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
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
Kevin Keegan is the only British player to win the Ballon d’Or twice, winning in 1978 and 1979. Although HSV finished 10th in the Bundesliga, Keegan was playing some of his best football, bagging 12 goals en route to becoming the third English player to win the Ballon d’Or in 1978. One of the Ballon … 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
If there was any doubt over Kevin Keegan being the right man for the 1978 Ballon d’Or, he’d leave any notions of being undeserving of the award dead and buried in 1979. Keegan would smash notions of his earlier victory being unwarranted, with an incredible follow-up year in Hamburg; building upon his Ballon d’Or winning … Read more
The Ballon d’Or is unarguably the most prestigious individual accolade to win in all of men’s football. The trophy which has been won by 45 individual players to date, has seen the likes of Lionel Messi, Hristo Stoichkov, Alfredo Di Stefano and many other greats of the game claim the coveted prize. Yet, as you marvel at … Read more
Owen’s goal-scoring prowess and ability to consistently perform at the highest level made him stand out in 2001, winning him the Ballon d’OR in the process.. His electrifying pace and clinical finishing made him a formidable opponent for any defence, and his contributions to Liverpool and the England national team did not go unnoticed. Contentsshow … Read more
We’ve all seen it – the referee moves his hand to his pocket after the first booking and you already know what’s coming. Or worse still, the curveball after a dodgy challenge that completely blindsides both the home and away sides. The Red Card, a small, bright red rectangle of dismissal, designed in such a … Read more
Penalty kicks are the best. Penalty kicks are the worst. Both statements are true, but it almost entirely depends on which side of the decision you’re on. Even if your team has the penalty, it can be agony to watch, the anticipation enveloping you like a thick fog as the expectation of a goal, but … Read more
Major League Soccer (MLS) has come a long way since its inception in 1996. The league has seen exponential growth in popularity, with a massive following across the United States and Canada. This rise in popularity has also attracted some of the world’s biggest brands, who are eager to sponsor and partner with the league. … Read more