Sevilla boss Luis Garcia pulled no punches following Saturday's defeat, branding Raphinha's Ballon d'Or snub an absolute joke. The Brazilian forward maintained his dazzling form by firing home a sublime hat-trick to seal a 3-1 victory for Barcelona at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, taking his sensational tally for the campaign to 14 strikes in all competitions.
Harry Kane has refused to be drawn into a war of words with Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal despite the teenager seemingly aiming a dig at the England captain’s Ballon d'Or credentials. The prolific Bayern Munich striker chose the high road after his latest Bundesliga landmark, opting to praise the Spanish youngster rather than retaliate to claims that goal tallies shouldn't decide football's biggest individual prize.
After Bayern Munich’s emphatic 7-0 gala in the Bundesliga against Union Berlin, FCB board member for sport Max Eberl sent a nice greeting in the direction of Lamine Yamal of Barcelona.
Lamine Yamal is once again making an outspoken case for himself with regard to the Ballon d'Or. In doing so, he also allows himself a little dig at Bayern Munich's Harry Kane.
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham has thrown his weight behind Lionel Messi to land yet another Ballon d'Or title after the legendary forward reached a century of goals for the MLS outfit. The former England captain believes Messi's continued excellence at the age of 39, combined with his talismanic performances on the world stage, makes him the standout candidate for football's most prestigious individual accolade.
Super-agent Jorge Mendes has claimed that Barcelona star Lamine Yamal is "by far" the best player in the world. The Portuguese representative believes the teenager is the only logical choice for the 2026 Ballon d'Or following his historic exploits for club and country.
Kylian Mbappe has reportedly alienated several of his France team-mates following his controversial public remarks regarding the Ballon d'Or. Ousmane Dembele is said to be particularly furious, viewing the comments as a betrayal, which has led to a tense atmosphere and the formation of two separate factions within the national team dressing room ahead of their upcoming fixtures.
Paris Saint-Germain star Fabian Ruiz is firmly convinced his unprecedented trophy haul makes him a prime candidate for the Ballon d'Or. After lifting both the World Cup with Spain and the Champions League with his club, the midfielder feels his historic achievements are simply unrivalled, pointing to recent precedents as proof he can claim the ultimate prize.
