Sport
Rodri Wins Ballon d’Or and Votes Real Madrid’s Carvajal and Vinicius
Manchester City’s star midfielder, Rodri, recently shared his surprising picks for the 2024 Ballon d’Or votes.
Despite his stellar performances this season, which ultimately earned him the prestigious title, he didn’t put himself on top when voting for the award.
Instead, he revealed he cast his vote for two Real Madrid standouts, Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior, selecting Carvajal as his second choice and Vinicius as his third.
Rodri’s win at the 2024 Ballon d’Or awards marks a major milestone in his career.
At 28, he’s risen to become one of football’s most consistent midfielders, playing a crucial role for both his club and country.
His contribution helped Manchester City secure another Premier League title, and he played a pivotal role in leading Spain to a memorable victory at Euro 2024 in Germany, further solidifying his place among the sport’s elite.
Reflecting on his votes, Rodri mentioned that he admired Carvajal’s defensive skills and leadership on the field, while Vinicius’s rapid growth and fearless style impressed him.
Both players, known for their dynamic performances at Real Madrid, have shown resilience and passion, becoming key figures in Spanish football.
Carvajal, with his wealth of experience, continues to be a defensive rock for Real Madrid, while Vinicius, at just 24, is carving his place as one of the world’s most exciting young talents, known for his explosive pace and creative flair.
In his interview with Partidazo Cope, Rodri expressed his admiration for his fellow players, stating, “I’d vote Dani Carvajal as 2nd at the Ballon d’Or and Vinicius Jr as 3rd.”
He also mentioned his respect for both players’ contributions on and off the field.
Sport
Super Eagles Star Calvin Bassey Opens Up on Nearly Walking Away from Football
Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has opened up about a difficult period in his career, revealing that he almost stepped away from football.
Speaking during a recent interview, Bassey shared that he once made a personal promise to himself to quit pursuing football professionally if he failed to secure a spot at a professional club.
“I remember being 15 and going into my final year, and I told myself that if I didn’t get into a professional club, I would quit football. It was that simple,” he said.
“I would just stop pursuing it seriously and only play for fun. Thank God I eventually got a club, because I honestly don’t know where I would be otherwise.”
Sport
CAF Fines Egypt $5,000 Over Post-Match Media Violation After Zimbabwe Clash
It has been reported that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) fined Egypt $5,000 following their clash with Zimbabwe for failing to manage post-match media obligations.
It was noted that after the match, the Egyptian players ignored the media. This action was said to be a violation of CAF’s media regulations, which led to the fine being imposed.
Sport
Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle Opens Up on Benching Big Names
Head of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, shared that the big-name players on the team are not happy about being benched.
He recalled when he took out Samuel Chukwueze during the match against Tanzania.
“Yes, of course, we’ve in this team a lot of big names. They are competitors; they aren’t happy when they go to the bench,” Chelle said at his post-match interview.”
“My job is to make choices, and we’re playing a 4-4-2 diamond, and at this moment I feel we have to protect the wing.”
