With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly presumably disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players now beginning each campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued by injuries and inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he is among a crowded field of contenders one year on.

If you thought the days of the Ballon d'Or generating headlines were over after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's era of dominance came to an end, then think again. After one of the most closely-fought races for a number of years, Rodri came out on top in 2024, beating Vinicius Jr into second place as Real Madrid dramatically boycotted the ceremony in Paris in protest at their star player missing out.

The annual NXGN lists are back for another year, highlighting 50 of the most incredible talents to have been born after January 1, 2005

For the first time in 10 years, Manchester City are Women’s Super League champions. The crowning moment may not have been what the runaway leaders expected, with Arsenal’s draw at Brighton on Wednesday night confirming their triumph without them even needing to take to the field. But it won’t taste any less sweet for a City side that has endured five second-placed finishes since their last title triumph in 2016.

Paris Saint-Germain are one step away from retaining their Champions League crown after holding Bayern Munich to a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their semi-final to triumph 6-5 on aggregate. After last week's nine-goal thriller at Parc des Princes, neutrals all across the globe were hoping to witness another all-time classic between two teams blessed with fantastic forward lines.

The clock is ticking down to a potentially tenure-defining decision for Thomas Tuchel, who will be putting the final touches to his England squad for the 2026 World Cup. However, there is still time for those on the fringes to make a late push into the manager's thinking as the season enters his final weeks. Some, though, stand a much better chance than others.

Fran Kirby's achievements throughout her career to date make for remarkable reading. Part of the Lionesses side which beat Germany in the European Championship final at Wembley back in 2022, the 32-year-old also lifted 16 major honours during her incredible nine-year stay at Chelsea, with individual accolades galore coming in and amongst all of that. She was there for England's first major title and Chelsea's first major title; now, in Brighton colours, Kirby will hope she can help another ambitious side hit new heights.

Bayern Munich's hopes of reaching the Champions League final were ended on Wednesday as they drew 1-1 with Paris Saint-Germain on the night, leading to them losing their semi-final 6-5 on aggregate. The defending champions scored early and defended doggedly, meaning Harry Kane's late equaliser counted for nothing in the end.