Compiled by Ranjika Perera
The top five contenders for the Ballon d’Or
1. Lionel Messi - 33 goals and 13 assists (won Copa del Rey. Copa America semi-finalist. Copa is yet to finish)
2. Robert Lewandowski - 34 goals and four assists (won Bundesliga and Club World Cup)
3. N’Golo Kante - One assist (won Champions League)
4. Romelu Lukaku - 22 goals and seven assists (won Serie A)
5. Kylian Mbappe - 29 goals and seven assists (won Coupe de France and Trophee des Champions)
* Messi back on top for Ballon d’Or 2021
After a year of absence, the Ballon d’Or is back, footballers all around the world eyeing the biggest individual honour the game has to offer. Although the prize will not be handed out until December, performances over the Euro 2020 and Copa America 2021 will go a long way to deciding who will and won’t be in contention. The 2019 winner Lionel Messi have made a strong case for the Ballon d’Or this year with his stellar performances in the Copa America. His performance levels at the Copa America have been irresistible, recording three goals and three assists in his last two games, and if he can guide the Albiceleste to the trophy, then there may well be no one who can catch him in the race for football’s biggest individual prize.
* Kane in touch with ex-boss Mourinho
Harry Kane has revealed he has been in touch with former Manager Jose Mourinho during Euro 2020 but has yet to make contact with new Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo. Kane has scored three goals in two knockout-round matches for England, helping the Three Lions reach the semi-final stage. The striker, who has been linked with an exit this summer, spoke highly of Mourinho, who was sacked by Spurs in April and appointed Roma boss in May.
Kane, speaking talkSPORT said, “He’s great. He’s been texting me as well. It’s common knowledge we have a great relationship and got on really well. I really respect him as a Manager and person. I wish him all the best at Roma. It’s great to have one of the best Managers in the world on your side. I will always respect him and hopefully be in contact with him for the rest of my career.”
* Bayern optimistic about Goretzka and Coman
Bayern Munich are holding “very good” contract negotiations with Leon Goretzka and Kingsley Coman over the pair’s future at Allianz Arena, says new CEO Oliver Kahn, who is “optimistic” about the duo’s decisions. Both players have been the subject of intense transfer scrutiny this summer as the Bavarian giants begin their transition from Hansi Flick’s short-but-glorious reign and move towards a new future under Julian Nagelsmann. Midfielder Goretzka and winger Coman have both been in action for Germany and France this summer at Euro 2020, but with their respective nations eliminated, talk has turned to their next steps.
* Griezmann and Dembele reject racist claims
Antoine Griezmann says he has “always been committed against any form of discrimination” following the release of videos that seem to show the Barcelona forward and team-mate Ousmane Dembele mocking Asian people. The first of two videos to have been circulated in recent days show France international colleagues Griezmann and Dembele in a hotel room. They appear to require the assistance of hotel staff with a television, with the pair seemingly struggling to get a games console to work that would allow them to play Pro Evolution Soccer. Dembele is alleged to say of the three men providing technical support: “All these ugly faces, just so you can play PES, aren’t you ashamed?” He then goes on to say: “What kind of backward language is that?” and “Are you technologically advanced in your country or not?” Another video from the same tour sees Griezmann relaxing in a pool, with fellow countrymen Dembele and Samuel Umtiti in attendance. The 30-year-old is allegedly captured saying: “Ching chong.”
* PM Johnson hints on packed stadium for Premier League opener
The British Prime Minister Borris Johnson announced on Monday (5) the Government’s plans to ease the remaining coronavirus restrictions on social distancing later this month. Crowds have either been kept out entirely or allowed in severely restricted numbers since the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the UK in March last year. Test events with higher attendances have been held as part of a Government programme since April. However, the Government is confident that the success of the vaccine rollout has helped to break the link between rates of infections and rates of hospitalisation and death due to Covid-19. Johnson told media on Monday: “We’ll move away from legal restrictions and allow people to make their own informed decisions about how to manage the virus… We will lift the limit on named visitors to care homes and the numbers of people attending concerts, theatre, and sports events.”