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Ballon d’Or Battle: Yamal Vs. Dembele In Nations League Clash
Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal, the two favourites for the Ballon d’Or, go head to head in Thursday’s Nations League semi-final.
Dembele’s France and Yamal’s Spain meet in Stuttgart (20:00 BST) for a place in Sunday’s final against Portugal – after the conclusion of remarkable domestic seasons for both.
As well as impressing for their clubs, both netted in their country’s respective Nations League quarter-final victories.
Yamal played down any suggestion this match would have an impact in the Ballon d’Or decision – with the winner announced on 22 September in Paris.
“If you were voting for the Ballon d’Or, would you choose the best player of the year, or the one who wins the match on Thursday?” the 17-year-old told El Partidazo de COPE.
“Whether we win or not, I would vote for the best player of the year.
“I’m not thinking about the trophy or whether I’m going to win. You’ll do badly if you think you have to win it. What I do is play and try to win.”
BBC Sport compares their stats and looks at the seasons that two of the most exciting forwards in world football have just completed.
How the stats compare for 2024-25
Paris St-Germain forward Dembele is well clear of Barcelona winger Yamal for goals (33 v 18) but the Spaniard beats his French rival for assists (21 v 13).
Across all competitions, Yamal, despite being 11 years younger, played significantly more than Dembele this season – 4,548 to 3,286 minutes – and in a tougher league in terms of the general level of competition.
Yamal has taken more shots overall (but fewer per 90 minutes) while Dembele’s conversion rate is much higher.
And Yamal ranks much higher for dribbles than Dembele, with a higher success rate on them too.
The Spaniard has won possession more times, tackled more and won more duels than the Frenchman.
In terms of trophies, both won their domestic double, plus their Community Shield equivalents – and Dembele lifted the Champions League.
Dembele’s career revival
Dembele delivering the season he has had would have been unthinkable even seven months ago, and winning the Ballon d’Or would complete one of football’s greatest revivals.
This season has already resulted in the 28-year-old being named the Champions League’s player of the season and the Ligue 1 Golden Boot winner.
His career looked destined to be one of of unfulfilled potential, and he has admitted himself for years he lacked professionalism. He once cost Barcelona a fee of £96.8m, potentially rising to £135.5m.
But before this season he had only managed double figures for goals in a league campaign once, his first in senior football for Rennes (12 goals in 2015-16).
Maybe he was best known in England for missing the chance to put Barca 4-0 up in their 2019 Champions League semi-final, with the Reds going on to win 4-3 on aggregate.
Even approaching the halfway point of the season, he was only having a fairly average one by his standards – with five goals before playing Lyon on 15 December.
But everything changed that day as Luis Enrique moved him from his more accustomed right-wing berth to play him at centre forward – and he netted in a 3-1 win.
That was part of a run of 18 goals in 10 games. After that he chipped in goals at a regular rate.
Even with a return of one goal in his final 10 games of the season, he ended on 33 – with 21 in the league making him Ligue 1’s top scorer.
Dembele has also performed for his country, netting in Nations League wins over Belgium and Croatia – doubling his tally of competitive goals in a France shirt.
He also managed 13 assists for PSG, including two in the record-breaking 5-0 Champions League final win over Inter Milan.
“I would give the Ballon d’Or to Mr Ousmane Dembele,” PSG boss Luis Enrique said in Munich.
“The way he defended, just that alone could be worth the Ballon d’Or. That’s how you lead a team: goals, trophies, leadership, defence, his pressing.”
Unlike Yamal, Dembele still has the Fifa Club World Cup to play in this summer to cement his claims.
Yamal’s unprecedented campaign
Yamal is achieving things few 17-year-olds have ever done before.
Before his 18th birthday – which he will celebrate on 13 July – he has already won the European Championship with Spain, La Liga, the Copa del Rey, plus a Spanish Super Cup while in the colours of Barca.
He has actually won two La Liga titles, as he played once as a 15-year-old in 2022-23.
But in the space of two years his influence has grown significantly as Yamal, who has already passed 100 appearances for Barcelona, scored 18 goals and made 25 assists in 55 games this season.
He was named in the Champions League team of the year after some remarkable displays – including in the thrilling semi-final defeat by Inter Milan.
“Lamine is the kind of talent that comes along every 50 years, and to see him up close really impressed me,” said opposition manager Simone Inzaghi.
“He caused us huge problems because we were supposed to double up on him and it wasn’t enough.”
It is not just the quantity of Yamal’s goals but the quality and big-game nature of them.
He netted three goals in four Clasicos against Real Madrid this season, plus a fantastic strike in that epic tie against Inter.
And he struck in the Nations League quarter-final against the Netherlands.
The CIES Football Observatory recently valued him at 400m euros (£340m).
Yamal recently signed a new six-year deal with Barca, and BBC pundit Stephen Warnock called him “a future Ballon d’Or winner”.
Brazil legend Ronaldo is the youngest winner of the award at the age of 21 – so Yamal has three attempts to break that record.
Bbc.com
News
Arne Slot Confirms Mohamed Salah Is ‘Always In My Mind’ Amid Liverpool Absence
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has addressed the speculation surrounding Mohamed Salah, admitting that the Egypt forward is “always in my mind” despite being left out of the last two starting line-ups.
Salah, 33, has had a slow start to the Premier League season, scoring just four goals, and has played only 45 minutes across the last two games. The forward’s omission from the starting XI has sparked talk of a potential Saudi Pro League move, though Salah recently signed a two-year contract extension with Liverpool in April.
Slot Explains Salah Situation
“I think for every player in my mind can start and Mo is an exceptional player for us,” Slot said. “He is always in my mind to either start or to come off the bench.”
Salah played a starring role last season, scoring 29 goals as Liverpool lifted the Premier League in Slot’s first campaign. However, he was an unused substitute in Liverpool’s 2-1 win at West Ham and again came off the bench in the 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland.
Slot acknowledged the chatter around Salah’s absence, saying:
“The chatter, yes because he deserves that, he has been so influential for me and six or seven years. It’s completely normal people talk about it when he isn’t playing.”
Van Dijk Weighs In
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk also commented, highlighting that no player at the club has “unlimited credit”:
“He is still a fantastic player and we still have to remember there is a reason why he has been so successful at the club and we have to respect that. I need him around as one of the leaders. He’s disappointed but that’s absolutely normal. It’s always been the case that no one is undroppable.”
This statement underscores the high standards at Liverpool, even for one of their most prolific stars.
Liverpool’s Current Form
The Reds are currently ninth in the Premier League, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal, having won just two of their nine league games. Salah’s presence will be crucial as Liverpool look to regain momentum, with their next game set against Leeds United.
While fans debate Salah’s place in the squad, both Slot and Van Dijk emphasize that he remains central to Liverpool’s ambitions, both on the pitch and in the dressing room.
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Roy Keane Blasts ‘Frightened’ Manchester United After West Ham Draw
Manchester United thought they had the job wrapped up at Old Trafford… until they didn’t.
Diogo Dalot’s tidy finish just before the hour mark looked like the moment that would push the Red Devils to a much-needed victory. But in classic 2025 Manchester United fashion, control slipped, intensity dipped, and West Ham pounced.
And of course—when things go wrong—Roy Keane is never far from the verbal action.
“They Weren’t Nasty Enough!” – Keane Fires Shots
After the 1-1 draw, Keane wasted zero time calling out what he sees as the real issue at United: timidity.
According to him, United “took their foot off the gas” right after scoring. Against a team in the bottom three, he expected more authority, more aggression, and definitely more hunger.
Instead, what he saw was a team “almost frightened” of finishing the job.
He slammed the players for hiding when pressure kicked in, criticized their lack of killer instinct, and even called out the relaxed body language during substitutions.
In typical Keane fashion, the message was simple:
United should never be this soft.
Amorim Also Frustrated: “The Game Was Ours To Win”
Manager Ruben Amorim didn’t sugarcoat anything either.
While he didn’t go full-Keane, he admitted:
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United lost control after scoring
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They failed to win second balls
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They should have killed the match earlier
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The inconsistency is becoming a real problem
For a team chasing European places, three draws in five games simply isn’t good enough.
West Ham Deserved Their Point
To be fair, West Ham didn’t just sit back and wait. They fought, pressed, countered, and eventually got their reward when Soungoutou Magassa slotted home the 83rd-minute equaliser.
United had late chances, but the story of their season resurfaced again:
moments created, moments wasted.
Where Do United Go From Here?
Sitting eighth on the table, United’s inconsistency continues to be their biggest opponent. Keane believes the team lacks bite. Amorim believes the team lacks control.
Fans believe the team lacks… well, everything except drama.
What’s clear is this: until United find their identity and intensity, nights like this will keep happening.
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Local News
Beckham Joins Bellingham & Trent to Unveil Retro Gunmetal Adidas Predator Mania
Beckham Links Up With The New Generation
Adidas just pulled off the ultimate fusion of eras — pairing Real Madrid legend David Beckham with modern-day stars Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold to unveil the new throwback Predator Mania Gunmetal.
The visual alone is powerful:
Beckham, the man who helped define the Predator legacy, standing alongside the players shaping a new generation at the Santiago Bernabéu.
It’s nostalgia meeting modern football culture in the cleanest way possible.
How Beckham & Zidane Made The Predator A Cultural Icon
In the 2000s, football boots had personalities — and none louder than the Predator.
Thanks to players like:
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David Beckham
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Zinedine Zidane
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Steven Gerrard
…the Predator brand became more than footwear — it became a symbol of confidence, control, and creativity.
Beckham’s signature whip-your-free-kick technique and the unforgettable fold-over tongue made Predator Mania one of the most legendary boots ever created.
And now in 2025, it’s back — reborn with purpose.
A Historic Gunmetal Colourway Returns
The 2025 Predator Mania comes in a stunning Gunmetal grey, blending early-2000s nostalgia with fresh modern flair.
Adidas describes it as:
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“Metallic, polished and aggressive”
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Featuring crisp white Three Stripes
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And the iconic red fold-over tongue — embroidered and unapologetically bold
Beckham famously wore this colourway during his early Real Madrid days.
It quickly became a cult favourite, often called “one of the most photogenic boots of its era.”
Now it’s back — and it looks better than ever.
Engineered For Today’s Game
While the look is faithful, adidas didn’t simply remake the past — they improved it.
The 2025 Predator Mania is crafted in the historic Scheinfeld factory in Germany, the birthplace of many legendary Predator lines.
Key enhancements include:
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Upgraded comfort
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Subtle structural refinement
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Increased responsiveness
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Modern fit for today’s style of play
In short:
Old-school swagger meets high-performance engineering.
Back On The Bernabéu Grass
The revival feels even more fitting because two current Real Madrid stars — Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold — will bring the Gunmetal Mania back to the Santiago Bernabéu pitch.
From Beckham’s free-kick artistry to Bellingham’s midfield dominance and Trent’s laser passing…
the Predator legacy remains in elite company.
Adidas couldn’t have scripted a better generational handover.
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