United News of Bangladesh

Days are counting close for the ever-prestigious Ballon d’Or award to announce its 2025 winner. Among so many raving performances from the world’s best players, the contest for the Ballon d’Or title hasn’t decayed a strand as feared for the post-Messi-Ronaldo era. Here are the names of the top 5 favourites for the title who have entertained the world of football throughout the 2024-2025 season. Ballon d'Or 2025 Power Rankings . Raphinha (Barcelona) Spotlights have been flooding Raphinha ever since he joined Barcelona and started manifesting his charismatic talent and skill by scoring consistently for the club. The charm beams even brighter after his 13 goals and nine assists performed in La Liga play, surpassing other title contenders. Everyone questioned when Barcelona, one of the most prestigious clubs in the world, showed interest in Raphinha, who later cleared the doubts by leading the club to several victories. After a dreamlike Champions League in which Raphinha scored nine goals and assisted four more, the flashiest hattrick against Bayern Munich, and an epic La Liga, Raphinha is flaming with 31 goals and 21 assists right now. Barcelona, currently dominating La Liga, playing the semi-final in Copa del Rey, preparing for a comeback in the Champions League, and reforming under their new manager Hansi Flick, depends much on the magical chances the young Brazilian creates with his feet. Read more: Thousands welcome football star Hamza Choudhury home to his village in Sylhet Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) Kylian Mbappe’s start at Real Madrid was nothing remarkable, yet the French star didn’t take long before exploding into life and becoming the undisputed best in the Galactico-laden Real Madrid. Even after spending the first three months struggling to score consistently, he has reminded the world how easy for him to do what seems impossible for others by scoring 31 goals and assisting with another 5 in the season’s rest. Though he still lacks his signatory creative work, thanks to his new position as the centre-mid, the 2018 World Cup winner declared his revival with a gripping hat-trick against Manchester City last month. It’s also no wonder how much Mbappe craves the Ballon d’Or title, given that his own country confers the award. With his newly realized comfort among his teammates in his new club, he now rushes forward to touch that dream. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) Everything has been favouring Mohamed Salah, leading him fast to the Ballon d’Or’s golden ball until the rhythm fell with Liverpool crashing out of the Champions League in the Round of 16. Things have gone even more south after his lacklustre presence against PSG and with his contract at Liverpool ending this summer.  With a staggering show of rediscovered form, scoring 34 goals and 22 assists, the Egyptian King has kindled hope of becoming the first African Ballon d’Or winner since George Weah in 1995. If everything were set for perfection, the 2025 title bestowing on him would be well-judged. Now with no big international club games up front and an impotent summer ahead, Mohamed Salah’s hope for Ballon d’Or may seem slim; nevertheless, it lives to see how other contenders leverage their summer. Read more: BFF names UCB as sponsor of National Men’s Football team for next five years Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) Harry Kane, the 31-year-old Bayern Munich frontrunner, is still sensational and giving his best to win his first-ever international trophy. Kane has been the ideal number 9 for his club under any coach, with an armament of polished skills to lead an attack or cook a quick counter-attack. Bagging 35 goals and 11 assists for his club, Kane is as dangerous as ever, showing no weakness or reluctance to stop too soon. Though he is in close combat with Lewandowski in goal count, he stands above with a higher assist number. Ballon d’Or voters have always been demonstrating with their winners that goals alone can’t help players win the trophy. And only a few players can match the versatility Harry Kane radiates on the field. Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain) Paris Saint-Germain homeboy Ousmane Dembele shines the brightest in his career with his head-turning performance both in Ligue 1 and the Champions League. Since leaving Borussia Dortmund for Barcelona, he has been facing despise for his struggle to demonstrate his potential on the field. But the young French striker rebounds like a mammoth in the middle of his second season playing for PSG. With 31 goals and seven assists, he is now carrying the torch of his club’s hope to reach the end of its leagues. Conclusion Only a few international events took place in the last season, leaving the Ballon d’Or authority with no choice but to appraise contenders mostly based on their club performances. Players from the most popular clubs are rooting for their chance to grab the honour that comes with the Ballon d’Or 2025 win, making fans hold their breath and cross their fingers out of the sheer thrill of watching a close fight among their heroes. Read more: Bangladesh-origin English Premier League footballer Hamza Chowdhury arrives Monday

Ousmane Dembélé scored a stoppage-time winner as Paris Saint-Germain beat Monaco 1-0 to win the Champions Trophy on Sunday. The France winger was unmarked at the back post to meet a low cross from the left by Fabian Ruiz in the second minute of added time. PSG won the trophy, also known as the French Super Cup, for the third straight time and a record-extending 13th overall. PSG won the league and cup double last season, with Monaco finishing second in the league. “The result reflects our domination,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said, while Monaco coach Adi Hütter conceded PSG played better. “A goal in the last minute always feels like a knife in the back,” Hütter said. “PSG deserved to win if we're being honest, they had more chances.” The match took place at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, with PSG owned by Qatar-based QSI since 2011. Désiré Doué hit the crossbar early on for PSG and Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Köhn made several saves. Monaco improved after the break and hit the post through Eliesse Ben Seghir and Brazilian defender Vanderson. Although Köhn made a fine save to deny Achraf Hakimi in the 74th minute, he failed to properly read Ruiz's cross and Monaco missed out on winning the trophy for the first time since 2000. Marseille marches on Marseille strengthened its grip on second place in the French league, moving three points ahead of third-place Monaco after routing Le Havre 5-1 at home. Read: Jiménez scores twice as Fulham secures a 2-2 draw with Ipswich Ghana's Andre Ayew was on the wing for Le Havre against his former club. He scored 60 goals in 209 games for Marseille from 2007-15 and won two League Cups. His brother, Jordan Ayew, and his father — Abedi Pele — both played for the club. Marseille opened the scoring against 17th-place Le Havre in the 25th minute when midfielder Valentin Rongier drilled a low shot into the left corner from 20 meters out. Rongier's rare strike was followed by a first league goal for midfielder Bilal Nadir, who turned neatly before arrowing a shot in off the left post in the 39th. It was a special moment for Nadir, who ruptured his left ACL one year ago and was given a new contract by the club as a show of faith. Moments before halftime, striker Neal Maupay headed in from close range and Mason Greenwood broke down the right to set up substitute Elye Wahi midway through the second half. Ulisses Garcia added the fifth goal for coach Roberto De Zerbi's side. Home fans at Stade Velodrome chanted Ayew's name after he headed in a consolation goal in the 85th. Ayew applauded the fans back when he went off moments later. PSG is seven points ahead of Marseille after 16 rounds. Toulouse climbed up to eighth place with a 1-0 win at seventh-place Lens, which leads Toulouse on goal difference. Read more: BPL Football: Mohammedan maintain all-win run Striker Zakaria Aboukhlal scored a penalty in the 73rd. The goal came shortly after Lens midfielder David Pereira da Costa was shown a second yellow card following a video review and was sent off. Angers beat Brest 2-0, and Strasbourg rallied to win 3-1 at home to Auxerre and move into 10th spot. Esteban Lepaul scored early on for Angers and fellow striker Ibrahima Niane, who replaced Lepaul in the 75th, wrapped up the win in stoppage time. Strasbourg's goals came from captain Habib Diarra, Félix Lemarechal and forward Emanuel Emegha, after Hamed Traore gave Burgundy side Auxerre an early lead in Alsace.

Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele will be sidelined for about six months after undergoing surgery to repair a hamstring tear, missing the rest of the season and the European Championship with France.