Sports
Rodri Outshines Vinicius Jr. To Win 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or
Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri has been awarded the men’s Ballon d’Or, capping a standout season where he was pivotal in securing Manchester City’s fourth consecutive Premier League title and led Spain to victory at Euro 2024.
However, the award ceremony in Paris was marked by Real Madrid’s absence as the Spanish club staged a boycott over Vinicius Junior’s exclusion from the top prize.
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Rodri’s win, announced during the glamorous ceremony at the Châtelet Theatre on Monday night, was unexpected to many, as Real Madrid’s Vinicius had been widely seen as a favorite following a stellar season that saw Madrid claim both La Liga and Champions League titles.
Accepting the award, Rodri expressed gratitude toward his teammates and coaches, saying, “It’s an honor to be here, and I owe so much to my club and country. Football is a team effort, and I’m here because of the dedication of everyone around me.”
The evening also saw Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati win her second consecutive women’s Ballon d’Or, following a season in which she led Barcelona to a historic quadruple and helped Spain secure the Nations League title.
Hours before the ceremony, the club released a statement confirming it would not attend, citing “disrespect” toward Vinicius.
Madrid suggested that if the award did not go to Vinicius, it should have been awarded to Dani Carvajal, who scored a crucial goal in Madrid’s Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund.
“If the award criteria don’t favor Vinicius, then they should favor Carvajal,” the club stated to AFP. “Since that is not the case, it’s clear the Ballon d’Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid will not attend an event where it is not respected.”
Organizers from the Amaury group, which oversees the Ballon d’Or through L’Équipe and France Football, dismissed rumors of a leaked result, emphasizing that “no player or club” was informed in advance.
An international jury of 100 journalists ultimately selected Rodri from a competitive shortlist, but the decision stirred controversy among fans and insiders alike.
While Real Madrid’s star-studded list of nominees, including Kylian Mbappe, Antonio Rudiger, Fede Valverde, and Jude Bellingham, highlighted the club’s achievements, the exclusion of Vinicius left a contentious note on the night’s celebrations.
Sports
Tragedy Hits Spanish Football As Tenerife Striker Jesus De Miguel Dies At 30
Spanish football has been thrown into mourning following the death of CD Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, who died at the age of 30 after suffering serious injuries in a collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a second-division match.
Tenerife confirmed the player’s death on Tuesday, November 3, revealing that he died at 8:00 a.m. following complications from injuries sustained during the encounter.
The incident occurred towards the closing stages of the match, which was tied at 2-2, when Owono, an Equatorial Guinea international, rushed out of his goal and collided with De Miguel in the middle of the pitch.
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The goalkeeper was sent off following the incident, while the match was subsequently abandoned.
Spanish media reported that De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest after the collision and was resuscitated. However, Tenerife later announced that his neurological condition had deteriorated before he eventually died.
In a statement announcing the tragedy, the club expressed profound sadness over the loss of the striker and extended its condolences to his family, friends and supporters.
“Broken with pain, with a lump in our throat and unable to believe this is real, CD Tenerife announces the tragic death, at 8:00 am (7am GMT), of Jesus de Miguel Alameda,” the club said.
De Miguel joined Tenerife in the summer of 2025 from Castellon and had spent just over a season with the Spanish side.
Tributes have continued to pour in from across Spanish football, including former Barcelona defender and FC Andorra majority shareholder Gerard Pique.
“I am so deeply sorry. Rest in peace, Jesus,” Pique wrote on social media.
FC Andorra also expressed its condolences to De Miguel’s family, teammates and Tenerife, while Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and several other Spanish clubs sent messages of sympathy.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation equally expressed its grief, describing the news as deeply saddening and extending its condolences following the striker’s death.
Sports
Sanwo-Olu Pledges Full Support as Lagos Prepares to Host 2026 CAF Awards
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has pledged the state government’s full support for the successful hosting of the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards.
Sanwo-Olu gave the assurance on Sunday after meeting with a CAF delegation led by Dr Christian Emeruwa, Project Lead for the CAF Awards and CAF General Assembly.
The governor said his administration would pay particular attention to security, logistics, branding and venue access to ensure a memorable experience for participants and visitors.
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In a statement shared on his social media account, Sanwo-Olu said, “Meeting with the CAF delegation, led by Dr Christian Emeruwa, Project Lead for the CAF Awards and CAF General Assembly, I assured them of our full support, with particular attention to security, logistics, branding and venue access.”
He described Lagos as a city with the energy and capacity to host major international events.
“Lagos is a city of talent, culture, enterprise and youthful energy,” the governor said.
He added, “We look forward to welcoming football leaders, stakeholders and visitors from across Africa and beyond, while showcasing our hospitality and ability to host major international events.”
The meeting comes as preparations continue for the continental football awards, which will bring together prominent figures in African football to celebrate outstanding performances and achievements.
The latest engagement follows the arrival of a 15-member CAF delegation in Nigeria on Friday, October 16, for a final inspection of facilities ahead of the awards and the organisation’s 48th Ordinary General Assembly.
The delegation, led by Emeruwa, was expected to assess facilities in Lagos and Abuja as part of efforts to evaluate the country’s readiness to host the two events.
The inspection also followed an earlier visit by CAF officials in August, when Sanwo-Olu expressed confidence in Lagos’s readiness to host the awards after a delegation inspected the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Theatre, in Iganmu.
The 2026 CAF Awards are scheduled to hold in Lagos on December 7, while Abuja is expected to host the CAF Ordinary General Assembly on November 21.
The awards ceremony will recognise outstanding performances and achievements in African football, bringing together players, coaches, officials and other stakeholders from across the continent.
Sports
Iheanacho Flaunts Turkish Nickname
After scoring twice and providing an assist as Bursaspor beat Muglaspor 3-0 in the Turkish 1. Lig on Thursday, Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho took to social media to declare himself boss.
The Super Eagles forward who moved to the Turkish league from Celtic to Bursaspor has made history, becoming the first football player to score in 10 consecutive league matches for the club and in the Turkish professional league football.
He took to his social media handles to flaunt his Turkish nickname – “Agabey”.
In a post on his verified handle on X, the Nigerian forward shared a picture of himself in traditional Turkish dress with a new nickname, “Agabey”. The caption read, “We go ball till eternity, Kelechi Agabey.”
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The word is a respectful Turkish title that translates as “Big Brother” or “Boss”.
The 30-year-old has now scored in all 10 games he has played for Bursaspor, and including his appearance for the Super Eagles, he has found the net in 11 straight matches. He has 14 goals and three assists since joining from Celtic.





