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Cristiano Ronaldo could soon become a part of one of the biggest film franchises of the modern era, as Fast & Furious star Vin Diesel confirmed on social media that a role has been written for CR7 in the next instalment of the American movie series. Portugal and Al-Nassr superstar Ronaldo, 40, is nearing the end of his playing career and previously announced in April of this year that he was launching his own film studio alongside Matthew Vaughn.

• Ronaldo to feature in Fast & Furious?

  Vin Diesel took to Instagram to upload a photo taken alongside sporting icon Ronaldo, while fuelling speculation of a potential collaboration between the pair as he confirmed that the filmmakers had “written a role for him” to appear in the next Fast & Furious movie.

  The next instalment in the series will be Fast & Furious 11, believed to be called and is billed as the finale to the iconic saga which has been running since 2001. The street racing phenomenon may bring its final offering to screens in 2026 despite recent delays, meaning that time is running out for Ronaldo to become a part of the film in time for its release.

  The 40-year-old Al-Nassr striker has been expanding his off-field empire in preparation for life after football, as one of the biggest and most well-known celebrities on the planet. A pivot into the acting industry as one facet of his future career would come as no surprise, particularly as Ronaldo already announced the launch of his own film studio, UR•MARV, alongside director and producer Vaughn, in April 2025.

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• 'We wrote a role for him…' – Vin Diesel hints at Ronaldo appearance

  Vin Diesel, who plays Dominic Toretto in the Fast & Furious saga, said on Instagram of a possible Ronaldo appearance in the movie franchise: "Everyone asked, would he be in the Fast mythology… I gotta tell you he is a real one. We wrote a role for him… @cristiano."

• Ronaldo's film career could be underway after studio launch

  As mentioned, Ronaldo hit headlines in April 2025 after launching his very own film studio, which was said to be a collaboration between film and sport and involved a leading mind in each field in Ronaldo and well-known British film producer and director Vaughn. The launch also revealed that Ronaldo and Vaughn had already created two films together and were working on a third, with the promise of 'Hollywood stars' to feature in the venture.

  A statement on Ronaldo’s X page read: “Cristiano Ronaldo loves movies; Matthew Vaughn loves sport – and they both love a good story.

  “Both have been disruptive champions at their game and will now combine the world of sport and storytelling through the launch of UR•MARV, an independent joint venture film studio embracing innovative technology, with a nod to tradition.

  “Through UR•MARV, Ronaldo and Vaughn have financed and produced two action films together and are about to start a third in the same series. They look forward to announcing the first release soon.”

  Ronaldo said on the venture: “This is an exciting chapter for me, as I look ahead to new ventures in business.”

  Vaughn, famed for his work on the Kingsman franchise and the X-Men, added: “Cristiano has created stories on the pitch that I could never have written, and I look forward to creating inspiring movies with him – he’s a real-life superhero.”

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  Ronaldo the movie star could soon be on screens

  Though Ronaldo’s playing career is by no means over, with the 2026 World Cup around the corner and 11 goals in 12 games under his belt for Al-Nassr already this season, a sensational cameo from the great Portuguese in the final Fast & Furious movie could soon become a reality.

  Whether CR7 will have the opportunity to attend shooting for the film in time for its release is another matter, but there is no doubt that a venture into Fast & Furious would be another step in expanding his unmatched global profile yet further.

  It will also make for intriguing viewing whether Ronaldo and Vaughn’s collaborative film series hits screens in the coming years, and what role Ronaldo might play within the films if that is the case. But the launch of Cristiano the movie star could well be underway.

West Ham United are now looking to sign a “sensational” £35m midfielder who’s won the Premier League title two times, amid growing uncertainty surrounding his future…

West Ham eyeing new midfielder amid Paqueta uncertainty

West Ham star Lucas Paqueta recently admitted that he wanted to return to Brazil during the summer transfer window, saying: “Maybe I shouldn’t even be saying this, but I had some conversations with Filipe (Luís), who is a friend, in addition to the work he’s doing at Flamengo,”

“I really expressed my desire to return and also showed it to my agents.”

Ultimately, the attacking midfielder ended up staying put, however, and he has since gone on to put in some impressive performances in the Premier League, scoring three goals, most recently finding the back of the net in the 3-1 victory against Newcastle United.

That said, the Hammers won’t be particularly reassured by the fact one of their key players was angling for a move, and they have now set their sights on a new attacking midfielder, who could be brought in next summer.

That is according to the print edition of the Sunday Mirror (via West Ham Zone), with a report stating West Ham want to be kept informed about Harvey Elliott’s situation, having failed to make an impact since arriving at Aston Villa on loan from Liverpool.

Villa have an obligation to pay £35m for Elliott if he plays ten matches this season, but he hasn’t been getting a look-in as of late, which means Liverpool may recall the Englishman during the January transfer window.

The 22-year-old, who is represented by the same agency as Niclas Fullkrug, is viewed as a target for the summer, rather than this winter, but the Hammers may have to fend off rival interest, with RB Leipzig also named as potential suitors.

"Sensational" Elliott could reignite career at the London Stadium

The attacking midfielder’s move to Villa simply hasn’t worked out, but he is still very young, and there are plenty of signs he could be an exciting acquisition for West Ham, having impressed at times during his spell with Liverpool.

Related West Ham and Tottenham get Ivan Toney response after holding discussions

The Al-Ahli striker is fielding enquiries ahead of January.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Nov 29, 2025

The London-born midfielder made 149 appearances for the Reds, amassing 15 goals and 20 assists and playing a role in his side winning two Premier League titles, while the 28-cap England U21 star has also caught the eye at international level.

As such, West Ham should continue to monitor Elliott’s situation as the season goes on, ahead of potentially launching a move next summer, with the former Fulham man in need of a move to a club where game is guaranteed, if he is going to fulfill his potential.

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O Corinthians busca reforços para o setor defensivo e teria feito uma consulta ao zagueiro Thiago Heleno, do Athletico-PR.

➡️ Tudo sobre o Timão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Corinthians

De acordo com informações publicadas inicialmente pela jornalista Monique Vilela, o defensor agrada ao técnico António Oliveira, com quem trabalhou durante 2020 e 2021. Perguntado sobre o tema, Thiago Heleno garantiu que seu foco está no Furacão.

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– Meu foco é o Athletico, tenho contrato até o final do ano. Ainda não conversei com o presidente (Mario Celso Petraglia) sobre renovação. Em anos anteriores, isso foi tratado com muita clareza. Meu objetivo é treinar bem e ajudar a equipe, meus companheiros, quem está chegando. Foco está aqui, quero fazer o meu melhor – afirmou o capitão do Athletico, após a vitória sobre o São Joseense.

Com vínculo válido até o final de 2024, Thiago Heleno poderia assinar pré-contrato com o Corinthians ou outra equipe interessada na metade deste ano. Aos 35 anos, ele está na sua nona temporada pelo time paranaense.

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Uma das lideranças da equipe, o zagueiro soma mais de 300 jogos com a camisa do Furacão, além de oito títulos: Campeonato Paranaense (cinco), Copa Sul-Americana (duas) e Copa do Brasil (uma).

BUSCA DO TIMÃO

Tendo Thiago Heleno como opção, o Corinthians via o setor defensivo como uma das prioridades na busca por reforços. Quem está mais perto de ser contratado é o zagueiro Cacá, jogador emprestado ao Athletico-PR pelo Tokushima Vortis, do Japão.

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He has been included in ODI and T20I squads for the Pakistan tour in October

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Sep-2025

Quinton de Kock has reversed his retirement from ODI cricket and has been included in both ODI and T20I squads for the Pakistan tour in October as well as a one-off T20I in Namibia before that.De Kock had retired from 50-over cricket after the 2023 ODI World Cup, and his last white-ball game for South Africa was the 2024 T20 World Cup final in Barbados. While he never officially retired from T20Is, he was not included in any of South Africa’s squads and former coach Rob Walter was unsure of his long-term plans. In the meantime, he has been active in T20 leagues around the world, including the recently-concluded CPL.Shukri Conrad, the current head coach, has had a discussion with de Kock and said he has committed to the national team again.Related

De Kock is back on his own with 'no strings attached'

Bavuma out of Pakistan Test series with calf strain; Markram to lead

'Strange things happen in life' – de Kock is done with ODIs, or is he?

“Quinton’s return to the white-ball space is a major boost for us,” Conrad said. “When we spoke last month about his future, it was clear that he still has a strong ambition to represent his country. Everyone knows the quality he brings to the side, and having him back can only benefit the team.”At the time of his ODI retirement, de Kock had hinted that he might be convinced to come back, with South Africa’s home World Cup in 2027 on the horizon. “At this point, I don’t foresee it happening. But you never know. Strange things happen in life. It could be a possibility but I don’t think so,” he had said.De Kock has played 155 ODIs, in which he has 6770 runs at an average of 45.74 and a strike rate of 96.64. In 92 T20Is, he has 2584 runs at a strike rate of 138.32. He has played three ODI World Cups – 2015, 2019 and 2023 – and the only ICC tournament he missed after his retirement was the Champions Trophy earlier this year where South Africa were knocked out in the semi-final.

Fire fight back late with the ball but pay price for timid powerplay and costly early no-ball

ECB Media24-Aug-2025

Joe Root delivered a batting masterclass at Sophia Gardens, hitting his second successive half-century as Trent Rockets snuck past Welsh Fire with a ball to spare to confirm their qualification for the knockout phase.In a frenetic match, David Payne thought he had dismissed Root for a duck, only for the umpire to signal a no-ball after replays showed the bowler had over-stepped. The England run-machine promptly hit the subsequent free-hit for six over long-on and eventually finished unbeaten on 64 from 41 to secure a three-wicket win, keeping his composure in a chaotic finale.Set 151 for victory, the Rockets appeared to be cruising after a 66-run opening stand between Root and Tom Banton (32 from 20) but when Rehan Ahmed fell to Saif Zaib and Max Holden holed out to deep cover off Chris Green, the nerves began to show.Tom Moores went for a big shot and was caught at mid-on to give Green his second and then three wickets fell in the space of seven deliveries as the Fire set alarm bells ringing.The Rockets were left needing 14 from the final set, bowled by Green, but Root, entirely unruffled, belted the spinner’s first delivery for six and then found a boundary through mid-wicket from the second. A single brought Sam Hain on strike, and he crunched the ball through the covers to seize a thrilling victory.The Fire have had a tough season, winning just two of their seven matches, but they had given themselves a fighting chance after Steve Eskinazi’s first half-century of the campaign headlined a competitive total of 150-6.Runs were hard to come by early on as the Rockets seamers bowled tightly, conceding just 47 from the first 45 deliveries. Steve Smith gloved behind for 8 off Sam Cook (2 for 17), who then dismissed Jonny Bairstow, caught at backward-square by Lockie Ferguson for an uncharacteristically scratchy 13-ball 8.Eskinazi (53 from 42) and skipper Tom Abell (48 from 29) picked up the pace in the second half of the innings before falling to consecutive deliveries in the penultimate set – the former run out after a mix up and the latter caught behind off David Willey – and a breezy four-ball 11 from Green took the hosts to 150, but it wasn’t enough to lift them from the bottom of the table.The Rockets, meanwhile, have secured a top-three finish with a game to spare as they aim to repeat their title triumph of 2022. Victory in their home fixture against Birmingham Phoenix on Wednesday could yet see them top the table and progress straight to the Lord’s final if other results go their way.”Way too tense for my liking,” said Joe Root, the Meerkat Match Hero. “They pulled it back, this format is difficult to gauge. The majority of the game, the wicket played fine.”Green’s over, I thought I’ve got to hit a six here. We needed a boundary in the first two balls, I had a good idea of what he was trying to do to protect that long side, and I put a couple away. “

It’s the start of a new era for Newcastle United at boardroom level.

Last week, Ross Wilson was appointed as the club’s new sporting director.

They’ll be hoping he sticks around in the role, having succeeded Paul Mitchell, who held the position for only a year, while Dan Ashworth only held the post for two years, before being placed on extended gardening leave prior to his ill-fated five-month stint at Manchester United.

Wilson himself has previously been a sporting director at Huddersfield, Southampton, Rangers and, most recently, Nottingham Forest, spending two seasons in the East Midlands before now heading to Tyneside.

Under Saudi ownership, Newcastle are certainly one of the most ambitious clubs around, so Wilson is likely to oversee plenty of high-profile deals, but which current squad members will need to be phased out in the coming year or so?

Newcastle's squad transition under PIF

Since the Saudi takeover in 2021, a lot of the Newcastle squad have remained virtual ever-presents.

Eddie Howe has been in charge of 183 matches to date, with 12 players featuring in at least 100 of them, nine of which are currently at the club.

Sean Longstaff, Miguel Almirón and Alexander Isak are the only trio of exceptions, and the latter’s record-breaking departure could signal the start of a new era.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Using the £125m yielded from the no longer very popular Swede’s sale, the Magpies spent around £256m last summer, recruiting five new senior players on a permanent basis.

Yoane Wissa and Jacob Ramsey are yet to make much of an impact due to injury, but Anthony Elanga and Malick Thiaw have established themselves as part of the first-choice lineup, while Nick Woltemade has made quite the early impression, scoring four goals already.

So, while players such as Bruno Guimarães, Fabian Schär, Dan Burn, Jacob Murphy, Joelinton, Anthony Gordon and Nick Pope have been stalwarts of the Newcastle team for around four years, players are going to have to be eased out, and for one in particular, he could be on borrowed time.

Newcastle's ageing star set to be phased out

Kieran Trippier will always go down in history as Newcastle’s first signing of the Saudi era, arriving in January 2022 for around £12m.

With previous club Atlético Madrid, he’d won the La Liga title the season before and was first-choice for England at the time, thereby representing a major coup for a side in the Premier League relegation zone at the time.

Well, to date, he has made 132 appearances for the Magpies, starting all eight Champions League fixtures they’ve had, as well as both EFL Cup Finals, donning the armband during the defeat to Manchester United at Wembley.

So far this season, Trippier has also started five of seven Premier League fixtures, but was left on the bench against Bournemouth, before coming on towards the end against Arsenal after Tino Livramento was stretchered off with a knee ligament issue.

Considering he’s set to be sidelined for around eight weeks, Trippier will be required to deputise for now, but there’s already started to be a changing of the guard in terms of Newcastle full-backs, with Livramento earning three England caps, while Lewis Hall’s performances on the opposite side are catching the eye too.

Writer Scott Wilson labelled Trippier Newcastle’s “talisman” shortly after his arrival but, now 35 years old, his importance is starting to be diminished.

So, let’s compare the England international’s statistics from last season to the year before.

As the table outlines, by pretty much every metric included, Trippier’s numbers worsened last season compared to the year before.

His chance creation numbers drastically decreased, as did his out-of-possession statistics, including ball recoveries and tackles.

This is a clear sign of a player in decline, which is to be expected given the player’s age, but with Trippier in the final year of his contract, one of Wilson’s biggest challenges will be finding a replacement who has not only his quality but also his leadership skills.

Before Dan Burn: Newcastle "leader" is the first player Wilson must ditch

This Newcastle United star, who was once called a leader by Alan Shearer, is now on borrowed time on Tyneside.

By
Kelan Sarson

Oct 13, 2025

AC Milan have reportedly asked USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino to omit star player Christian Pulisic from his upcoming squad. The Serie A side want the winger to finalise his recovery in Milan to be fit for the derby match against Inter, as manager Massimiliano Allegri seeks to finally deploy Pulisic in attack alongside Rafael Leao in the crucial fixture.

• Pulisic nearing return as injury rehab continues

  Milan are in discussions with US Soccer to request that Pulisic be left out of Pochettino's upcoming USMNT squad, according to a report from . The Rossoneri are eager to manage the winger's final stage of recovery from a hamstring injury at the club's headquarters ahead of the crucial derby clash with Inter after the international break.

  Pulisic's return is seen as a vital solution for manager Allegri, who is reportedly enduring a strained relationship with striker Santiago Gimenez. The 27-year-old winger is recovering from a tear to the biceps femoris in his right thigh, an injury he sustained while on international duty during a friendly against Australia in the last break.

  While the initial prognosis suggested a 20-day absence, his recovery may be slightly ahead of schedule. Pulisic will miss Milan's upcoming Serie A fixture against Atalanta in Bergamo on Tuesday. However, he could be in contention for a return at San Siro against Roma on Sunday. If that match is deemed too soon, his return is considered certain for the following game against Parma.

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  Pulisic provides update as Milan seek USMNT exemption

  Pulisic confirmed he is progressing well in a recent social media post, easing concerns over a long-term lay-off.

  "It's been a tough couple of weeks, but my recovery is going great, and I can't wait to get back," he posted.

  With Pulisic not expected to be 100 percent fit before the international break, Milan have begun mediation with US Soccer. reports that the club has asked for Pulisic to be omitted from the squad for the upcoming friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay.

  At a minimum, Milan hope Pochettino will excuse the player from the second friendly against Uruguay, which is set to be played in New Jersey. The Rossoneri's primary motivation is the Derby della Madonnina against Inter, scheduled for the first weekend after the break. Having Pulisic remain at the club for a full training block is seen as a significant turning point for their preparations.

• Allegri's 'ideal attack' hampered by Gimenez-Pulisic-Leao issues

  Pulisic’s return is viewed by Allegri as the key to solving his side's "striker problem." The report from Calciomercato states that the relationship between Allegri and striker Gimenez is at an "all-time low," with the Mexican international starting more from a lack of alternatives than tactical preference.

  Allegri has reportedly been keen to deploy his ideal attacking duo of Pulisic and Leao, a partnership he has not been able to test this season due to successive injuries to both players. Before his injury, Pulisic was in strong form, registering four goals and two assists in six Serie A appearances.

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  What next for Pulisic and AC Milan?

  While Pulisic focuses on his recovery, Milan must navigate their midweek clash with Atalanta without him. All eyes will then turn to his potential availability for the Roma fixture and the subsequent decision from USMNT coach Pochettino.

  An exemption from international duty would be a major boost for Allegri as he looks to finally field his first-choice attack for the high-stakes derby against Inter.

Key wickets dent Gloucestershire’s hopes after pair of half-centuries

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay24-May-2025

Gloucestershire 156 for 4 (Bancroft 60, Hammond 51) trail Northamptonshire 469 (Zaib 159, Sales 81, Harrison 63) by 313 runsNorthamptonshire leg-spinner Calvin Harrison followed up a career-best knock of 63 with two wickets to keep his side in control of their Rothesay County Championship clash against Gloucestershire at Wantage Road.Harrison, on loan from Nottinghamshire, shared a ninth-wicket partnership of 90 with Liam Guthrie as the home side posted a daunting total of 469, built around Saif Zaib’s career-high 159.Visiting captain Cameron Bancroft defied Northamptonshire with a gritty 60 – his first half-century in seven innings – while Miles Hammond hit a more pugnacious 51, but both fell shortly before stumps to leave Gloucestershire 156 for four, still 164 short of the follow-on target.Harrison finished the day with two for 40, with Luke Procter and Harry Conway picking up a wicket apiece.Resuming on 327 for six, Northamptonshire built steadily throughout the morning session, with Lewis McManus square cutting Matt Taylor to the boundary to take his stand with Zaib into three figures.Taylor had McManus caught behind for 43 in his next over, persuading the right-hander to nibble outside off stump, but Zaib soon progressed to 150 for the first time as the home side pocketed a third batting bonus point.They declined to attempt a swift dash for a fourth, particularly after Zaib’s marathon knock finally came to an end, slashing Archie Bailey to slip, but Harrison, who drove confidently on the off side – including an all-run four off Bailey – and Guthrie batted capably.Gloucestershire brought back Zaman Akhter, who had been wayward early on, for a second spell at the David Capel End and Guthrie immediately steered him to the long-on boundary, prompting them to switch to an all-spin attack leading up to lunch.That included the occasional off-breaks of Hammond, who continued after the interval but was soon targeted as Harrison, having passed his half-century, thumped him to the fence twice in quick succession.Fellow spinner Ollie Price made the breakthrough when Harrison reverse-swept him into the hands of backward point and, with Guthrie holing out for 33 in Graeme van Buuren’s next over, it was finally time for Gloucestershire’s openers to strap on their pads.There was an early scare for Bancroft, who dragged Guthrie onto his pad rather than the stumps, while Ben Charlesworth survived a hesitant inside edge off Conway in similar fashion.The pair appeared to have settled into their rhythm, but Procter’s consistent spell as first change brought rewards when he found the outside edge of Charlesworth’s bat and Ricardo Vasconcelos snapped up the chance at slip.However, Bancroft kept the scoreboard ticking along after tea, leg-glancing Conway to the rope and then flicking the seamer off his hips for four more while Ollie Price dropped anchor at the other end.Price had just begun to flex his muscles by sweeping Harrison for two boundaries and tried to turn the leg-spinner around the corner again – but Vasconcelos anticipated the shot and scurried around behind McManus to take the catch.New batter Hammond held firm and flourished against the spinners, scoring freely on both sides of the wicket to reach his fourth 50 of the campaign from 60 balls, sharing a stand of 80 with Bancroft.But Harrison returned to pin Hammond leg before and the skipper departed in the next over, caught down the leg side off Conway as Gloucestershire limped through to the close.

تلقى نادي برشلونة بعض الأمل عقب الخسارة التي تعرض لها الفريق يوم أمس الأحد أمام ريال مدريد في كلاسيكو الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى.

برشلونة مني بخسارة قاسية أمام ريال مدريد بهدفين مقابل هدف واحد على ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو في قمة الجاولة العاشرة من الدوري الإسباني، ليبتعد البلوجرانا بفارق خمس نقاط عن الميرنجي المتصدر.

ولعب برشلونة بشكل سيء حقًا ضد ريال مدريد وتلقى الفريق انتقادات عديدة، حيث لم يظهر رجال المدرب هانز فليك ردة فعل قوية أمام رغبة الفريق الملكي في الانتصار.

لكن برشلونة حصل على أنباء سعيدة في تدريبات الفريق، حيث ذكرت صحيفة سبورت، أن روبرت ليفاندوفسكي عاد من جديد إلى تدريبات الفريق الجماعية اليوم الإثنين.

اقرأ أيضًا .. أول رد فعل من ريال مدريد على تصرفات فينيسيوس في الكلاسيكو

وأكدت الصحيفة، أن ليفاندوفسكي تعافى بشكل تام من إصابته ومن المتوقع أن ينضم بشكل تدريجي إلى التدرب بشكل طبيعي مع بقية زملائه في برشلونة، بينما تبدو حالته الصحية في أفضل حال.

وأوضحت الصحيفة، أن ليفاندوفسكي عاد بعد أسبوعين فقط من غيابه بسبب الإصابة، وقد يكون جاهزًا للعب بشكل طبيعي مع برشلونة الأسبوع المقبل أمام إلتشي بالدوري الإسباني.

كما أفادت صحيفة موندو ديبورتيفو، أن حارس مرمى برشلونة، خوان جارسيا، هو الآخر يتعافى بشكل جيد من إصابته التي كان يعاني منها في الغضروف الداخلي لركبته اليسرى والتي تعرض لها خلال مواجهة البرسا ضد ريال أوفييدو بالدوري الإسباني، ما جعله يخضع لعملية جراحية يوم 27 سبتمبر الماضي.

وأردفت الصحيفة، أن جارسيا سيتم تقييم وضع إصابته يوم الأربعاء المقبل بجانب ليفاندوفسكي، وعلى أساسه سيتحدد أمر مشاركة الثنائي أمام إلتشي.

Former France captain Olivier Giroud has explained the key behind Ousmane Dembele’s Ballon d’Or success after admitting he never imagined his former France teammate would one day win the award. The Paris Saint-Germain forward capped off a remarkable season with 35 goals and a Champions League win, becoming the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner on Monday night.

• From Barca flop to Ballon d’Or winner

  Dembele’s career has had its ups and downs. At Barcelona, he struggled with injuries and inconsistency, leading many to doubt if he could ever live up to his price tag. But his move to PSG in 2023 proved decisive, as he regained form and fitness and became a key figure in their first-ever Champions League title win.

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• Giroud admits surprise after Dembele’s exceptional PSG season

  Speaking to , Giroud admitted that while Dembele’s ability was never in question, he did not see him as a future Ballon d’Or winner during their time together with the French national team.

  “Would I see him as a potential Ballon d'Or winner? It’s hard to say, but when I saw him every day in the French national team, no, I didn’t necessarily see it as a possibility,” the former France captain added.

  “To win the Ballon d’Or, you have to have the talent, but also a good season. He has the talent, but he had to have a good season, at the right club, while winning everything. The Ballon d’Or always depends on collective successes.”

• AFP
  

  Dembele joins French greats with Ballon d’Or win

  The PSG star became only the sixth Frenchman in history to lift the Ballon d’Or, following in the footsteps of Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane and Karim Benzema. In his career-best season, the Frenchman led his team to the Quintuple, scoring 35 goals and providing 16 assists. 

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  What's next for Dembele?

  Dembele sat out PSG’s rescheduled Ligue 1 clash with Marseille on Monday as he continues to recover from an injury picked up during the international break. The winger is targeting a return this weekend, with hopes of being available for the club against Auxerre on Saturday.