Messi, Ronaldo only World XI nominees from clubs outside Europe as voted by players

Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi (L) and Riyadh All-Star’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo during the Riyadh Season Cup football match between the Riyadh All-Stars and Paris Saint-Germain at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh on Jan. 19, 2023. (AFP/File)
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Updated 03 December 2024
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Messi, Ronaldo only World XI nominees from clubs outside Europe as voted by players

  • The 37-year-old Messi and 39-year-old Ronaldo were the only players not with clubs in Europe to be voted on a 26-man shortlist for the world team of the year
  • FIFPRO said the final team will include the highest-polling goalkeeper, plus each of the top three vote-getters among defenders, midfielders and forward

HOOFDDORP, Netherlands: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are still popular and respected by their fellow players even though they no longer play for European clubs.

The 37-year-old Messi and 39-year-old Ronaldo were the only players not with clubs in Europe to be voted on a 26-man shortlist for the world team of the year organized by global players’ union FIFPRO on Monday.

The other 24 nominees played in the past year with clubs in England, Germany, Spain and France, though Kylian Mbappé was the only French connection after spending last season at Paris Saint-Germain.

No player from any Italian club was selected, nor from any club in South America or Africa.

Eight players from Real Madrid, including Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham were on the shortlist, plus seven from Manchester City including Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland.

Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old from Barcelona who was the breakout star of Spain’s European Championship title, also made it in polling by union members worldwide.

Messi, in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, and Ronaldo, in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, will find out on Dec. 9 if they are in the World XI lineup.

FIFPRO said the final team will include the highest-polling goalkeeper, plus each of the top three vote-getters among defenders, midfielders and forward. The final place goes to the outfield player with the next highest votes total.

The Netherlands-based union said 28,000 players from 70 countries sent votes.

Goalkeepers: Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, Argentina), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Germany).

Defenders: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid, Spain), Ruben Dias (Manchester City, Portugal), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen, Netherlands), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid, Germany), William Saliba (Arsenal, France), Kyle Walker (Manchester City, England).

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium), Phil Foden (Manchester City, England), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, Germany), Luka Modrić (Real Madrid, Croatia), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich, Germany), Rodri (Manchester City, Spain), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid, Uruguay).

Forwards: Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid, France), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina), Cole Palmer (Manchester City/Chelsea, England), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr, Portugal), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid, Brazil), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain).


Barca hit five as they return to winning ways at Mallorca

Updated 4 sec ago
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Barca hit five as they return to winning ways at Mallorca

The comprehensive victory brings the Catalans to 37 points at the top of the league table
Mallorca stay sixth in La Liga, still two points behind Bilbao in the final Champions League spot

PALMA: Raphinha and Lamine Yamal inspired Barcelona to a first win in four La Liga outings as they beat Mallorca 5-1 on Tuesday.
The comprehensive victory brings the Catalans to 37 points at the top of the league table, four ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, but with two extra matches played.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Spanish and European champions will have the chance to cut that lead back to one point on Wednesday when they travel to Athletic Bilbao.
Mallorca stay sixth in La Liga, still two points behind Bilbao in the final Champions League spot.
Ferran Torres gave Barcelona the lead, before Vedat Muriqi equalized to ensure the sides were level at the end of an even first half.
Raphinha and Yamal then lit up the second half as the away side ran riot with the Brazilian scoring a double, followed by strikes from Frenkie de Jong and Pau Victor.
“We knew how important it was to win again. In the last three games something has been missing. Today we were good, it wasn’t our best game but winning was the most important thing,” Barcelona captain Raphinha told Movistar.
Barcelona were boosted by the return of teenage starlet Yamal, who started the match after recovering from an ankle problem.
Hansi Flick’s side dropped points in the two league outings Yamal missed, and were also defeated last time out at home to Las Palmas when he was only fit enough to start on the bench.
The hosts gifted Barca the lead in the 12th minute when panicked defending resulted in Torres being presented with a golden opportunity when there seemed to be no danger.
As a trio of Majorcan defenders shepherded the ball back to their goalkeeper, full-back Johan Mojica suddenly decided to try to lash it away, only to smash the ball straight into Antonio Raillo and it fell perfectly to the feet of the Barcelona forward, who duly stroked home the opener.
The Catalans’ high defensive line caught Mallorca out on several occasions as they tried to spring their attackers with passes over the top.
Mallorca were, however, starting to build pressure on Barcelona, though the visitors remained dangerous on the counter with their fleet-footed attacking quartet of Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha and Torres.
A second goal in the match did not seem far away, for either side, and it came for the hosts in the 43rd minute.
Inigo Martinez was deeper than the rest of the Barcelona line and Pablo Maffeo timed his run onto Sergi Darder’s pass to perfection, before rolling the ball across to Muriqi to tap into an open net.


Another defensive lapse nearly restored the visitors’ lead on the stroke of half-time, but goalkeeper Leo Roman bailed out Raillo for his poor back-header by denying Raphinha one-on-one.
The Mallorca ‘keeper thwarted the Brazilian again early in the second period, punching away a fizzing free-kick from close range.
But it was eventually third time lucky for Raphinha in his duel with Roman as he flashed a 56th-minute penalty just beyond the Spaniard’s reach.
The sheer pace of the returning Yamal had earned the spot-kick as he raced onto Olmo’s through-ball, before being brought down by Mojica inside the box.
Barcelona struggled creatively in Yamal’s absence, and the 17-year-old displayed his brilliance again moments later when an inspired backheel created a chance out of nothing, until Pedri’s snapshot was blocked.
Raphinha made the game safe for Barcelona with 14 minutes remaining when he knocked home a magnificent outside-of-the-foot cross courtesy of Yamal.
“I’m living my best moment but I don’t want to stop there. I want to do much more for this crest. It’s a club that I love enormously. Everything I can give on the pitch, I’ll give it,” said Raphinha.
Euro 2024 winner Yamal repeated the trick five minutes later, this time finding the forward run of Victor, whose pass across goal was cut out, but only as far as the onrushing De Jong who finished unerringly.
De Jong then turned provider in the final 10 minutes as he squared for 23-year-old substitute Victor to score.
Yamal could have capped off a superb second-half showing, but his dinked finish near the end was well saved by the defiant Roman.

Al-Hilal ease back into top spot in group

Updated 1 min 23 sec ago
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Al-Hilal ease back into top spot in group

  • Easy victory against Al-Gharafa of Qatar 
  • Marcos Leonardo put the hosts ahead after just 18 minutes

Al-Hilal defeated Al-Gharafa of Qatar 3-0 on Tuesday to return to the top of their AFC Champions League Elite group with two games of the group stage remaining.

The four-time champions, who are already guaranteed a place in the round of 16 as the top eight from each of the two groups of 12 progress, found it easy as they strolled past the visitors.

The win moves them onto 16 points from six games, above Al-Ahli on goal difference and three points above Al-Nassr in third, although both their Saudi Pro League rivals have also booked their spots in the next round ahead of schedule.

Marcos Leonardo put the hosts ahead after just 18 minutes. Yasser Al-Shahrani had possession of the ball on the right side of the area and pulled it back to the Brazilian who shot first time into the roof of the net for his third goal of the tournament.

The Saudi Arabians were in control for much of the match but it took the Blues until the 82nd minute to add to the scoreline and seal the win, the goal coming courtesy of in-form Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Salem Al-Dawsari drove at the defence and fed the Serbian striker just outside the area. Mitrovic had time to turn and drive a low shot toward the target but Sergio Rico in the Al-Gharafa goal should have done better.

However, few in Riyadh cared, and just three minutes later it was 3-0. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who had scored twice on Saturday to give Al-Hilal a vital 2-1 win over Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League, netted again, this time with a simple but well-taken goal. Malcom swung over a corner from the right and the former Lazio midfielder climbed well just outside the six-yard box to head home powerfully.

That concluded the last of the Asian action until 2025 and the Saudi Arabian clubs are looking very healthy indeed at the end of the year.


Bayern’s Neuer sent off for first time in 866-game career

Updated 10 min 23 sec ago
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Bayern’s Neuer sent off for first time in 866-game career

MUNICH: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was sent off for the first time in his 866-match career on Tuesday, seeing a straight red for a last-man foul on Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong.
The 38-year-old rushed out of the box in typical fashion 18 minutes in to the German Cup last 16 clash, taking out an advancing Frimpong.
Neuer was shown straight red, bringing Israel ‘keeper Daniel Peretz on for his Bayern debut, and was seen apologizing to coach Vincent Kompany after leaving the field.
Bayern’s captain has received a yellow card 23 times during his career. All have come at club level, with the 2014 World Cup-winning goalkeeper never cautioned during his 124-game international career.
The match, between the 20-time winners and current holders Leverkusen was particularly tense, with referee Harm Osmers handing out three yellow cards in addition to Neuer’s red in the opening 22 minutes.
Despite playing for Israel at international level, Tuesday’s match was Peretz’s first game for Bayern, having joined the club in the summer of 2023.

Saudi Kickboxing Federation participates in International Day of Persons with Disabilities event

Updated 03 December 2024
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Saudi Kickboxing Federation participates in International Day of Persons with Disabilities event

  • SKF President Ahmed Al-Towayan expressed delight at Prince Sultan’s visit
  • “Our participation in this event is part of activating the ‘Qadir’ initiative launched by the federation earlier this year,” he said

RIYADH: The Saudi Kickboxing Federation participated on Tuesday in the International Day of Persons with Disabilities event, organized by the Disabled Children’s Association in collaboration with the King Salman Center for Disability Research.
Prince Sultan bin Salman Al-Saud, chairman of the board of trustees of the center, visited the federation’s booth and met several athletes and coaches, a media statement said.
SKF President Ahmed Al-Towayan expressed his delight at Prince Sultan’s visit and his support for activities and events related to persons with disabilities.
“Our participation in this event is part of activating the ‘Qadir’ initiative launched by the federation earlier this year,” Al-Towayan said.
The initiative aimed to provide sports activities for persons with disabilities, develop their skills in kickboxing, and empower Paralympic athletes to practice these sports, he added.
“Qadir initiative aims to offer sporting opportunities to anyone facing difficulties in participating in sports, whether due to a disability or limited financial resources,” Al-Towayan said.


Riyadh to host World Anti-Doping Agency meetings

Updated 03 December 2024
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Riyadh to host World Anti-Doping Agency meetings

  • Event will discuss international strategies to combat doping
  • Prominent sporting figures, experts set to attend

RIYADH: Riyadh will host World Anti-Doping Agency meetings on Dec. 4-5 to support integrity in sport.
The agency’s foundation board and executive committee will meet in the Saudi capital to discuss updates on policies and international strategies to combat doping, a media statement said on Tuesday.
The two-day event will be attended by prominent sports figures and international experts.
Saudi Arabia has previously hosted several anti-doping events, including conferences and workshops aimed at fostering international cooperation as well as promoting the Kingdom as a global sports hub.
WADA’s foundation board consists of 42 members, 21 of whom are ministers representing national governments, while another 21 are members of the International Olympic Committee and presidents of international federations representing the Olympic Movement.
The agency was established in 1999 as a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the integrity of sports by combating doping.
It collaborates with international sports organizations, government bodies and national authorities to ensure a doping-free sports environment.