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‘They’re not ready,’ Vinicius Jr defiant after losing Ballon d’Or to Rodri

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9 months ago

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Source: Rodriguez, Vinicius And Bellingham Description:

Brazil and Real Madrid forward,  Vinicius Jr, said on Monday that he will keep on fighting racism even if his activism is what led to him not winning the Ballon d’Or, sources close to the player told Reuters.

Despite being regarded favourite, Vinicius finished second in the prestigious award voting behind Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodriguez. Many took to social media to express outrage over the outcome.

The Brazilian also took to social media after the awards to say he will keep fighting again racism.

“I will do it 10 times if I have to. They’re not ready,” Vinicius posted on X after his LaLiga side Real Madrid cancelled their plans to attend the ceremony in Paris, boycotting it in anticipation of the Brazilian not winning the men’s award.

Asked what Vinicius meant with his post, his management staff told Reuters that he was referring to his fight against racism.

They believe it was what led to him not winning the award, saying that “the football world is not ready to accept a player who fights against the system.”

The 24-year-old Brazil international has been subjected to racial abuse on several occasions in Spain, leading to at least two convictions for racist insults in pioneer cases in the country.

Real also won the Men’s Club of the Year award, and their manager Carlo Ancelotti was named Men’s Coach of the Year after winning the European and Spanish league double in a near-perfect campaign last season.

France Football, which organises the Ballon d’Or awards, was not immediately available for comment.

The awards are based on voting by a panel of journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries.

“FOOTBALL POLITICS X. My brother, you are the best player in the world and no award can say otherwise. Love you, my bro,” Real’s Eduardo Camavinga posted on X.

While several other teammates shared messages with photos of Vinicius saying “You are the best”.

“I waited all year for Vini Jr to be deservedly recognised as the best player in the world and now they come to tell me that the Ballon d’Or is not for him?” Brazilian women’s great Marta said in a video on Instagram.

Vinicius was instrumental in Real’s Champions League-LaLiga double along with 21-year-old Jude Bellingham, who scored 19 goals in a sparkling debut campaign and helped England reach the Euro 2024 final and came third in the Ballon d’Or ranking.

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Club World Cup 2025: Chelsea thrash PSG 3-0 to win final

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22 hours ago

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July 14, 2025

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Chelsea thrashed Paris Saint-Germain 3–0 in the Club World Cup final on Sunday.

The Blues were considered underdogs ahead of the game, in which they came up against the Ligue 1 and Champions League winners.

However, it was the Premier League club who flew out of the blocks in the first half, scoring the three goals that effectively decided the match.

Cole Palmer curled in a pair of identical goals from the right side of the box, putting Chelsea firmly in control at the MetLife Stadium.

Palmer then provided a slide-rule pass for João Pedro to make it 3–0, his third goal of the tournament since joining Chelsea.

There were no goals in the second half, as Enzo Maresca’s men held on to win the Club World Cup, in addition to the UEFA Conference League they clinched last month.

For PSG, they will not be winning an unprecedented sextuple, but they will have a chance to claim the UEFA Super Cup next month against Tottenham.

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Sporting President, Varandas reacts as Viktor Gyokeres skips pre-season amid Arsenal transfer push

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2 days ago

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July 13, 2025

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Frederico Varandas, Sporting CP president has expressed his displeasure after Viktor Gyokeres failed to turn up for the club’s pre-season amid the striker’s push to join Arsenal this summer.

Gyokeres is very desperate to join the Gunners and as a result he didn’t sto report to camp on Saturday evening for Sporting’s pre-season.

Arsenal supposedly offered a €65m bid plus €15m in performance-based add-ons, but Sporting wants a €70m plus a further €10m in bonuses for the Swedish player.

Speaking on the development, Varandas said (via Fabrizio Romano): “If they don’t want to pay Viktor’s fair market value, we are very comfortable with that for the next three years.

“This strategy is also making it more complicated for the player [Gyokeres] to leave.

“Nobody is above the interests of the club. Whoever they are”.

Varandas added that Sporting is calm as everything will be resolved before the summer transfer window will close.

He, however, suggested that the club will be imposed a huge fine on Gyokeres for not showing up for pre- season and the player will be asked to offer an apology.

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EPL: Replace Sanchez, you can’t win any trophy with him – Obi Mikel tells Chelsea

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2 days ago

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July 13, 2025

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John Obi Mikel, former Chelsea midfielder, has urged the Blues to replace goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez this summer.

According to the former Super Eagles captain, Chelsea can’t win any trophy in the new season with Sanchez as their number goalkeeper.

“A lot of the Chelsea fans can agree that we need another top goalkeeper because Sanchez isn’t doing it,” Obi Mikel told talkSPORT.

“The goalkeeper situation needs to be sorted out. We can’t go into the new season with Sanchez, I am sorry.

“I am sure that 99% of the Chelsea fans will agree with me that Sanchez isn’t the goalkeeper that’ll win us trophies. Definitely not.”

Last month, Obi Mikel urged Chelsea to sign Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.

The former Nigeria international insisted that Chelsea need Trubin in the new season.

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