Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has admitted he is still haunted by his Ballon d’Or disappointment at Bayern Munich. The Poland international was favourite for the 2020 award before it was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and then came second to Lionel Messi in the vote the following year.

Lewandowski opens up on Golden Ball woesClaims peak career form was overlookedTips Yamal, Raphinha for future awardsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Lewandowski looked a shoo-in for the 2020 Ballon d’Or after an extraordinary season with Bayern Munich. His lethal finishing had powered the German giants to a domestic and European treble, and he sat at the very top of the world game. But in a twist that still gnaws at him, the award was scrapped entirely that year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was a decision that denied Lewandowski his best chance at footballing immortality, and one that he has not forgotten.

AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Determined to prove himself again, Lewandowski returned in 2021 with an even more jaw-dropping individual campaign. The striker smashed Gerd Muller’s long-standing Bundesliga record with 41 goals in a single season, firing Bayern to a ninth straight league crown. 

Getty Images SportDID YOU KNOW?

Still, when the Ballon d’Or votes were counted, it was Messi who claimed the Golden Ball. The Argentine had enjoyed a stellar year of his own, scoring 38 goals, assisting 14 more, and leading Barcelona to Copa del Rey glory. Crucially, he had also spearheaded Argentina’s Copa America triumph, their first major title in nearly three decades.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT LEWANDOWSKI SAID

Messi used his victory speech to praise Lewandowski, telling the audience he “deserved” the 2020 honour. But for the Polish forward, the sentiment did little to ease the hurt.

"I was in the best moment of my career, I won everything with my club," he said in a new interview with the "I think the difficult thing with that case is until now I don't know why."

MatériaMais Notícias

Em busca da primeira vitória na temporada, o Vasco enfrenta o Audax Rio, nesta quinta-feira, no Luso-Brasileiro, pela segunda rodada do Campeonato Carioca. No jogo de estreia, o Cruz-Maltino empatou com o Madureira, em São Januário, por 0 a 0, com um time formado majoritariamente por jogadores da base.

+ Confira as movimentações do Vasco no Mercado da Bola

As crias terão mais uma vez a missão de representar o time profissional do Vasco, já que o elenco principal está excursionando nos Estados Unidos. O interino Emílio Faro ganhou oito reforços da equipe que disputou a última Copinha. Dentre eles GB e Rayan, destaques da campanha que terminou de forma precoce, com a eliminação na segunda fase da competição. Ambos devem estrear pelos profissionais.

RelacionadasFutebol NacionalFerj acata pedido do Vasco e altera data de clássico contra o BotafogoFutebol Nacional18/01/2023VascoFerj altera local do jogo entre Vasco e Nova IguaçuVasco18/01/2023VascoVasco alternativo terá reforços caseiros para o jogo contra o Audax RioVasco18/01/2023

O zagueiro Robson, contratado por empréstimo junto ao Nice, da França, fará a sua estreia com a camisa do Vasco. O jogador, que ficou de fora dos amistosos nos Estados Unidos para aprimorar a parte física, é titular no confronto. O volante De Lucca segue no departamento médico se recuperando de uma lesão muscular.

FICHA TÉCNICA
AUDAX RIO X VASCO
Local:Luso-Brasileiro, Ilha do Governador, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Data e hora: Quinta-feira (19/01), às 21h10 (Brasília)
Árbitro:Bruno Mota Correia (RJ)
Assistentes: Rodrigo Figueiredo Henrique Corrêa (RJ) e Thiago Filemon Soares Pinto (RJ)
Onde assistir: Band e Tempo Real do LANCE!

AUDAX-RJ (Técnico: Júnior Lopes)
Leandro; Lucas Motta, Rafael Castro, Thomáz Kayck e Kaio; Kéverton, Diego Valderrama, Romarinho e Higor Leite; Raphael Lopes e Emerson Urso.

VASCO (Técnico: Emílio Faro)
Halls; Rodrigo, Pimentel (Robson), Zé Vitor e Paulo Victor; Matheus Barbosa, Galarza e Juninho; Erick, Zé Santos (GB) e Paixão.

​Desfalques: Riquelme, Gabriel Dias, De Lucca e Laranjeira (departamento médico).

أعلن الموقع الرسمي لنادي نانت الفرنسي عن قائمة اللاعبين المرشحين للفوز بجائزة لاعب الشهر خلال شهر أغسطس الماضي.

وذكر نانت في رسالة لجماهيره: “حان الوقت لك، مشجع الفريق الأخضر والأصفر أن تختار بنفسك أفضل لاعب في شهر أغسطس”.

ويتنافس المهاجم المصري مصطفى محمد على جائزة لاعب الشهر إلى جانب أنتوني لوبيز وتايليل تاتي وجوهان ليبنانت. 

﹅ Qui sera votre Canari du mois d’août ?

✘ Anthony Lopes
✘ @mmostafa_11
✘ @johann_lepenant
✘ Tylel Tati

À toi de voter sur l’application 📲 — FC Nantes (@FCNantes) September 3, 2025

وأكد نانت أنه يمكن لجماهيره التصويت على لاعب الشهر، حتى يوم الجمعة القادم الموافق 5 سبتمبر 2025.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فيديو | مصطفى محمد يسجل ويقود نانت لأول فوز بـ الدوري الفرنسي أمام أوكسير

وكان مصطفى محمد قد منح فريقه ثلاث نقاط بهدفه الذي سجله أمام أوكسير، ليحقق نانت الفوز الأول في الدوري الفرنسي بعد هزيمتين متتاليتين في الجولتين الأولى والثانية.

ويتواجد حالياً مصطفى محمد ضمن معسكر منتخب مصر استعداداً لمباراتي تصفيات كأس العالم 2026، أمام إثيوبيا يوم الجمعة 5 سبتمبر وبوركينا فاسو يوم الثلاثاء 9 سبتمبر.

وكان نانت قد خسر في الجولة الأولى ضد باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي بهدف نظيف، قبل أن يخسر بنفس النتيجة ضد ستراسبورج.

Barcelona are awaiting a key report before they can register Marcus Rashford, but the club have another plan to get the new signings in the squad.

• Rashford yet to be registered by Barca
• Catalans waiting on key report
• Laporta has Plan B in place in case of hiccups

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barcelona are finally ready to register goalkeeper Joan Garcia following La Liga’s certification of Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s long-term injury. However, there is still uncertainty over the registrations of Rashford, Wojciech Szczesny and Gerard Martin. To encounter the issue, president Laporta has conjured a Plan B, according to a report from .

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Per the report, the Catalans hope to resolve this by re-entering the 1:1 financial rule, which would allow them to register multiple players at once. That decision hinges on La Liga approving the sale of VIP boxes at the Spotify Camp Nou, pending an updated auditor’s report. Initially expected by May, the process has dragged into August, raising concerns within the club. If approval doesn’t arrive before the transfer window closes, Laporta has a backup plan: a €7 million guarantee from board members to unlock the necessary salary cap space, which has already been granted. 

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Meanwhile, sales of young players and the departures of Clement Lenglet, Ansu Fati and Inigo Martinez have already freed up funds, with more exits, such as Oriol Romeu, Inaki Pena and Hector Fort, expected to ease financial pressure.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  Hansi Flick will be hoping for all squad-related issues to be resolved in time, as they prepare to begin their La Liga title defence away at Mallorca on Saturday, August 16.

Yunus Musah’s future at AC Milan remains uncertain, with the midfielder linked with a potential move to Atalanta amid Nottingham Forest's interest.

AC Milan value Musah at €25mAtalanta negotiating with Rossoneri for dealNottingham Forest also monitoring situationFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to , the Rossoneri are valuing Musah at around €25 million (£21m/ $27m), who is open to the idea of moving to Bergamo, where he would expect more minutes and a clearer role. Notably, Nottingham Forest have also shown interest in the midfielder as they seek more young legs in the Premier League. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

For AC Milan, the decision is whether to cash in now or give Musah more time to settle. Atalanta, meanwhile, are one of the most active teams in the Italian transfer market this summer. They have already added Odilon Kossounou, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Honest Ahanor, Marco Sportiello and Nicola Zalewski to their squad, with more signings expected before the window closes.

Musah’s versatility in midfield makes him an attractive option for Ivan Juric’s side, who are looking for a more versatile player. The move would also allow the USMNT midfielder to stay in Serie A rather than start over abroad.

TELL ME MORE

Musah joined AC Milan in 2023 from Valencia on a five-year contract. Despite flashes of potential, he has not managed to become a key player in Milan’s midfield. The 22-year-old played 40 games across all competitions last season, starting 26 times but contributing just three assists. Before interest from Forest and Atalanta, Napoli were also reported to have targeted Musah back in June. Although a move never materialised, reports suggested that Antonio Conte’s side continue to monitor him as the transfer window nears its close.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR YUNUS MUSAH?

Negotiations between Milan and Atalanta are ongoing, and progress is expected in the coming weeks. Forest remain in the background, but Musah’s preference for consistent minutes could give Atalanta the upper hand.

MatériaMais Notícias

Durante o aquecimento para o clássico contra o Portuguesa, válido pela oitava rodada do Paulistão, o goleiro Cássio, do Corinthians, teve um quadro de virose e ficou de fora do clássico. Carlos Miguel foi o escolhido para substituir o camisa 12 do Corinthians, e Matheus Donelli ficou no banco de reservas.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansApós ganhar a Supercopa Feminina com o Corinthians, Tamires critica diretoria do FlamengoCorinthians12/02/2023Fora de CampoWeb não perdoa derrota do Flamengo para o Corinthians na Supercopa Feminina: ‘Parecendo o Al Hilal’Fora de Campo12/02/2023Futebol NacionalCorinthians confirma o favoritismo e atropela o Flamengo na final da Supercopa FemininaFutebol Nacional12/02/2023

+Flamengo em 3º lugar: lembre as colocações dos sul-americanos em Mundiais desde 2005

O capitão do Timão estava confirmado para ser titular contra a Lusa e participou do aquecimento. Eletentou jogar, mas não se sentiu bem e foi substituído antes da partida começar.

+ Veja as movimentações do mercado da bola no LANCE!

Esse será o primeiro jogo do clube alvinegro sem o goleiro Cássio na temporada.

O Corinthians volta a campo na próxima quinta-feira (16), onde a equipe encara o Palmeiras, em Dérbi disputado na Neo Química Arena, às 21h30.

+ Veja tabela e simule os jogos do Campeonato Paulista

continua após a publicidade

The Korean star impressed in his first two MLS appearances, yet LAFC will have to retool at the end of the campaign

Son Heung-Min explained it in the simplest terms he could: he was loving every second of his time in Los Angeles. And it's clear to see why. The Korean has taken to the Southern California metropolis far more effectively than anyone could have hoped.

It's not just the jersey sales, which are breaking records. It's not the international attention, the relentless media push, the willingness to do every single interview or the adoration of the L.A. Korean community.

For Son, the real benefit is the one that was admittedly slightly unknown – he has made MLS look very, very easy. In 120 minutes, he has grabbed himself an assist and looked a constant threat through the middle of the pitch. LAFC, after struggling at the start of the season, have hit a fine vein of form, grinding out a tough draw against Chicago and coming away from New England with three points. 

More broadly, this team looks like a well-oiled machine, with Son at the center of it all, setting up others, stretching the play, and putting in the kind of legwork that few other attacking DPs have been willing to show over the years. It's early days, but Son has been the perfect signing for Los Angeles, slotting into a system that he might have been a slightly awkward fit for.

• AFP
  

  The theoretical fit

  The first thing that must be established here is that making vast tactical assumptions based on 120 minutes of work is a pretty rash thing to do. There are too many variables, things that can go wrong. Everything, numerically, must be taken with a grain of salt. But let's extrapolate.

  It is a good thing that the early statistics make for compelling reading and are consistent with the way that LAFC like to play soccer. MLS is an athletic league, and Los Angeles have made no bones in leaning into that. They are, in effect, built around Denis Bouanga, an immensely skilled, very quick left winger, who effectively paces the whole thing.

  They like to hit on the break, and rely on exploiting open spaces in transition. That is why, in fact, Olivier Giroud was such an imperfect fit. Son would seem to be the opposite. He runs a lot. He tackles a lot. He dribbles a lot – but at the right times. In theory, this is the perfect player for this style.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  The attacking numbers

  And so far, the data supports that idea. Son has played a game and a third for LAFC, and everything aligns with what most expected: he is the perfect versatile attacking forward for this side. His first appearance, a leg-stretching cameo in a 2-2 draw with Chicago, showed some promise – but was effectively a write off. 

  Son came on, ran around a bit, didn't see loads of the ball, but with a decisive burst into the box won a penalty that saw LAFC snag a tough draw. There's not much to be learned from that. That was, effectively, a trial run. 

  But his second showing offered a far clearer picture. Son started through the middle in a 4-3-3, with Bouanga on the left and teenager David Martinez on the right. And Son mostly stuck there, operating slightly left of center but, broadly, playing like a traditional No. 9. 

  WhoScored

  The resulting numbers made for fine reading. Going forward, Son was nothing short of magnificent. He created the most chances in the match, completed 100 percent of his dribbles, and forced two good saves out of Revolution and USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner. 

• Getty Images
  

  The defensive numbers

  But perhaps more important for LAFC was the stuff he did when his side didn't have the ball. The Black and Gold are a ball-dominant side, with the seventh-highest average possession numbers in the league. When it comes to winning it back, though, the numbers are mixed. They are middle of the road in tackles, interceptions and clearances.

  Coach Steve Cherundolo has made all of the right noises about wanting to win the ball back – but his side are bang average at it. Part of the issue is a lack of defensive pressure from the front line. Bouanga is a wonderful attacking player, but his defensive effort is lacking. He is 375th among all MLS players in tackles plus interceptions, with just 20 on the season. He has completed just eight tackles all year. 

  And that's fine. In MLS, you are allowed to have passengers (see Lionel Messi for more). But having two is difficult, and there was a real fear that Son could further disrupt the balance. 

  The reality, to date, is far from that. Against New England, Son was arguably the most effective defensive player on the pitch – despite playing as a center forward. He won the second most duels, was fouled more than everyone else, and won possession in the final-third three times.

  And that doesn't even account for the less tangible stuff: sprints, constant movement, the symbolism associated with the continuous effort of a player making so much more money than everyone else.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  Some worries for LAFC

  There are, admittedly, some caveats. The asterisk to Son's excellence is the fact that he was playing against a markedly poor New England side. The Revolution are a bit of a mess, lacking in ideas going forward and middling when it comes to their defensive stats.

  Under Caleb Porter, they are a team caught in stasis, and, as things stand, far out of the playoff picture. It's a tough game to take any major conclusions about the effectiveness of a footballer. 

  The other is that LAFC, as a whole, managed to win without being particularly good. There were some fears when Son signed that he would find it difficult to play alongside Bouanga. That worry still makes sense. Bouanga, like Son, is a natural left winger who likes to cut onto his right foot. He doesn't hold up play, link with his teammates, or create space for others.

  Bouanga might be the best inside forward in MLS, but he really doesn't do anything else. He can't.

  That means Son will have to adapt to him. And against New England, he did. Son, in a remarkable act of self sacrifice, stopped doing some of the things he is elite at in order to make space for another footballer. Whether that was an idealistic one-off remains to be seen. 

MatériaMais Notícias

Com todos os exames realizados, Philipe Sampaio treinou com os companheiros nesta segunda-feira. O zagueiro fez questão de agradecer ao Botafogo por todo suporte, celebrou sua recuperação e revelou que está “cheio de vontade” de entrar em campo.

– Todos os exames estão realizados. Fiz o último exame antes do treino. Uma sensação de alívio. Estou cheio de vontade de entrar em campo e ajudar os companheiros. Quero agradecer ao Botafogo por todo suporte que deu para mim e para minha família – declarou Sampaio em entrevista para “Botafogo TV”:

+Botafogo e Textor sofrem com zoeiras após derrota para o Flamengo; veja os memes

RelacionadasBotafogoDestaque da Copinha, Sapata treina com elenco principal do BotafogoBotafogo27/02/2023Fora de CampoMauro Cezar critica postura do Botafogo em derrota para o Flamengo: ‘Terapia coletiva para essa gente’Fora de Campo27/02/2023BotafogoPartida entre Botafogo e Portuguesa, pela última rodada da Taça Guanabara, muda de localBotafogo26/02/2023

+Árbitro de Botafogo x Flamengo relata expulsões de Tiquinho, Marçal e Carli na súmula

– Nosso grupo está preparado para dar a resposta no próximo jogo. Sabemos da nossa responsabilidade. Quero agradecer a todos pela preocupação. Graças a Deus, já estou preparado e não vejo a hora de entrar em campo e ajudar o Botafogo – completou.

Philipe Sampaio apresentou uma síncope atraumático no clássico entre Vasco x Botafogo e caiu desacordado no gramado do Maracanã. O defensor foi encaminhado para ambulância e precisou ficar internado por três dias no hospital. Nesta segunda, ele terminou de realizar os exames e treinou normalmente no Espaço Lonier.

O Glorioso entra em campo na próxima quinta-feira, diante do Sergipe, às 20h, fora de casa, pela primeira fase da Copa do Brasil. O time de Luís Castro precisa apenas de um empate para se classificar.

Former West Ham and Crystal Palace defender James Tomkins has backed Oliver Glasner to take the Manchester United job if Ruben Amorim is removed from his position in the coming months. The Red Devils' nightmare start to the 2025-26 campaign continued as they crashed out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday after being beaten by Grimsby Town on penalties.

Ex-EPL star backs Glasner to replace AmorimAmorim's future at Old Trafford is uncertainMan Utd yet to win a match this seasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

League Two side Grimsby Town stunned United by taking a two-goal lead within half an hour of play thanks to some disastrous goalkeeping by Andre Onana. Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire then scored in quick succession to drag the game to the tie-breaker. In the penalty shootout, the fourth-tier side emerged victorious against the mighty Red Devils.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

After finishing 15th in the Premier League last campaign and going winless in their first three matches of the new season, Amorim is under immense pressure to perform going forward. If the team's performance does not change drastically, the United management might consider parting ways with the Portuguese coach. In case of the 40-year-old's sacking, Tomkins feels the Premier League giants should snatch away Glasner from Crystal Palace.

WHAT TOMKINS SAID

Speaking to Boyle Sports, who offer the latest Premier League betting odds, Tomkins said: "If the Man Utd job comes up I think Oliver Glasner is definitely a name that will be mentioned, and I believe he was linked to Bayern before. It will be interesting to see how that unfolds, because he's certainly going to be linked with the bigger teams. 

“You're not just talking about keeping all the players at Palace, you're also talking about keeping the manager. It's a difficult situation. 

"However, he's probably the most important of them all because of how he's changed everything there and how well we produce results in the biggest games. So, yes, he's definitely going to be linked with one of the big clubs."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

United will be back in action in the Premier League this Saturday when they take on Burnley at Old Trafford.

Real Madrid have derailed Tottenham's ambitions of signing Nico Paz, with the Spanish giants hoping to bring him back to the club next year.

• Real Madrid derail Tottenham's bid for Paz
• Paz has buy-back clause to join Real in future
• Real-Como relationship can play big role in transfer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Real are interested in bringing back Paz from Como next summer and are ready to bargain about the Serie A club's asking price, despite having a buy-back clause worth €10 million. Apart from the buy-back option, Real also have a 50% sell-on clause for the Argentine midfielder.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After Arsenal hijacked Spurs' bid for Eberechi Eze last week, Thomas Frank's team were forced to navigate other options. One such player who fit their bill was Paz, and the club submitted an official €70m (£61m/$82m) bid, including add-ons, through intermediaries to Como for his signature. Spurs could have offered him exposure in the Champions League, but Paz wants to stay at Como and the club also want him to stay. Meanwhile, Real have entered the game and assured Como that they will be matching any bid for the player, thus throwing out the buy-back clause from the equation, and in the process, maintaining the positive relationship they enjoy with Como.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Real were expected to trigger Paz's buy-back clause this summer itself, but they went on to sign Franco Mastantuono from River Plate, someone who, at 18, has integrated well into Xabi Alonso's system and enjoyed a start against Real Oviedo as well.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR PAZ?

  Paz, who has been an influential figure at Como under Fabregas, scored and assisted once in his club's Serie A opener against Lazio at the weekend. He will be continuing at the club this term.