Aidan Russell 
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo (‘Flamengo Rowing Club’ in English) – typically referred to as just Flamengo – is a Brazilian football club dating back to late 1895. Or does it? We’re diving deep into the Brazilian giants to uncover their storied history and find out what they’ve been doing to the present day. Whilst … Read more
Eric Cantona is one of the greatest footballers of his generation, flamboyant, at times a controversial maverick of an entertainer, and undoubtedly one of the most influential players of the English Premier League era. Contentsshow 1The Early Years 2Temper, temper 3Title winner 4Moves to England 5The Manchester United years 6Kung fu kick and a suspension … Read more
There have been just three English winners of the Ballon d’Or award. Read more about them below. Contentsshow 1Sir Stanley Matthews (1956) 2Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979) 3Michael Owen (2001) Sir Stanley Matthews (1956) Sir Stanley Matthews was the first ever winner of the Ballon d’Or in 1956. One of England’s greatest footballers, Matthews redefined … Read more
In the world of women’s soccer, one team has risen above all others to establish an unparalleled legacy of success – the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT). With a history steeped in triumph and determination, the USWNT’s domination on the global stage has been nothing short of awe-inspiring. In this article, we delve into … Read more
When Luis Figo won the 2000 Ballon d’Or, he became only the second Portuguese player to claim the award since Benfica legend Eusébio in 1965. Throughout the calendar year, Figo played some truly incredible football, scoring goals and providing wonderful assists for not one giant European club – but two. Famously, the sides in question … Read more
Rivaldo is a Brazilian that, perhaps unfairly, falls short of being considered in the same echelon as Ronaldo or Ronaldinho for some. Likely due to his frenetic career, a meteoric rise, which saw him move from 3rd division Brazilian football, all the way to the dizzying heights of Barcelona, despite making his first appearance in … Read more
Zinedine Zidane won the Ballon d’Or. It’s no surprise and comfortably ranks as one of the Ballon d’Or’s least controversial winners. Zinedine Zidane needs little introduction in being one of the greatest midfielders to grace the game. Zidane was unmatched in 1998 for his contribution to Juventus and of course France. A skillful, elegant midfielder … Read more
George Weah’s 1995 Ballon d’Or win was more than just a story of individual triumph. It represented a change for the award itself and the global game as a whole. The accolade became subject to the biggest and most significant format tweak in its history – a rule change that most fans of the sport … Read more
1993. The year that Princess Diana divorced Prince Charles, and more importantly, the year that “The Divine Ponytail” was awarded The Ballon d’Or. Roberto Baggio, who mainly played second striker, or as an attacking midfielder for many teams in his native country when the Italian league was the apex of world football; was awarded the … Read more
Marco van Basten, scorer of one of football’s greatest volleys and owner of one of the coolest Dutch names in football. A striker that never had an off-season, yet only played 281 games in his career. He was a two-club man, only playing for Ajax and AC Milan, and a rangy figure, standing 6 feet … Read more