Former France captain Olivier Giroud has explained the key behind Ousmane Dembele’s Ballon d’Or success after admitting he never imagined his former France teammate would one day win the award. The Paris Saint-Germain forward capped off a remarkable season with 35 goals and a Champions League win, becoming the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner on Monday night.
Vitinha expressed his happiness at achieving a third-placed finish in the Ballon d'Or rankings and extended his congratulations to Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Ousmane Dembele, who pipped Barcelona rival Lamine Yamal to lift the prestigious award. Vitinha was one of the best midfielders in the world last season and achieved tremendous success with both club and country.
Mason Greenwood's Marseille have been dealt a massive blow as Roberto De Zerbi was slapped with a ban after his red card against Paris Saint-Germain. The Italian boss saw red deep into stoppage time when his protests over a foul crossed the line. Initially shown a yellow card, De Zerbi’s refusal to let the matter drop and his decision to step onto the pitch pushed the referee to escalate matters. Moments later, the 46-year-old was walking down the tunnel, leaving the Velodrome in a frenzy.
Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi has broken his silence on rape allegations as he insists he is being accused of a lie, describing how the claims have affected his family, tarnished his name, and forced him to change his life. The defender, who has consistently denied the charges, speaks candidly about the emotional toll and the precautions he has taken to protect himself and his loved ones.
Former Ballon d'Or winner Jean-Pierre Papin has offered words of advice to 2025 champion Ousmane Dembele, warning that the period after such recognition would be the most challenging. Papin congratulated the Paris Saint-Germain forward and insists he fully deserved the award, though he urged him to stay true to himself.
Lyon are reportedly considering plotting a bid to sign Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi in an attempt to bolster their forwardline. Les Gones are struggling in attack following the late departure of Georges Mikautadze to Villarreal. Martin Satriano is not exactly someone Lyon are expecting big things from, which has prompted the Ligue 1 outfit to reconsider their options in attack.
Manchester City are reportedly considering a second raid on Paris Saint-Germain for another Champions League winner. The Premier League giants took advantage of a surprising situation in the French capital to lure Italy international goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to the Etihad Stadium during the summer of 2025. It is now being claimed that Warren Zaire-Emery is a “dream target” for Pep Guardiola.
Former Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton hailed ex-boss Jurgen Klopp for believing in him, giving him valuable playing time and opportunities to develop at Anfield. While he struggled for minutes under Arne Slot, Morton says appreciated the Dutchman’s honesty, which ultimately led to his move to Lyon in the summer transfer window.
Multi-club ownership is under threat in France after a member of parliament presented a cross-party bill that could ban timeshare control of football clubs, potentially affecting Chelsea and Manchester City’s stakes in Ligue 1 teams. Coquerel warns the law is aimed at ensuring “sporting risk” and “equality of opportunity” while punishing non-compliance with heavy fines and competition bans.
Monaco coach Adi Hutter believes Paul Pogba is getting closer to full fitness and is progressing well with the training regimen put in place. The Austrian coach reported that Pogba is doing well both physically and mentally, but he will not rush him into the squad merely to bolster numbers, despite the club facing an injury crisis.
Another Frenchman could lift the Ballon d'Or by following the Ousmane Dembele blueprint. Indeed, according to Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus, Michael Olise has the potential to become the first Ballon d'Or winner from Die Roten after 45 years. The 23-year-old has been exceptional since arriving from Crystal Palace in 2024 and is reportedly set to be offered a new deal.
Marseille's historic 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain earlier this week came at a cost, as head coach Roberto De Zerbi was sent off towards the end of the game. His actions have been swiftly punished by France's Disciplinary Committee. Reflecting on the red card shown to him, which has resulted in his ban for the game against Strasbourg, De Zerbi expressed his unhappiness while apologising for his mistakes.
Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi urged Mason Greenwood to match the intensity of Raphinha after showing the Englishman footage of the Barcelona winger to highlight his consistency. The Italian stresses he wants to see Greenwood replicate the Brazilian's level in "every game" as the Ligue 1 side look to challenge Paris Saint-Germain to the title.
Daniel Levy has been defended from criticism from Tottenham fans by his former player Eric Dier following his removal from the chairman position. The Lewis family, who control the club, moved to sack Levy earlier this month, handing the reins to Peter Charrington as non-executive chairman. Insiders hailed the move as the dawn of a 'new era' for Spurs.
Paris Saint-Germain have been hit by injury news as captain Marquinhos is ruled out for several weeks. The Brazilian defender will miss this weekend’s Ligue 1 clash with Auxerre and next week’s Champions League showdown against Barcelona. PSG must rely on backups to steady the defence ahead of a crucial European test.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele was confirmed as the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner earlier this week and final voting figures revealed he finished more than 300 points clear of Barcelona's teenage superstar Lamine Yamal. The Frenchman's stellar campaign, which included a historic quadruple, made him only PSG's second ever recipient of the prestigious prize.
Marseille sporting director Medhi Benatia thinks Roberto de Zerbi has "something of Pep Guardiola" in him and hailed the Italian as a "beautiful and inspiring" coach. The manager has transformed the Ligue 1 outfit with his Midas touch, taking them into this season's Champions League while they currently sit top of the French top-flight after six games.
Liam Rosenior was left "particularly angry" at a referee decision as he claimed that Marseille's Nayef Aguerd should have been sent off for a foul on Emanuel Emegha. Friday night at the Meinau turned into heartbreak for the hosts, who saw their 1-0 lead evaporate in a cruel late collapse in the Ligue 1 encounter against Marseille.
Ousmane Dembele revealed that Lionel Messi's 'direct message' after Ballon d'Or win 'really struck' him as the Frenchman claimed that his former Barcelona colleagues and coach congratulated him. Dembele beat Blaugrana sensation Lamine Yamal to win the Golden Ball earlier this week after starring for PSG in the 2024-25 campaign, where the French giants won the treble.
Liverpool weren't the only European team to lose their 100 percent record this weekend. Over in Italy, Napoli slipped to second in the Serie A table after being beaten 2-1 by a Christian Pulisici-inspired AC Milan at San Siro.
Ousmane Dembele's Ballon d'Or win was a surprise to his former coach Peter Bosz, who has revealed his battles with the star's lack of discipline during his time at Borussia Dortmund. The Paris Saint-Germain forward was described as "disorganised" and "often late," but the Dutch coach feels he has undergone a transformation since joining the French side.
Emmanuel Petit has urged Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to take inspiration from Luis Enrique's attacking approach at Paris Saint-Germain, claiming the Gunners' football has become too cautious. The Arsenal legend believes his former club should adopt a more direct and dynamic style, similar to the one that has transformed Les Parisiens over the last year.
Tyler Morton scored his first goal for Lyon to secure a 1-0 victory and continue his bright start to life in Ligue 1. The former Liverpool midfielder, making his return after serving a suspension for a red card against Rennes, praised coach Paulo Fonseca for his tactics and highlighted team-mate Nicolas Tagliafico’s assist for the decisive strike.
Manchester City stand accused by La Liga president Javier Tebas of “losing money and cheating” for 10 years. The Premier League heavyweights currently find themselves at the centre of a long-running Financial Fair Play (FFP) saga, with serious questions being asked of whether rules were breached. Tebas is less than impressed with goings on in England, while he has also taken aim at Champions League title holders Paris Saint-Germain.
Marseille are ready to buy Matt O'Riley on a permanent deal in January after initially signing the attacking midfielder on loan from Brighton for the season. Sporting director Medhi Benatia and his team have been impressed by the Denmark international's performances and are eager to ensure he does not slip out of their grasp.
Paris Saint-Germain will attempt to prevent the injured Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from joining the Georgia national team after he was called up for their World Cup qualifiers. The French champions, already frustrated after Ousmane Dembele's recent injury on international duty, will attempt to prevent their star winger from travelling.
Kylian Mbappe has risked incurring the wrath of Paris Saint-Germain supporters after celebrating wildly when seeing a goal scored against them. That effort was, however, recorded by the Real Madrid superstar’s brother, Ethan, which can be forgiven. Mbappe was among those in the stands as PSG were held to a dramatic 1-1 draw by Lille - with his iconic celebration being broken out against the reigning Ligue 1 champions.
Leny Yoro made a surprise flying return to Lille after starring for Manchester United during their win over Sunderland. The 19-year-old defender, who joined United in the summer for a whopping £52 million, jetted across the Channel on Sunday to watch his boyhood club take on Paris Saint-Germain in a blockbuster Ligue 1 clash.
Premier League giants Manchester City sent a scout to watch over the Ligue 1 fixture between RC Lens and AJ Auxerre last week. It has been reported that the scouting team had four players on their shortlist.
Vitinha's growing influence at Paris Saint-Germain has been formally recognised by his teammates, who have chosen him to be the deputy to captain Marquinhos. The appointment comes just after Vitinha made his 100th Ligue 1 appearance, cementing his status as a key figure for Luis Enrique's side.
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