Bellingham is among the favourites for the award.
Lionel Messi snubbed Jude Bellingham when asked to predict who could challenge for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Messi claimed the award for a record-extending eighth time last year after leading Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Messi and his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the Ballon d’Or over the last 15 years, with the Portuguese winning it on five occasions.
But with Ronaldo now playing in the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr and Messi plying his trade in the MLS with Inter Miami, it is widely expected the award will go to another name this year.
England star Jude Bellingham is among the favourites to claim the prize, having enjoyed an excellent debut season with Real Madrid.
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He scored 23 goals in 42 appearances to help the Spanish giants win both the Champions League and La Liga.
His club teammates Vinicius Jr and Toni Kroos are also among the favourites for the Ballon d’Or, along with Kylian Mbappe – who will move to Real from PSG on a free transfer this summer.
Bellingham could strengthen his claim for the award if England win the Euros, with the Three Lions facing Netherlands in their semi-final on Wednesday.
But a win for Bellingham could come as a surprise to former Barcelona star Messi.
Speaking after winning the Ballon d’Or last year, Messi snubbed the former Borussia Dortmund star when naming his predictions for the 2024 award.
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“[Erling] Haaland, [Kylian] Mbappe, Vinicius and many young players can compete for Ballon d’Or in the next years,” said Messi.
“I also think that Lamine Yamal, who is still very young and plays for Barcelona, will play a prominent role and fight for it in the future too.”
Bellingham is among the favourites for the Ballon d’Or (Image: Getty)
Bellingham has himself tipped Vinicius to win the Ballon d’Or when it is awarded at a ceremony in Paris on October 28.
“I’m not really too fussed about it,” he said in May.
“I always thought the Ballon d’Or and those sorts of things were for the strikers, the wingers and the flashy players.
“I know I can entertain the crowd, but no-one can do it like Vini. When he’s at his best, I think he’s the best player in the world. I know he likes to say the same about me, and that’s the kind of relationship we have.
“You don’t always have to be friends with your team-mates, but it helps when you can be so close off the pitch as well. And then, on the pitch, it reflects. We have a good understanding of each other’s movements.
“To be honest, if he was to win it, I’d feel just as proud as if I won it, because I know I’ve helped contribute to the success.”
Petition for Euro 2024 match to be replayed after controversial decision goes viral despite UEFA explanation (an)
The petition has gone viral.
A petition for a match at Euro 2024 to be replayed following a controversial decision has gained almost half a million signatures.
On Friday heavyweights Germany and Spain went head-to-head in a thrilling quarter-final in Stuttgart, but it was the tournament hosts who bowed out of the competition.
Spain looked set to progress until Florian Wirtz scored an 89th-minute equaliser to send the clash to extra-time.
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Spain then scored a late goal of their own, Mikel Merino heading home in the 119th-minute to snatch a 2-1 win and break German hearts.
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Shortly after the match, German supporters launched an online petition calling for the match to be replayed. They felt that their side should have been awarded a penalty during extra-time when Jamal Musiala’s shot struck the hand of Marc Cucurella.
Referee Anthony Taylor waved play on despite the protests of German players and fans, and Video Assistant Referee Stuart Attwell was happy with the on-field decision.
Based on the guidance gave to referees before the tournament, Taylor made the correct decision as Cucurella’s hand was not in an unnatural position when the ball struck it.
Roberto Rosetti, UEFA’s head of referees, told officials that he did not want to see penalties awarded for incidents where a defender’s arm is close to the body and in a near-vertical position.
Despite that, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann fumed after full-time: “I cannot understand why it was not evaluated, even though there were 48,000 replays.”
![The ball struck Marc Cucurella's hand [Getty]](https://i0.wp.com/sportstarbuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1720598201_494_GettyImages-2160868656.jpg?w=788&ssl=1)
The ball struck Marc Cucurella’s hand [Getty]
He later told reporters: “There is a rule and I hope there is no wrong decision. They applied the rule and it was not a penalty. I do not feel cheated.
“For me the question is about making it more practical, more logical, in terms of how this [handball] rule is assessed. I say this for football [in general] not today.
“You look at the hand, if it is at 3 o’clock, if it is a bit higher or a bit lower. But there are people with bigger muscles than me, different movements.”
Despite Nagelsmann’s admission that the rule was followed, a petition calling for the match to be replayed has been signed by almost 350,000 fans in less than two days.
What German fans have ignored is how Toni Kroos managed to stay on the pitch despite making several rough challenges.
Spain will face France in the semi-finals on Tuesday, before England take on the Netherlands on Wednesday.
One England player ‘refused to celebrate’ penalty shootout win as telling reaction spotted (an)
An England player did not immediately celebrate the penalty shoot-out triumph against Switzerland.
One England player appeared to initially refuse to celebrate the penalty shoot-out win over Switzerland.
Following a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes of action, the Three Lions emerged victorious via spot-kicks in Dusseldorf.
Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold all kept their cool to convert past Yann Sommer.
Helped by a water bottle containing key information on takers, Jordan Pickford made a superb save to deny Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji and ultimately set up a semi final showdown with the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Alexander-Arnold scored the winning spot-kick and sparked incredible scenes behind the goal.
Players quickly rushed over to the Liverpool star but one player refrained from doing so.
Images shared online showed Luke Shaw showing his class after Alexander-Arnold made no mistake from the spot.
Image: Getty
Instead of sprinting over along with his teammates, the Manchester United defender’s first thought was to go over to the Swiss players and console the likes of Granit Xhaka and Akanji.
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According to the Daily Express, Shaw attempted to shake hands with as many opposition players as possible.
Image: X/@Jonny_Singer
He did then join the rest of the players and was seen embracing Pickford.
Having been out of action since February due to a hamstring injury, the Southampton youth product made his first appearance of Euro 2024 after entering the fray in the 78th minute.
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His selection for the tournament was seen as a major gamble by fans and many viewed it as a pointless call after he missed a number of training sessions and matches.
Image: Getty
But Shaw managed more than half an hour on Saturday and gave the team a new type of balance on the left side of the backline.
And Frank Lampard believes Shaw, scorer in the Euro 2020 final, will get the nod for the semi final.
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Speaking on BBC One, Lampard said: “If Luke Shaw is fit, he starts. He’s Gareth’s man. If he’s fit, I would play him for the balance of the team.”
