Switzerland in the World Cup’s final round of 16 games at Lusail Stadium on Tuesday evening. When they face off, they are both looking to break incredible World Cup records.

A crucial spot in the quarterfinals is at stake as two teams who had quite different results in their final group matches square off in one of only two all-European matches in a diversified last 16.

Portugal had a strong start to their campaign for Qatar 2022, meaning that they only needed one point in the last round of group games to guarantee themselves the top spot and automatic entry into the knockout stages.

Fernando Santos led Portugal to the group stage of a major tournament four times in a row despite losing to South Korea in injury time. With a tense 3-2 victory over Serbia, Murat Yakin, who is managing his first international competition, managed Switzerland’s advancement to second place in Group G behind Brazil.

• Team News:

The last time Portugal played, Fernando Santos took advantage of the opportunity to make six changes to his starting lineup, but the renownedly conservative coach is expected to stick to his guns on Tuesday night.

Only given his first Benfica start in August, 19-year-old defender Antonio Silva was handed his competitive debut against South Korea alongside veteran campaigner Pepe – a man 20 years his senior.

The youngest Portuguese player to feature at the World Cup may make way, though, as Ruben Dias returns to the back four; Diogo Dalot made a big impression on his first World Cup start so could be retained.

RELATED:

• Morocco vs Spain – World Cup match preview
• See The Former Arsenal Player Who Is Richer Than Messi And Ronaldo Combined.
• Gareth Southgate hails ‘phenomenal’ development of England youngsters

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Selecao’s all-time leading scorer, starts up front once more after being one of three players replaced after 65 minutes on Friday. Andre Silva and another Benfica youngster, Goncalo Ramos, are relegated to the bench.

Due to an injury, Nuno Mendes was forced to withdraw from the rest of the competition last week. Danilo is still out with rib fractures, while Otavio is still questionable.

Yann Sommer, who missed Switzerland’s final Group G encounter due to sickness, will be looking to make a comeback to strengthen their defence at Lusail Stadium. If Sommer were still available, he would replace Gregor Kobel of Borussia Dortmund with his 30 shutouts and several clutches save throughout his 76 caps for the Nati.

Murat Yakin’s team has a good chance of remaining largely unchanged because Granit Xhaka and Remo Freuler shield a disciplined defence in midfield, while Breel Embolo starts in front.

While Renato Steffen and Christian Fassnacht all give alternatives on either wing, Ruben Vargas and Xherdan Shaqiri provide support from wide.

• Possible Lineup:

Portugal’s possible starting lineup:
Costa; Dalot, Pepe, Dias, Cancelo; B. Silva, Neves, Carvalho; Fernandes; Felix, Ronaldo

Switzerland’s possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Widmer, Akanji, Schar, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Shaqiri, Sow, Vargas; Embolo

• Score Prediction:

Prediction: Portugal 2-1 Switzerland

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Portugal vs Switzerland: World Cup 2022 match preview..

Manchester City and Portugal defender Ruben Dias has revealed that when he first met Cristiano Ronaldo during Portugal training, he couldn’t help but be impressed.

The 25-year-old is currently shining alongside Ronaldo as the Selecao tries to get past the disappointment of the 2018 tournament. He also acknowledged that nothing could have prepared him for the sensation of playing in his first World Cup.

When Dias was a member of the travelling team in 2018, he had only earned one cap. However, he was unable to come off the bench due to an injury, and Portugal lost to Uruguay in the round of 16 as a result.

As part of a squad rejuvenation, Dias was made a permanent starter for Portugal immediately after that tournament and he heads to Qatar this winter as one of the game’s best centre-backs.

Dias acknowledged that playing on the biggest stage in the international stage is nothing like the experience of merely watching before his debut against Ghana on Thursday.

“It will definitely be a special moment,” he told CNN.

RELATED:

• Check Out The World Cup History Cristiano Ronaldo Sets
• Top six stunners result in the history of the FIFA World Cup
• World Cup 2022: Cristiano Ronaldo set new record as Portugal defeat Ghana in five goal thriller.

“I had the chance of being in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. And I definitely felt a different perspective because it’s one thing to watch it from the outside, you know how big it is, but then to actually live it and be there, it’s just something else.

“As a player, it’s probably the biggest [trophy] you can achieve. It’s unfair to put it into words, to be honest, the feeling you must have after you’ve done it.”

Dias also reflected on his first training session with Cristiano Ronaldo, who he admitted left him impressed with his work ethic.

“The first day I met [Ronaldo], actually trained with him, he had just won the Champions League,” Dias said.

“I still remember that day and we were practising in normal practice. And then you just see why he was where he was. You know, the way he did everything, every single thing, the detail, the dedication.”

He added: “Football for me is everything. It’s life. It’s happiness. It’s dealing with everything from being wonderful to being the worst thing in the world, dealing with all kinds of emotions.

“It’s preparing my future, it’s preparing one day to have a family. It’s becoming a better man myself. Like many other professions as well but for me, football is a big example of life because you have it all in football.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Ruben Dias discloses first impressions of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Following extensive research, here are the top 10 national team players with the highest market value for the 2022 World Cup.

In light of this, we looked up Transfermarkt’s enormous database of estimated player valuations to obtain an idea of which teams are indeed the most expensive at the 2022 World Cup.

The CIES Football Observatory estimates that England’s team is the most valuable at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, estimated at an astounding €1.499 billion, well ahead of the favourites Brazil (€1.455 billion) and the defending champions France (€1.377 billion).

Ahead of kick-off, The Mp3bullet runs down the list of the top 10 most valuable players, by nation:

1. England/Dortmund – Jude Bellingham (Estimated value: €202 million)

Bellingham, a player on the radar of the biggest teams in Europe, has England fans all over the world anticipating great things from him. This season, the 19-year-old has made 22 appearances for Dortmund, scoring nine goals and providing three assists.

2. Brazil/Real Madrid – Vinicius Junior (Estimated value: €201m)

The young Brazilian has had a fantastic start to the season with 15 goal contributions in 21 league games. He assisted Madrid in winning the Champions League and La Liga last year.

RELATED:

• James Maddison reveals the player he studied to help win a place in England’s World Cup squad
• Neymar names his two favourite England players before the World Cup
• Neymar lists 4 other 2022 World Cup favourites alongside Brazil

3. France/PSG – Kylian Mbappe (Estimated value: €185m)

The biggest star in France, who was phenomenal as Les Bleus won the World Cup in Russia, will be aiming to avoid the rumoured winners’ curse in Qatar. This season, he has 24 goal contributions in 20 club games is just ridiculous.

4. Spain/Barcelona – Pedri Gonzalez (Estimated value: €158m)

For many years, one of Barcelona’s most promising young talents has played a major role in Luis Enrique’s side, as Spain attempts to qualify from one of the toughest groups alongside Germany, Japan, and Costa Rica. The player has been one of the most prominent footballers in the world but also one of the best midfielders today.

5. Germany/Bayern – Jamal Musiala (Estimated value: €151m)

Nine titles, including the Champions League, have already been won by Musiala at Bayern Munich at the age of 19. Former Manchester United and Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves called him “one of a kind” and predicted that he will excel for Germany.

6. Uruguay/Real Madrid – Federico Valverde (Estimated value: €123m)

The 24-year-old defender has already played 44 times for Uruguay in international competition, scoring four goals. He is worth €123 million, or 21% of the squad’s total value for the World Cup. In the first 14 games of the 2022–2023 season, he has six goals. He now ranks as the sixth-highest scorer in La Liga thus far. His shot-to-goal conversion rate is 41 per cent.

RELATED:

• The Countries With The Most Bets To Win The FIFA Qatar World Cup
• The Football Clubs with the Most Representatives at the FIFA Qatar World Cup

7. Portugal/Man City – Ruben Dias (Estimated value: €118m)

Every fan of the Premier League is aware of how important Ruben Dias has been to Pep Guardiola’s illustrious Manchester City team over the past several seasons. Dias and City teammate Joao Cancelo will be vital to Portugal’s chances of winning the World Cup because players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix, and Bernardo Silva will be causing havoc at the opposite end of the field.

8. Croatia/Leipzig – Josko Gvardiol (Estimated value: €110m)

You might not be very familiar with the first name on this list. Chelsea and Barcelona were both interested in signing the 20-year-old Croatian defender in 2022, and he might draw additional interest going into the January transfer market if he performs well in Qatar. Croatia should advance from a group that also included Canada, Belgium, and Morocco.

9. Netherlands/Barcelona – Frenkie de Jong (Estimated value: €110m)

Keep an eye on Frenkie de Jong in Qatar if you haven’t grown tired of hearing his name after the will he or won’t he dispute with Manchester United over the summer. He plays an important role in the Netherlands team coached by Louis van Gaal, who is optimistic his team can win the World Cup.

10. Argentina/Inter Milan – Lautaro Martinez (Estimated value: €99m)

Everyone we spoke to appears eager to watch the best team in international football compete for victory this winter, which is well justified. Lautaro Martinez, Angel Di Maria, and Lionel Messi form a terrifying attacking three, and the Inter forward has scored more than one goal for his country every other game – 21 in 40 games.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Top 10 Most Valuable Player For Each 2022 World Cup Nation.

Norwegian professional footballer, Erling Haaland has opened up on players that had reached out to him to make his move to Manchester City over other clubs.

Erling Haaland’s move to Man City, which continues to shock the football world today, has remained a topic of discussion to this day.

The Norwegian forward opened up in a recent interview with players who had reached out to him, offering words of advice and urging him to choose the blue side of Manchester.

This occurred shortly after the 2021 match between Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City.

RELATED:

• Manchester United early team news ahead of their derby match with Manchester City.
• Tottenham suffers an injury setback ahead of the matchup with Arsenal
• Manchester United Reveals Their Player of the Month for September 2022

Haaland revealed that he had received calls and messages from over 15 players mentioning four key stars that had urged him to select City. These players were Phil Foden, John Stones, Ruben Dias, and Kevin de Bruyne.

Haaland revealed:

“It’s the best sporting project in the football world right now… it’s where I think I’ll do the best.

After City-BVB in 2021, almost 15 people said I should come. Stones, Dias, Foden, de Bruyne

Erling Haaland on Man City: “It’s the best sporting project in the football world right now… it’s where I think I’ll do the best”, says on ‘Haaland – the big decision’ 🔵 #MCFC

“After City-BVB in 2021, almost 15 people said I should come. Stones, Dias, Foden, de Bruyne…”. pic.twitter.com/5TqGsjsPAb

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 29, 2022

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Erling Haaland reveals the 4 players who advised him to join Manchester City.