Lionel Messi edged out Virgil van Dijk to claim the Ballon d Or for a record sixth time on Monday.
The Barcelona superstar climbed four places from his 2018 ranking as he beat runner-up Van Dijk and third-placed Cristiano Ronaldo to the most prestigious individual accolade in world football.
Messi s win, announced at a ceremony in Paris, is his first since 2015 and moves him one ahead of long-time rival Ronaldo.
Luka Modric ended the pair s monopoly 12 months ago but even a Champions League triumph for Liverpool defender Van Dijk failed to keep Messi from reclaiming his crown.
WHAT AN IMAGE!
When Luka Modric gives the Ballon d Or to Lionel Messi
— #BallondOr (@francefootball)
The brilliant Argentina international continu…
Mikel Arteta is unsure whether Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will rediscover his best form in 2021-22.
Aubameyang signed a huge £250,000 per week contract at Emirates Stadium in September 2020 but then failed to live up to his billing as the Gunners slumped to eighth in the Premier League last term.
The former Borussia Dortmund forward endured by far the worst season of his Premier League career, contributing 10 goals along with three assists.
His 13 goal involvements were his fewest in a single campaign in England, including 2017-18 when he joined in the January and tallied 10 goals and four assists.
Aubameyang has turned 32 since the end of 2020-21 and it was put to manager Arteta on Thursday that this could be the start of an extended slum…
Pablo Zabaleta believes that Manchester City s dramatic Premier League title win in 2012 will serve as a positive during this year s run-in.
City won their first Premier League crown two years ago at the Etihad Stadium when goals in injury time from Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero capped off a remarkable comeback against QPR.
A final-day 3-2 win saw City crowned champions on goal difference ahead of rivals Manchester United in one of the most thrilling title races of recent times.
Zabaleta reckons City are a stronger team for that experience and is hopeful it will stand them in good stead for this season s run-in.
I think we were talking about that (2011-12 title win) this week, said the Argentina international in quotes reported by the British media.
We know …
First place in the NFC North is on the line tonight when the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers clash at Lambeau Field. Detroit is riding a three-game winning streak in this heated inter-divisional rivalry, although the Lions will have their hands full against a pesky Packers squad that keeps on finding ways to win. Jordan Love led Green Bay to an epic second-half comeback against the New Orleans Saints in Week 3, and will be keen to keep the momentum rolling this evening on Thursday Night Football.
While there are a number of different subscription-based TV channels and streaming services available to watch this game, did you know that you can also live stream Lions vs. Packers directly from legal sports betting sites?
Caesars, BetRivers…
The NFL season is entering the home stretch and with it comes a ton of opportunistic prop markets. We’re looking into every market to uncover some of the week’s best side, team, player, and derivative prop bets, doing the heavy lifting for you.
Week 14 kicks off with a pair of inconsistent clubs looking to keep their playoff hopes alive as the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to take on the Minnesota Vikings.
Can Big Ben and the passing game build off last week’s victory over the Ravens? Can Kirk Cousins shine in primetime? Find out in our free prop picks and predictions for the TNF’s Week 14 game between the Steelers and Vikings.
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As we enter Week 7 of the NFL season, star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. remains unsigned and could be a massive piece for a contending team.
Beckham spent the first five seasons of his career on the New York Giants, where he was named to the All-Pro team twice and earned three Pro Bowl nominations. Following an odd stint in Cleveland, the 29-year-old was traded to the Los Angeles Rams midway through last season and helped put L.A. over the top to win Super Bowl LVI.
The Rams are currently favored to bring back OBJ at +200. Find out where other teams stand, including the organization that initially drafted him back in 2014.
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Thursday Night Football features a Week 5 odds clash between the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders. The Commanders come into tonight’s contest as 5.5-point favorites, according to NFL odds, and are well-backed to beat an 0-4 Bears team.
I’ve taken a look at Justin Fields’ odds, as much has been made of the Chicago quarterback’s struggles this year, and I’ll dive into my latest NFL picks for Thursday Night Football as the Bears try to recover from blowing a lead over the Broncos last weekend.
For more TNF odds analysis, check out our full Commanders vs. Bears predictions, as well as our TNF prop picks.
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It’s a battle of the backups this evening on Thursday Night Football as Easton Stick and the Los Angeles Chargers take on Aidan O’Connell and the Las Vegas Raiders. The 28-year-old Stick was pressed into duty on Sunday after Justin Herbert broke his right index finger against the Broncos. The little-known reserve responded well, completing 13 of his his 24 pass attempts for 179 yards, but LA was unable to escape with the win, falling 24-7. This will be the first start of his career after spending two seasons roaming the sidelines with a clipboard in his hands.
O’Connell, meanwhile, will be making his seventh start after the Raiders benched Jimmy Garoppolo following a dismal 3-5 start to the season. The Purdue product has thrown seven interceptions to just four touchd…
Before we get started, let’s pour one out for Mike Vrabel’s 58% ATS success rate as an underdog with the Tennessee Titans. See you at the crossroads my friend…
Vrabel is gone, replaced by first-timer Brian Callahan as head coach in Tennessee. He inherits a team that could be headed for a horrible 2024 if the NFL odds are correct in their forecast.
The Titans are long shots all over the futures board, have a win total of 6.5 shaded to the Under, and are pegged as underdogs in all but one game. Where’s Vrabel when we need him, right?
Making matters worse in Music City is the departure of stud running back Derrick Henry, who at least gave Tennessee a reliable option on offense. The keys are now in the hands of second year QB …
The ghosts of campaigns past mean Steve Clarke must urge Scotland to get off to a brisk start to World Cup qualifying when Austria visit Hampden Park on Thursday. Since reaching the 1998 World Cup, Scotland have won only three of 11 opening games.
“I didn’t know that,” said Clarke. “I’m not getting six hours’ sleep a night anyway, thinking about my selection, and that’s just chopped it down to four.
David Squires on … Scotland’s joyous outpouring after 22 years of painRead more
“Listen, a good start is important. Without putting too much pressure on ourselves we want to start the group well. We won’t know until the end of the campaign what a good points total will be so it’s important we don’t…