The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or honors has officially heated up with the unveiling of the nominees for the prestigious Club of the Year awards. Back-to-back European champions Paris Saint-Germain are looking to defend their men's crown against a resurgent Arsenal and a dominant Bayern Munich side, while a treble-winning Barcelona enter the women's category on a fierce mission to reclaim their throne.
Botafogo forward Matheus Martins and Flamengo winger Gonzalo Plata are returning to Brazil after Dynamo Moscow cancelled their transfers following failed medical examinations. Both deals collapsed simultaneously in Russia, sparking anger from the players and their respective clubs.
Former Real Madrid and Manchester City defender Danilo has revealed plans to retire at Flamengo at the end of 2027. The 35-year-old Brazilian veteran is currently in advanced contract talks with the Rubro-Negro to extend his stay for one final season, aiming to conclude his trophy-laden career with silverware at his boyhood club.
Filipe Luis is set to take his first major step into European management after reportedly reaching an agreement to become the new head coach of Monaco. The former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid defender has emerged as the surprise choice for the Ligue 1 side, despite heavy interest from elsewhere in Europe.
Al Khalidiyah
