The year was 2004 and AC Milan icon Andriy Shevchenko claimed his first and only Ballon d’Or award as the then 28-year-old became Pavel Nedved’s successor after an unforgettable 2003-2004 season. Organised by France Football since 1956, the star-studded nominee list of the Ballon d’Or featured a young Cristiano Ronaldo, who finished ahead of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kaka, Luis Figo, David Beckham and Paolo Maldini. Manchester United’s prodigal son bagged the 12th spot in his Ballon d’Or debut. Ronaldo then went on to stage an epic rivalry with Lionel Messi as the two behemoths turned the Ballon d’Or race into a near-two-way contest at their careers’ peak.

Ballon d’Or arch-rivals Messi and Ronaldo lifted the Golden Ball a combined 13 times from the 2008 edition. Securing his first nomination in 2006, Messi sealed his first Ballon d’Or title in 2009 to kickstart his four-year streak of winning the Golden Ball. The record-time winner is also the reigning Ballon d’Or champion. Messi missed the cut in 2022 but the Argentine stalwart masterminded La Albiceleste’s third FIFA World Cup triumph in the same year to stake claim on the Ballon d’Or trophy in 2023. A year later, neither Messi nor Ronaldo have earned the Golden Ball call-up for the first time since 2003.

Changing of the guards is imminent in Paris as France Football and UEFA will crown the successor of Messi at the 2024 Ballon d’Or awards. Created by France Football magazine, UEFA and Groupe Amaury will co-organise the renowned Ballon d’Or 2024 on 28 October at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. First awarded to England great Stanley Matthews in 1956, legends of the beautiful game including Eusebio, Bobby Charlton, George Best, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane have all won lifted the famous trophy in the past. Who is next?

Mbappe vs Haaland: No podium finish for world-class strikers

Though Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe is featured in the top 30 list, the new galactico of Los Blancos might finish behind Man City forward Haaland. Smashing records at Etihad, Haaland finished the 2023-2024 season with a Premier League title and consecutive Golden Boot. Netting 38 goals last season, the goal machine is the quickest player in the Premier League’s history to 50 goals. Placed 18th in the list of all-time goal-getters in the history of the Champions League, Haaland is the youngest to smash 40 goals in the celebrated tournament. However, a fruitful campaign in top-flight leagues doesn’t guarantee a Golden Ball this year. Haaland failed to fire for Man City against Real Madrid while French forward Mbappe guided Paris Saint Germain (PSG) to the semi-finals of the Champions League. Free-scoring Mbappe dumped Barcelona out of the Champions League but the France captain struggled to engineer PSG’s comeback against last season’s Champions League runners-up Dortmund in the semi-finals. At the UEFA Euro, Mbappe’s France side was eliminated by eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals.

Why is Vinicius leading the Ballon d’Or race?

Vinicius had a false start in his Ballon d’Or bid last season. The Brazilian superstar was missing in action when Carlo Ancelotti-coached Madrid were desperate to crown Karim Benzema‘s heir at the Bernabeu. Regaining top form in the same injury-marred season, Real Madrid’s No.7 scored a hat-trick against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final. Vinicius was also the ‘Real deal’ at the Champions League. The Los Blancos winger was instrumental in the semi-final win over Bayern Munich. Fresh from powering Real Madrid to a record-extending La Liga title, on-song Vinicius scored the winner against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League final. In his comeback season, Vinicius netted 26 times and chipped in with 12 assists. Adding crucial titles to his Real Madrid cabinet, Vinicius made a quiet exit from the international stage. The Real Madrid superstar earned a brace against Paraguay in the Copa America group stage. Suspended from the quarter-finals against Uruguay, Vinicius was a mere spectator as the Golden Ball candidate saw Selecao bow out of the competition on penalties.

Please, make way for Rodri

Despite being the best holding midfielder in the world, why cerebral Spaniard Rodri is still not heavily tipped to win the Golden Ball this year? A serious contender for the prestigious award last year, Rodri won the treble with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. However, Rodri was upstaged by Erling Haaland with his 52-goal contribution in 53 games. The former Borussia Dortmund forward was second only to Messi as the FIFA World Cup 2022 winner took home his record-eighth Ballon d’Or title in 2023.

Rodri has made it to the nominee list on the back of an impressive unbeaten run with Man City. Did you know? Guardiola’s men lost all of their three matches in the Premier League last season with Rodri being suspended. The Rodri-starrer Man City side last lost a Premier League game in February 2023. The Spanish international didn’t concede a single defeat at the UEFA Champions League last season. Man City were outclassed by eventual champions Real Madrid on penalties in the quarter-finals after two thrilling draws. Labelled as the ‘perfect computer’ by Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, Rodri ended a trophy-laden season with La Roja defeating England in the UEFA Euro 2024 final. “Please, give him the Ballon d’Or now!” – what Guardiola said about Rodri, who was also named the Player of the Tournament at the Euros.

Golden Ball for ‘golden boy’ Bellingham

Just like Mbappe, playmaker Jude Bellingham was on target for Real Madrid on his debut. Assisting Real Madrid’s goal-getters Rodrygo and Vinicius throughout the season, Bellingham donned the famous No.5 jersey and boy did he do justice to Zidane’s old shirt which came with a whopping £100 million ($131m) price tag at the Santiago Bernabeu. Coining Madrid’s sucker punch against Dortmund in the Champions League final, the Englishman also propelled Los Blancos to Clasico wins over FC Barcelona in the La Liga last season. A central midfielder with his shooting boots on across competitions, Bellingham contributed 27 goals for Madrid and England. With Vinicius missing a major chunk of the 2023-2024 season through injury, Bellingham spearheaded the title bid for Los Blancos. Clutch for club and country, Bellingham produced 17 assists and headlined the UEFA Euro final. Sure a silver medal at Euros after a near-perfect season can’t cost Jude a Golden Ball?

Real Madrid face Real Betis at the Bernabeu ahead of the international break.© AFP

Kylian Mbappe‘s La Liga debut for Real Madrid did not go as planned as Los Blancos drew at Mallorca last weekend, with coach Carlo Ancelotti believing the Spanish champions lacked “balance”. The French superstar striker will make his first home appearance for Los Blancos at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday against promoted side Real Valladolid, owned by former Madrid forward and Brazil great Ronaldo.

Mbappe is on course to enjoy a similarly sizable legacy in football, but is hoping to make a far greater impact at Madrid than Ronaldo was able to, during the club’s ‘galactico’ era.

Ronaldo won just one La Liga title and failed to lift the Champions League during five seasons in the Spanish capital between 2002-07.

One of the biggest problems during that period was a top-heavy side which boasted several superstar attackers but lost lynchpin Claude Makelele.

Ancelotti has lined up with Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes and Jude Bellingham in the 2-0 UEFA Super Cup win over Atalanta and the 1-1 Mallorca draw, but criticised his team’s balance after both matches

“We just had to do better, with more attitude, you can learn from these games – it’s clear where the problem is,” Ancelotti told reporters last week.

“We need to defend better, we need more balance.”

One issue for Madrid is that Mbappe, Vinicius and Rodrygo all prefer to be shifted towards the left flank.

Another is that by playing all three forwards, Bellingham is pushed back into a midfield role, when it seems after last season’s superb debut campaign where he helped Madrid win La Liga and the Champions League, he is most content contributing in attacking areas.

“(Balance) is found by all players thinking the same thing – when it comes to getting the ball back we all have to think about it together,” continued the Italian coach.

“It’s a team problem that they didn’t understand was a key aspect in this game, Mallorca played a great game in a defensive sense, better than us.”

While visitors Real Valladolid, who beat fellow promoted side Espanyol in their first match, do not pose too much threat to Madrid on paper, the sooner Ancelotti can get his team firing on all cylinders the happier he will be.

After years of links to Madrid, Mbappe completed his dream move this summer at the end of his Paris Saint-Germain contract.

The forward clinically struck against Atalanta in Warsaw but was shut out by Mallorca and their goalkeeper Dominik Greif.

Mbappe will hope to mark his first Bernabeu appearance for Madrid with a goal, weeks after he was greeted there by over 80,000 fans at his presentation.

Once Madrid’s forwards are on song, they will be difficult for any side to stop.

“When I saw them running towards me, I just prayed to God and asked myself — ‘what am I doing here?'” admitted Mallorca defender Pablo Maffeo.

Madrid’s remarkable firepower could prove a double-edged sword with teams rising to the challenge of stopping the attacking quartet dubbed the “fantastic four”.

“We’re going to face the best team in the world, with one of the best coaches in history and the best attack in the world today,” said Valladolid coach Paulo Pezzolano.

“We know what we’re going to face, but we’re going there convinced that we’re going to compete and bring something back home, knowing that it’s difficult, but that we can do it.”

Player to watch: Julian Alvarez

The former Manchester City striker made his Atletico debut as a substitute at Villarreal in their opening fixture but could be given a bigger role against Girona on Sunday as he makes his first appearance at the Metropolitano stadium for Diego Simeone’s new-look Rojiblancos.

Key stats

0 – Real Valladolid were the only team in La Liga not to concede a goal in the opening round of fixtures

2 – With a brace against Valencia, Robert Lewandowski is the division’s top scorer

17 – French players appeared in week one, the most represented nationality behind 285 Spaniards

Fixtures

Friday (all times GMT)

Celta Vigo v Valencia (1700), Sevilla v Villarreal (1930)

Saturday

Osasuna v Real Malloca (1500), Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao (1700), Espanyol v Real Sociedad, Getafe v Rayo Vallecano (both 1930)

Sunday

Real Madrid v Real Valladolid (1500), Leganes v Las Palmas (1700), Alaves v Real Betis (1715), Atletico Madrid v Girona (1930)

Real Madrid vs Atalanta, UEFA Super Cup Live Streaming: UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid will take on UEFA Europa League winners Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup Final. Both sides will participate in their first official game of the 2024-25 season. Real Madrid welcome Kylian Mbappe into the side, having finally completed his long-awaited transfer from Paris Saint-Germain this summer. Having won the La Liga and Champions League double last season, they will aim for their third trophy of 2024. Atalanta beat an otherwise invincible Bayer Leverkusen side in the Europa League final last year, thanks to an Ademola Lookman hattrick.

When is the Real Madrid vs Atalanta, UEFA Super Cup Final 2024-25 match taking place?

The Real Madrid vs Atalanta, UEFA Super Cup Final 2024-25 match is taking place on Thursday, August 15 (IST).

Where is the Real Madrid vs Atalanta, UEFA Super Cup Final 2024-25 match being held?

The Real Madrid vs Atalanta, UEFA Super Cup Final 2024-25 match is being held at the National Stadium Warsaw, Warsaw.

What time will the Real Madrid vs Atalanta, UEFA Super Cup Final 2024-25 match start?

The Real Madrid vs Atalanta, UEFA Super Cup Final 2024-25 match will start at 12:30 AM.

Which TV channels will live telecast the Real Madrid vs Atalanta, UEFA Super Cup Final 2024-25 match?

The Real Madrid vs Atalanta, UEFA Super Cup Final 2024-25 match will be telecast live on the Sony Sports Network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Real Madrid vs Atalanta, UEFA Super Cup Final 2024-25 match?

The Real Madrid vs Atalanta, UEFA Super Cup Final 2024-25 match will be live streamed on the Sony LIV app.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)

Spanish giants Real Madrid on Wednesday confirmed that the French superstar Kylian Mbappe will wear jersey number 9 in his first season with the Los Blancos. Earlier in June, Real Madrid revealed the arrival of Mbappe in the club. The 25-year-old World Cup winner joined the Los Merengues after leaving Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The French superstar will follow his idol Cristiano Ronaldo’s footsteps who also wore the jersey number 9 after joining the Whites in 2009. Currently, Brazilian attacker Vinicius Junior is wearing the legendary number 7 jersey, which is why Mbappe has been given the number 9. Earlier, Karim Benzema wore the number 9 jersey and set many records for Los Blancos.

The 15-time UEFA Champions League (UCL) winner also confirmed that French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga will wear jersey number 6 and Uruguayan Fede Valverde will shift to jersey number 8, taking over from Toni Kroos. Defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni will move to 14, a jersey worn previously by Xabi Alonso and Casemiro. Turkish youngster Arda Guler will wear the jersey with the number 15 on his back. Meanwhile, Spanish defender Jesus Vallejo will wear the number 18.

Changes with shirt numbers in the squad.#RealMadrid

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) July 10, 2024

“Several Real Madrid players will change their jersey numbers at the start of the 2024/25 season. Camavinga, who until now wore the number 12, will change to 6. Valverde will change from 15 to 8 and Tchouameni will move from 18 to 14. Arda Guler, who wore the number 24 last season, will wear 15 and Vallejo will wear the number 18,” Real Madrid stated.

“Real Madrid CF and Kylian Mbappe have reached an agreement under which he will become a Real Madrid player for the next five seasons,” Real Madrid said in an official statement while announcing Mbappe’s arrival in the club.

Mbappe joined PSG from AS Monaco in 2017, following that he has played 308 matches for the Paris club and scored 256 goals. The French striker was 19 years old when he left his childhood club for PSG. In the recently concluded season of the Ligue 1, the Frenchman appeared in 29 matches and got the back of the net 27 times. He also made 7 assists in the French league.

However, Mbappe never hid from accepting that his dream was to play for the 14-time UEFA Champions League (UCL) winner Real Madrid. For the last several years, Los Blancos have been trying to bring him to Madrid, but Mbappe wasn’t keen on an exit before the expiration of his contract. In 2021, Real Madrid had gone all out to sign Mbappe, offering 220 million Euros. However, PSG turned it down.

Vinicius Junior during Brazil 0-0 Costa Rica in Copa America 2024.© AFP

Real Madrid vs Dortmund UCL Final Live Streaming: On a night when two legends of the game are set to play their final matches for their respective club, Borussia Dortmund wll look to pull off one of the biggest ever shocks in a Champions League final against the mighty Real Madrid at London’s Wembley stadium on Saturday. For Dortmund, long-serving captain Marco Reus is set to leave the club after his contract expires later this month. On the other hand, fans will get to witness Toni Kroos‘ last dance in a Real Madrid shirt. The 2014 World Cup winner with Germany is set to retire from the start after the Euros in his homeland.

Kroos, a five-time Champions League winner, including four titles with Los Blancos, will have the chance to add another winners medal to his impressive CV.

The star-studded Spanish giants are heavy favourites to be crowned European champions for the 15th time, and a sixth in the last 11 seasons, against a Dortmund team that have beaten the odds just to make it to the final in London.

Dortmund were beaten in the final at the same venue 11 years ago by German rivals Bayern Munich. However, the club does know a thing or two about winning the Champions League, having beaten Juventus 3-1 in the final in Munich.

When will the Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund Champions League Final take place?

The Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund Champions League Final will take place on Sunday, May 2.

Where will the Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund Champions League Final played?

The Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund Champions League Final will be played at the Wembley Stadium in London.

What time will the Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund Champions League Final start?

The Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund Champions League Final will start at 12:30 am IST.

Which TV channels will telecast the Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund Champions League Final?

The Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund Champions League Final will be telecasted on the Sony Sports Network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund Champions League Final?

The Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund Champions League Final will be streamed live on SonyLiv (app and website).

(All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster)

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti warned his players the Champions League final is the most “dangerous” game in football on the eve of their clash with Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. The Italian, who has won the competition as a coach a record four times, said Los Blancos were afraid the trophy could escape them. Madrid, record 14-time winners, are firm favourites for the clash against the Bundesliga side. “A Champions League final is the most important game but also the most dangerous,” Ancelotti told a news conference Friday.

“We have to enjoy being here, but knowing it can go wrong because we are close to the most important thing in football — winning a Champions League — but having the fear this can escape us.

“Things have to go very well, you need to be lucky too, success is very close and so the worry begins tomorrow morning, tomorrow afternoon.”

Real Madrid captain Nacho said he was feeling confident but nervous.

“We’ve got more nerves than in any other moment of the season,” admitted Madrid captain Nacho.

“We’re humans, it’s a calm week for (some people) but for the players it’s not. It’s special, and that makes it not calm.”

Veteran midfielder Luka Modric said despite Madrid’s strength in contrast to Dortmund, he was approaching the match as if it were an even battle.

“Everyone thinks we are big favourites, but we don’t think about it like that,” said the Croatian.

“It’s 50-50, we’re playing a big team that has had a magnificent season in the Champions League.”

Nacho and Modric, along with Toni Kroos and Dani Carvajal, would reach six career Champions League wins with a victory over Dortmund, levelling all-time leader and former Madrid great Paco Gento.

“It was hard to imagine we’d get to this moment but we are here, very happy and enjoying this moment,” said Modric.

“I hope tomorrow we can take this step further, as a team and have six European Cups would be something big.”

‘Something special’

Madrid came from behind to beat Bayern Munich in the semi-finals and have a remarkable ability to turn games around in Europe when it seems like they are defeated.

“We prefer to take the lead if it’s possible,” said Modric. 

“But we’ve shown many times this year and before, that when things don’t go well we fight until the end.

“We always find a way, we’re capable of turning the game around. We keep having this mentality, this commitment and fight, but like I said, we’d prefer to take the lead.”

Ancelotti said Madrid’s ability to come back from the dead “has happened so many times it’s not chance”.

“It’s something special… it could be the history, the quality, the tradition, the character,” he mused.

The coach confirmed goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois would start the final ahead of Andriy Lunin, resolving the main selection query ahead of the game.

“Lunin had the flu and hasn’t travelled with the team, tomorrow he will travel and will be on the bench — Courtois will play tomorrow,” said Ancelotti.

Belgian stopper Courtois returned from a long-term knee injury earlier in May and has kept four clean sheets in four appearances since.

The campaign for Vinicius Junior to land his first Ballon d’Or is well under way, but the Real Madrid forward has his priorities straight. Before worrying about individual accolades, the Brazilian attacker is aiming to claim a second Champions League triumph on Saturday when Los Blancos face Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. Vinicius was the man who brought Real Madrid their record 14th European Cup in 2022, stealing into the area from the left and pouncing from close range in the 1-0 win over Liverpool.

It was a simple finish but one he had failed to make before, multiple times, in what proved a tricky start to life at Madrid.

Thrown into the void left by departed all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018, Vinicius started off as a laughing stock, given his profligacy.

After coach Carlo Ancelotti returned for a second stint at the helm in 2021, the Brazilian proved the main beneficiary.

After 14 goals in three seasons before the Italian’s arrival, Vinicius netted 22 under Ancelotti’s guidance.

The 22nd was in Paris against Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, just reward for Vinicius’ transformation.

It was no fluke, with the forward adding 23 goals the following year and he has 23 again ahead of the final against Bundesliga side Dortmund. 

Vinicius has also profited from Ancelotti changing the system this season to accommodate Jude Bellingham‘s arrival and plug defensive deficiencies.

Ancelotti has largely deployed Vinicius as a central striker, a role which the winger took time to adapt to.

“Now I can play in more positions and that’s how I’ve made my game a lot better than when I arrived here,” Vinicius told reporters ahead of the final.

“I keep evolving, and I want to keep evolving until the last day of my career, as Toni Kroos is doing.”

German midfield metronome Kroos has been one of several good influences keeping the 23-year-old calm amid the focus and pressure.

Ancelotti’s guidance is crucial though and one of his greatest feats has been to turn Vinicius from a rough diamond into an elite star.

“I feel comfortable with whatever the coach tells me, because he has changed me as a player,” continued Vinicius.

“He gave me the confidence that I need and where he tells me to go, I have to be.

“At first I was not convinced about playing inside, now I am very happy to be play there — he always told me that I would score goals, and I didn’t believe it. And in the end, things have gone well.”

Time to improve

After three goals in his first 11 games of the season and new arrival Bellingham taking the limelight, Vinicius did not sulk.

A thigh muscle tear in November appeared a further setback, keeping him out of action until January.

However those weeks out proved time well spent, as Vinicius worked to understand his role better and came back with a bang.

“I had time to work on what I normally don’t work on, to think about my game and everything I could do to evolve it… and arrive at the most important phase of the season with a better level,” he explained.

Vinicius has 17 goals in his last 23 games, including a brace against Bayern Munich in the semi-final when he ran Joshua Kimmich ragged.

No longer able to laugh at Vinicius, some opposition fans have turned instead to hate. The past two seasons have seen a spate of ugly racial abuse cases aimed at him when playing on the road in Spain.

“(Racism) is something I cannot control, but I always try to keep calm,” said Vinicius.

Fortunately in recent weeks the abuse has died away and Vinicius has been able to focus on football. 

Asked if he would take a 1-0 win over Dortmund like two years ago against Liverpool, with him scoring the winner, Vinicius replied “for sure”.

“With a goal from anyone,” he continued, aiming for the Champions League above any individual considerations.

“I’ve never thought about (winning the Ballon d’Or),” said Vinicius. 

“The best thing that can happen this season is winning the Champions League.”