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Paul Pogba is “ready” for a move to Real Madrid, says Christian Karembeu, with the Manchester United midfielder once again generating interest from the Santiago Bernabeu.

Sources close to the Blancos have revealed that the World Cup winner is now a top target.

They have already wrapped up deals for Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic and Ferland Mendy, freeing them to turn their attention elsewhere. He has admitted in the past to being keen on taking in a spell with the Liga giants, while the opportunity to work with fellow Frenchman Zinedine Zidane has been talked up by both sides.

Former Madrid star Karmebeu believes a deal would be beneficial to all concerned, with a 1998 World Cup winner telling El Mundo when asked if Pogba will end up in Spain: “Hopefully.

“He is a great player, and Zizou knows him from Juventus. He is ready for Madrid, although he will have to prove it. That shirt weighs a lot.”

Pogba is not the only France international to be generating talk of a big-money move to Madrid.

lol, he can analyze sport well quote author=Nashirushekoni post=67664115]may be he can perform good paundit unlike average manager he does[/quote]

Arsene Wenger has been confirmed as a pundit for French outlet BeIN Sports, and will provide analysis for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The former Arsenal boss stepped down from his role at the end of the season after 22 years in charge, after guiding the Gunners to a sixth-place finish.


Wenger has kept his cards close to his chest in regards to taking a new managerial job ahead of the new season, despite admitting he has received a number of offers.

But has taken a role as a pundit for the World Cup, and will be working for BeIN Sports - who he has worked with in the past - once the competition gets underway in June.

On his future beyond this summer, Wenger told the Guardian: "I have friends who can go and lay on a beach all day long for the whole of their holidays and I envy them.

"I just can't do that. I get bored. I need to be doing something. I need a challenge. I have lived and breathed football all these years and it's a passion – I can't imagine doing anything else.

"That's why in a way this is an exciting moment for me, too. I have a new page, a blank page in front of me.

As all good writers know, that can be a time of anguish but I hope I won't have too much of that. It's also a chance to write new chapters."

Arsenal are yet to announce Wenger's replacement, but Mikel Arteta is the overwhelming favourite to succeed the Frenchman.

The Spaniard is currently a first-team coach at Manchester City, but has worked closely with Pep Guardiola over the past seasons, and is exactly what Arsenal are looking for.

What's more, Wenger has given the possible appointment his seal of approval, telling BeIN Sports: "He has all the qualities to do the job, yes and I think as well he is one of the favourites.

"He was a leader, and he has a good passion for the game and he knows the club well, he knows what is important at the club and he was captain of the club. Why Not?"


"He has been an assistant of Guardiola as well, so overall I think he has the qualities."
"He was a leader, and he has a good passion for the game and he knows the club well, he knows what is important at the club and he was captain of the club.

Portugal manager Fernando Santos says it "hurts" to leave out several members of the Euro 2016 winning squad for this summer's World Cup in Russia.

Lazio winger Nani, Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes and Bayern Munich's Renato Sanches, who spent this season on loan at Swansea, have all not been selected.

Striker Eder, who scored the winning goal in extra-time against France in the Euro 2016 final, also misses out.

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo will captain the side.

"It hurts not to be able to include all the players who were with us in the European Championship," said Santos.

"They have all contributed to writing a brilliant chapter in the history of Portuguese football, but I had to make choices that for me make a better puzzle."

Former Manchester United winger Nani is Portugal's third most-capped player behind Ronaldo and Luis Figo but has not played for his country since last year's Confederations Cup.

The are four Premier League players in the squad - Manchester City forward Bernardo Silva, Leicester midfielder Adrien Silva, Southampton right-back Cedric Soares and West Ham midfielder Joao Mario, who is on loan from Inter Milan - while Rangers defender Bruno Alves also makes the cut.

Former Saints and Hammers centre-back Jose Fonte, who now plays for Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang, is included, but Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves is not in the 23-man squad, despite starting the 2-1 friendly win over Egypt in March.

Portugal are in Group B alongside Spain, Morocco and Iran.

Portugal squad:

Goalkeepers: Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Beto (Goztepe), Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon)

Defenders: Bruno Alves (Rangers), Cedric Soares (Southampton), Jose Fonte (Dalian Yifang), Mario Rui (Napoli), Pepe (Besiktas), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Ricardo Pereira (Porto), Ruben Dias (Benfica)

Midfielders: Adrien Silva (Leicester), Bruno Fernandes (Sporting Lisbon), Joao Mario (West Ham), Joao Moutinho (AS Monaco), Manuel Fernandes (Lokomotiv Moscow), William Carvalho (Sporting)

Forwards: Andre Silva (AC Milan), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Gelson Martins (Sporting Lisbon), Goncalo Guedes (Valencia), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas)

With so much prestige and glory – and prize money – on the line, the Champions League is a competition in which glorious fight backs and close calls are common, as teams throw everything they can at salvaging success from the most unlikely circumstances.

Chelsea fans will always remember how their team reversed their 3-1 loss in Naples to win 4-1 at Stamford Bridge and set themselves up to win the competition for the first time in their history in 2012, and who can forget Deportivo La Coruna’s famous 4-0 win over Milan following on from a 4-1 loss at the San Siro in 2004?

That same year, Monaco beat Real Madrid 3-1 after a 4-2 first leg defeat in the Spanish capital to level the tie 5-5 aggregate and progress on away goals. Yet there are three matches that stand-out from the rest.

Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Bayern Munich in extra-time in the final in 1999, Liverpool’s famous comeback from 3-0 down at half-time against Milan in 2005 and Barcelona’s 6-1 home victory to undermine Paris Saint Germain’s 4-0 first leg advantage.


Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich – 1999
Quality of team: 9/10

Quality of opposition: 7/10

After beating Arsenal to the Premier League title and the FA Cup – overcoming the Gunners in an iconic semi-final that had to be settled by a replay at Villa Park before beating Newcastle United at Wembley – United travelled to Barcelona to take on German champions Bayern Munich.

With Roy Keane and Paul Scholes suspended due to bookings picked up in the previous round as United overcame the favourites, Juventus, in Turin, they struggled to get going and trailed for 85 minutes before substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored from two David Beckham corners in win it in injury time.

In the words of their manager, Sir Alex Ferguson: “Football, bloody hell!”


Time required for a comeback: three minutes of injury time

What they won: the first treble in English football




Milan 3-3 Liverpool – 2005
Quality of team: 6/10

Quality of opposition: 8/10

Time required for a comeback: second half and penalties

What they won: the fifth Champions League title in the club’s history, against the odds





Steven Gerrard was named man of the match as a side featuring Djimi Traore, Steve Finnan and Vladimir Smicer overcame a team that included Cafu, Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini, Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, Kaka, Andriy Shevchenko and Hernan Crespo, who had scored twice before half-time after Maldini’s opener to lead 3-0 at the break.

To this day, many of the former Milan players struggle to explain what happened. At the start of the second half, Rafael Benitez looked to the bench to send on Dietmar Hamaan. Miraculous things soon followed as Gerard, Smicer and then Xabi Alonso scored the goals to level the deficit, taking the game to a penalty shootout they won, in part due to the wobbly-legged efforts of goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek to put off some of the most accomplished finishers in European football at the time.




Barcelona 6-1 Paris Saint Germain (6-5 on aggregate) – 2017
Quality of team: 8/10

Quality of opposition: 8/10

Time required for a comeback: full 90 minutes of a second leg

What they won: progress into the last eight of the Champions League





Manager Luis Enrique had already announced that he would leave his post at the end of the season ahead of the return leg of Barcelona’s round of 16 tie with Paris Saint-Germain.

They had been thumped 4-0 and thoroughly outplayed in the French capital, yet with a team bristling with the attacking talent of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, surely if any side could turn it around, Barca could?

Under the bright lights of the Camp Nou, that is exactly what they set out to do, and despite the visitors seemingly killing off all hope by bagging a vital away goal through Edinson Cavani, they kept on coming and by the full-time whistle they had succeeded.

Neymar was the star with 15 minutes of genius before time while Luis Enrique was redeemed – his 3-3-1-3 system hailed as the key to the club’s comeback as they crammed as much attacking quality on the field at once as possible.

Alexis Sanchez has admitted to struggling with mental exhaustion after a disappointing start to life at Manchester United.

Sanchez has managed just one goal in his first 10 appearances since arriving at Old Trafford and revealed he expected better of himself after his January move.

After four years at Arsenal, Sanchez has found it hard to adapt to his new club and was dropped to the bench for last weekend's FA Cup quarter-final victory over Brighton.

He is currently on international duty with Chile, despite initially asking to miss Saturday's friendly against Sweden, and the 29-year-old appears to be in need of rest.

Sanchez posted a message on Instagram which read: "I know you are tired. I know you are psychologically and emotionally exhausted. But you have to smile and continue".

The United forward told the Chilean media on Thursday: "The change of club was something that was very abrupt - it was the first time I've changed clubs in January - but many things have happened in my life that are difficult."

He added: "As I am self-demanding, I expected something better. After my arrival at United, it was hard to change everything very quickly. I even hesitated to come here [to Sweden]."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic insists it is business as usual as he targets more success with new club LA Galaxy.

Ibrahimovic joined the MLS side on Friday after Manchester United terminated his contract a day earlier.

The 36-year-old, who has lifted 11 domestic league titles in four different countries, says he has come to Los Angeles to win and insists the city is the "right place" for him.

In an exclusive interview given to Sky Sports by the MLS, Ibrahimovic said: "I want to accomplish as much as possible. Wherever I've gone, I've won. It's no secret.

"I've [played] at many clubs, I've [played] at the best clubs in the world, different countries and I've won. I'm coming with this objective, I come to win. I want to win.

It is in my DNA that I'm winning my trophies, it's no luck. No special moment, it's just me.

"Hopefully I bring it with me for the next challenge, it will not change anything. Different place, same Zlatan."

The veteran striker announced his arrival in the US in typically theatrical style by taking out a full-page advert in the Los Angeles Times, which read: "Dear Los Angeles, you're welcome."

fuckerstard:
Haa sorry I work wit Windows

ok thanks

fuckerstard:
I might be of help, which OS do you have on your PC?

i am using mac, version 10:11:1 the OS is X EL CAPITAN

Good afternoon guys, please i am having problems with my hard drive,i connected it with my system and copied a file inside a folder, but unfortunately i could not see both the folder and the file anymore....

The most annoying part is that the space of the folder still exist, which mean, the folder is still present inside the hard drive, but hidden,please how can i locate the folder ....

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No matter how fast you run, you cant over take your shadow.

Full list of African Footballer of the Year award winners:

1970: Salif Keita (St Etienne, France and Mali)

1971: Ibrahim Sunday (Asante Kotoko and Ghana)

1972: Cherif Souleymane (Hafia and Guinea)

1973: Tshimen Bwanga (TP Mazembe Englebert and Zaire)

1974: Paul Moukila (CARA Brazzaville and Congo)

1975: Ahmed Faras (Mohammedia and Morocco)

1976: Roger Milla (Canon Yaounde and Cameroon)

1977: Tarak Dhiab (Esperance and Tunisia)

1978: Karim Abdoul Razak (Asante Kotoko and Ghana)

1979: Thomas Nkono (Canon Yaounde and Cameroon)

1980: Jean Manga Onguene (Canon Yaounde and Cameroon)

1981: Lakhdar Belloumi (GCR Mascara and Algeria)

1982: Thomas Nkono (Espanyol, Spain and Cameroon)

1983: Mahmoud Al Khatib (Al Ahli and Egypt)

1984: Theophile Abega (Toulouse, France and Cameroon)

1985: Mohamed Timoumi (Royal Armed Forces and Morocco)

1986: Badou Ezaki (Real Mallorca, Spain and Morocco)

1987: Rabah Madjer (FC Porto, Portugal and Algeria)

1988: Kalusha Bwalya (Cercle Bruges, Belgium and Zambia)

1989: George Weah (Monaco, France and Liberia)

1990: Roger Milla (St Denis, Reunion and Cameroon)

1991: Abedi Pele Ayew (Olympique Marseille, France and Ghana)

1992: Abedi Pele Ayew (Olympique Marseille, France and Ghana)

1993: Abedi Pele Ayew (Olympique Lyonnaise, France and Ghana)

1994: George Weah (Paris St Germain, France and Liberia) and Emmanuel Amunike (Sporting Lisbon, Portugal and Nigeria)

1995: George Weah (AC Milan, Italy and Liberia)

1996: Nwankwo Kanu (Inter Milan, Italy and Nigeria)

1997: Victor Ikpeba (Monaco, France and Nigeria)

1998: Mustapha Hadji (Deportivo Coruna, Spain and Morocco)

1999: Nwankwo Kanu (Arsenal, England and Nigeria)

2000: Patrick Mboma (Parma, Italy and Cameroon)

2001: El Hadji Diouf (Rennes, France and Senegal)

2002: El Hadji Diouf (Liverpool, England and Senegal)

2003: Samuel Eto’o (Real Mallorca, Spain and Cameroon)

2004: Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona, Spain and Cameroon)

2005: Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona, Spain and Cameroon)

2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea, England and Ivory Coast)

2007: Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla, Spain and Mali)

2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal, England and Togo)

2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea, England and Ivory Coast)

2010: Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan, Italy and Cameroon)

2011: Yaya Toure (Manchester City, England and Ivory Coast)

2012: Yaya Toure (Manchester City, England and Ivory Coast)

2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City, England and Ivory Coast)

2014: Yaya Toure (Manchester City, England and Ivory Coast)

2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund, Germany and Gabon)

2016: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City, England and Algeria)

2017: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, England and Egypt)

Note: The award was organised by the French soccer magazine 'France Football' until 1994, after which the Confederation of African Football instituted a new award.

*UCL Round of 16*
*Juventus* vs *Tottenham*
*FC Basel* vs *Manchester City*
*FC Porto vs Liverpool*
*Sevilla* vs *Manchester United*
*Real Madrid* vs *Paris st German*
*Schakter* vs *AS Roma*
*Chelsea* vs *Barcelona*
*Besiktas* vs *Bayern Munich*

*Some World Cup Facts and group breakdown



*100% - Peru have faced the eventual World Cup winner in each of their four previous World Cup appearances (Uruguay in 1930, Brazil in 1970, Argentina in 1978, Italy in 1982). Didier ? #WorldCupDraw*




*3 - The Germany Team never lost a World Cup match vs. #MEX (2 W, 1D). Start.*




*1 - England have lost just one of their 21 previous international matches against Belgium (2-3 in 1936). Waffle.*




*6 - France have won 6 of their last 7 games v Denmark (L1), after winning only 2 of the first 8 (D1 L5). Vikings.*




*1 - England will face Panama in an international match for the first time ever at the 2018 World Cup finals. Unfamiliar.*




*Argentina - Nigeria and Brazil - Serbia will become the first fixtures which will be played five times in the World Cup group phase #WorldCupDraw*




*Group A (Russia - Saudi Arabia - Egypt - Uruguay) and Group H (Poland - Senegal - Colombia - Japan) are the two groups with teams from four different continents #WorldCupDraw*





*Spain and Portugal have met each other 38 times before in all competitions, making it the most common fixture on the programme in the group stages. Three of those matches are unofficial for Spain #WorldCupDraw*




*5 - England have kept five clean sheets in six previous World Cup final matches against African opponents. Tight.*




*1 - Group H is the only one of the Russia 2018 WC without a former World Cup champion. Absence. #WorldCupDraw*




*FIFA WORLD CUP DRAWS

*GROUP A*
Russia
Uruguay
Egypt
Saudi Arabia

*GROUP B*
Portugal
Spain
Iran
Morocco

*GROUP C*
France
Peru
Denmark
Australia

*GROUP D*
Argentina
Croatia
Iceland
Nigeria

*GROUP E*
Brazil
Switzerland
Costa Rica
Serbia

*GROUP F*
Germany
Mexico
Sweden

*GROUP G*
Belgium
England
Tunisia

*GROUP H*
Poland
Colombia
Senegal

World Cup 2018 fixtures and schedule in FULL: Every key date and venue




When and where will the games take place at next summer's World Cup in Russia? Find out here....



*All times listed CET. Kaliningrad uses CET. Kazan, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, St Petersburg, Saransk, Sochi and Volgograd are one hour ahead of CET. Samara is two hours ahead of CET. Ekaterinburg is three hours ahead of CET.




.................................................................


GROUP STAGES

Thursday, June 14

Russia vs Saudi Arabia Moscow (Luzhniki) 5pm



.................................................................


Friday, June 15

Egypt vs Uruguay Ekaterinburg 2pm 

Morocco vs Iran St Petersburg 5pm

Portugal vs Spain Sochi 8pm




.................................................................


Saturday, June 16

France vs Australia Kazan 12am

Argentina vs Iceland Moscow (Spartak) 3pm

Peru vs Denmark Saransk 6pm

Croatia vs Nigeria Kaliningrad 9pm



.................................................................


Sunday, June 17

Costa Rica vs Serbia Samara 2pm

Germany vs Mexico Moscow (Luzhniki) 5pm

Brazil vs Switzerland Rostov-on-Don 8pm




.................................................................

Monday, June 18

Sweden vs South Korea Nizhny Novgorod 2pm

Belgium vs Panama Sochi 5pm

Tunisia vs England Volgograd 8pm






.................................................................

Tuesday, June 19

Poland vs Senegal Moscow (Spartak) 2pm

Colombia vs Japan Saransk 5pm

Russia vs Egypt St Petersburg 8pm




.................................................................

Wednesday, June 20

Portugal vs Morocco Moscow (Luzhniki) 2pm

Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia Rostov-on-Don 5pm

Iran vs Spain Kazan 8pm




.................................................................

Thursday, June 21

France vs Peru Ekaterinburg 2pm

Denmark vs Australia Samara 5pm

Argentina vs Croatia Nizhny Novgorod 8pm



.................................................................

Friday, June 22

Brazil vs Costa Rica St Petersburg 2pm

Nigeria vs Iceland Volgograd 5pm

Serbia vs Switzerland Kaliningrad 8pm




.................................................................

Saturday, June 23

Belgium vs Tunisia Moscow (Spartak) 2pm

Germany vs Sweden Sochi 5pm

South Korea vs Mexico Rostov-on-Don 8pm




.................................................................

Sunday, June 24

England vs Panama Nizhny Novgorod 2pm

Japan vs Senegal Ekaterinburg 5pm

Poland vs Colombia Kazan 8pm


.................................................................


Monday, June 25

Saudi Arabia vs Egypt Samara 4pm

Uruguay vs Russia Volgograd 4pm 

Iran vs Portugal Kaliningrad 8pm

Spain vs Morocco Saransk 8pm



.................................................................


Tuesday, June 26

Australia vs Peru Moscow (Luzhniki) 4pm

Denmark vs France Sochi 4pm

Nigeria vs Argentina St Petersburg 8pm 

Iceland vs Croatia Rostov-on-Don 8pm



.................................................................

Wednesday, June 27

South Korea vs Germany Kazan 4pm

Mexico vs Sweden Ekaterinburg 4pm

Serbia vs Brazil Moscow (Spartak) 8pm

Switzerland vs Costa Rica Nizhny Novgorod 8pm




.................................................................

Thursday, June 28

Japan vs Poland Volgograd 4pm

Senegal vs Colombia Samara 4pm

Panama vs Tunisia Kaliningrad 8pm

England vs Belgium Saransk 8pm



.................................................................


LAST 16

Saturday, June 30

1C vs 2D Kazan 4pm (Match 50)

1A vs 2B Sochi 8pm (Match 49)

Sunday, July 1

1B vs 2A Moscow (Luzhniki) 4pm (Match 51)

1D vs 2C Nizhny Novgorod 8pm (Match 52)

Monday, July 2

1E vs 2F Samara 4pm (Match 53)

1G vs 2H Rostov-on-Don 8pm (Match 54)

1F vs 2E St Petersburg 4pm (Match 55)

1H vs 2G Moscow (Spartak) 8pm (Match 56)




.................................................................

QUARTER-FINALS

Friday, July 6

Winner match 49 vs winner match 50 Nizhny Novgorod 4pm (Match 57)

Winner match 53 vs winner match 54 Kazan 8pm (Match 58)

Saturday, July 7

Winner match 55 vs winner match 56 Samara 4pm (Match 60)

Winner match 51 vs winner match 52 Sochi 8pm (Match 59)




.................................................................


SEMI-FINALS

Tuesday, July 10

Winner match 57 vs winner match 58 St Petersburg 8pm




Wednesday, July 11

Winner match 59 vs winner match 60 Moscow (Luzhniki) 8pm




.................................................................



THIRD-PLACE PLAY-OFF

Saturday, July 14

St Petersburg 4pm




..................................................................


FINAL

Sunday, July 15

Moscow (Luzhniki) 5pm

*30 PLAYERS WITH MOST PREMIER LEAGUE MEDAL*

1. Ryan Giggs (Manchester United) = 13
2. Paul Scholes (Manchester United) = 11
3. Gary Neville (Manchester United) = 8
4. Denis Irwin (Manchester United) =7
5. Roy Keane (Manchester United) = 6
6. David Beckham (Manchester United) = 6
7. Nicky Butt (Manchester United) = 6
8. Phil Neville (Manchester United) = 6
9. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United) = 6
10. Rio Ferdinard (Manchester United) = 6
11. Peter Schmeichel (Manchester United) = 5
12. Andrew Cole (Manchester United) =5
13. Wes Brown (Manchester United = 5
14. John O'Shea (Manchester United) = 5
15. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) = 5
16. Patrice Evra (Manchester United) = 5
17. Nemenja Vidic (Manchester United) = 5
18. Darren Fletcher (Manchester United) = 5
19. Michael Carrick (Manchester United) = 5
20. Brian McClair (Manchester United) = 4
21. Eric Cantona (Manchester United) = 4
22. Gary Pallister (Manchester United) = 4
23. Silvestre Michael (Manchester United) = 4
24. Edwin Van Der Sar (Manchester United) = 4
25. Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United) = 4
26. Anderson (Manchester United) = 4
27. Luis Nani (Manchester United) = 4
27.5 Tomas Kuschak (Manchester United) = 4
28. John Terry (Chelsea) = 4
29. Didier Drogba (Chelsea) = 4
30. Steve Bruce (Manchester United) = 3

Which Teams Have Qualified for The Finals in Russia?

The field of teams that will travel to Russia for next summer's World Cup is nearly complete.
African qualifying, the European play-offs and two inter-continental play-offs take place during the November international break to complete the cycle before the draw for the finals is made in December.

Here is the complete list of teams that have qualified for the premier event in Russia:

Russia - Hosts


Iran AFC Third Round - Group A winners
South Korea AFC Third Round- Group A runners up

Japan AFC- Third Round Group B winners

Saudi Arabia- AFC Third Round Group B runners up

Tunisia - CAF Group A winners


Nigeria - CAF Group B winners


Morocco - CAF Group C winners


Senegal - CAF Group D winners


Egypt - CAF Group E winners


Mexico - CONCACAF Fifth Round first place


costa Rica - CONCACAF Fifth Round second place


Panama - CONCACAF Fifth Round third place


Brazil - CONMEBOL first place


Uruguay - CONMEBOL second place


Argentina - CONMEBOL third place


Colombia - CONMEBOL fourth place


France - UEFA Group A winners


Portugal - UEFA Group B winners


Germany - UEFA Group C winners


Serbia - UEFA Group D winners


Poland - UEFA Group E winners


England - UEFA Group F winners


Spain - UEFA Group G winners


Belgium - UEFA Group H winners


Iceland - UEFA Group I winners

Switzerland - UEFA second-place play-off winners


Croatia - UEFA second-place play-off winners


Sweden - UEFA second-place play-off winners



Yet to Qualify:

UEFA second-place play-off winners (IRE vs DEN)


CONMEBOL fifth place vs OFC first place play-off (Peru vs NZ)


AFC fifth place vs CONCACAF fourth place play-off (Honduras vs AUS)

Timmy301:
Lukaku worth more than HAZARD, MESSI RONALDO this is pure WACK. these are people who should dominate first to fifth on the list!

everything that goes up, will surely come down one day

KevinDein:
List is joke since whatever system they used valued Messi at 117m Euros.

Messi is getting old, so you can't compare his value to young players

Lekan111:
Bayern Munich did not make top 10

they have dropped,most of their players are old

Tottenham worth more than Real Madrid and Barcelona? Harry Kane worth more than Lionel Messi? Here's the top 10 most valuable squads in Europe according to CIES Football Observatory...

10. Juventus - €743m

The Serie A champions are tenth on the list and, unsurprisingly, their most valuable player is Paulo Dybala at €166m.



9. Atletico Madrid - €800m

Diego Simeone's side are in ninth place, with Antoine Griezmann (€147m) as their most valuable player.



8. Paris Saint-Germain - €864m

The French big-spenders are only in eighth place, according to CIES. They do, however, have the most valuable player in the world in Neymar (€218m), and he is valued at almost one quarter of the entire squad of the Ligue 1 outfit.



7. Liverpool - €901m

The Reds are seventh and their most valuable player is Mohamed Salah (€101m), who is deemed to be worth more than his team-mate and Barcelona target Philippe Coutinho.



6. Real Madrid - €903m

This one is very surprising. The current European and Spanish champions aren't even in the top 5, and according to CIES, their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo is worth just €96m.



5. Manchester United - €919m

The Red Devils just make the top 5 and their most valuable player isn't their record signing Paul Pogba, but their star striker Romelu Lukaku (€165m).



4. Chelsea - €1.044bn

The Premier League champions are worth over €1billion and their most valuable player is Belgian star winger Eden Hazard (€121m).



3. Barcelona - €1.130bn

Whilst it isn't as urprise to see the Catalan giants near the top of the list, one surprise is that Luis Suarez is their most valuable player at €134m, whilst Messi is worth just €117m.



2. Tottenham Hotspur - €1.173bn

According to CIES, Tottenham are more valuable than Barcelona and Real Madrid. They also have the most valuable player in the Premier Leauge in Harry Kane (€186m), while Dele Alli is hot on his heels (€182m).



1. Manchester City - €1.196bn

So the current Premier League leaders have the most valuable squad in Europe. Their most valuable player is Kevin De Bruyne (€145m) after his superb start to the season, but Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus are all valued at over €100m[b][/b]

50 players who won the Ballon d’Or



Rivera

Muller

Cruyff

Beckenbauer

Blokhin

Simonsen

Keegan

Rummenigge

Rossi

Platini

Belanov

Gullit

van Basten

Matthaus

Papin

Baggio

Stoichkov

Weah

Sammer

Delima Ronaldo

Zidane

Rivaldo

Figo

Owen

Nedved

Shevchenko

Ronaldinho

Cannavaro

Kaka

CR7

Messi

*Race for Golden Boots: In Europe's Top five Leagues*




*Premier League* Top goal scorer

Sergio Aguero (Man City) - 8
Harry Kane (Tottenham) - 8
Raheem Sterling (Man City) - 7
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - 7
Alvaro Morata (Chelsea) - 7


NOTE: Romelu Lukaku (Man Utd) and Gabriel Jesus (Man City) have also scored 7 goals.



*La Liga* Top goal scorer

Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 12
Simone Zaza (Valencia) - 9
Cedric Bakambu (Villarreal) - 8
Antonio Sanabria (Real Betis) - 7
Rodrigo (Valencia) - 7




*Serie A* Top goal scorer

Ciro Immobile (Lazio) - 14
Mauro Icardi (Inter) - 11
Paulo Dybala (Juve) - 11
Dries Mertens (Napoli) - 10
Edin Dzeko (Roma) - 7


NOTE: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria) & Gonzalo Higuain (Juve) have also scored 7 goals.



*Bundesliga* Top goal scorer

Robert Lewandowski (Bayern) - 11
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (BVB) - 10
Kevin Volland (Leverkusen) - 6
Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) - 6
Sebastian Haller (Frankfurt) - 5



NOTE: Alfred Finnbogason (Augsburg), Michael Gregoritsch (Augsburg) Martin Harnik (Hannover), Mark Uth (Hoffenheim) & Maximilian Philipp (BVB) have also scored 5 goals




Ligue 1* Top goal scorer

Radamel Falcao (AS Monaco) - 13
Edinson Cavani (PSG) - 13
Nabil Fekir (Lyon) - 11
Mariano (Lyon) - 9
Neymar (PSG) - 7

2017 FIFA AWARDS WINNERS

BEST GOALKEEPER: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
BEST GOAL (PUSKAS AWARD): Olivier Giroud (Arsenal)


BEST COACH: Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid)

BEST PLAYER: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)


FAIR PLAY AWARD: Francis Kone (Senegal)


BEST YOUNG PLAYER (GOLDEN BOY):
2017 Golden Boy Award voting points:
Mbappe - 291 (WINNER) Dembele - 149 Rashford - 76 Jesus - 72



FIFA FAN AWARD: Celtic fans


FIFPRO WORLD XI:
1. Gianluigi Buffon 2. Dani Alves 3. Marcelo 4. Sergio Ramos 5. Bonnuci 6. Luca Modric 7. Neymar Dos Santos 8. Toni Kroos 9. Cristiano Ronaldo 10. Andres Iniesta 11. Lionel Messi



SUMMARY:
BY LEAGUES:
EPL - 0 LA LIGA - 7 LIGUE 1 - 2 SERIE A - 2 BUNDESLIGA - 0



BY CLUBS:
REAL MADRID - 5 BARCELONA - 2 PSG - 2 JUVENTUS - 1 AC MILAN - 1 __________


FIFA WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR  HISTORY WINNERS
2017 Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal
2016 Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal
2015 Lionel Messi Argentina
2014 Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal
2013 Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal
2012 Lionel Messi Argentina
2011 Lionel Messi Argentina
2010 Lionel Messi Argentina
2009 Lionel Messi Argentina
2008 Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal
2007 Kaká Brazil
2006 Fabio Cannavaro Italy
2005 Ronaldinho Brazil
2004 Ronaldinho Brazil
2003 Zinedine Zidane France
2002 Ronaldo Brazil
2001 Luís Figo Portugal
2000 Zinedine Zidane France
1999 Rivaldo Brazil
1998 Zinedine Zidane France
1997 Ronaldo Brazil
1996 Ronaldo Brazil
1995 George Weah Liberia
1994 Romário Brazil
1993 Roberto Baggio Italy
1992 Marco van Basten Netherlands
1991 Lothar Matthäus Germany



SUMMARY
Messi - 5
Cristiano Ronaldo - 5
Zinedine Zidane - 3
Ronaldo - 3
Ronaldinho - 2
Others - 1 each __________



FIFA WORLD BEST COACH OF THE YEAR HISTORY WINNERS
2010 José Mourinho (Internazionale)
2011 Pep Guardiola (Barcelona)
2012 Vicente del Bosque (Spain)
2013 Jupp Heynckes (Bayern Munich)
2014 Joachim Löw (Germany)
2015 Luis Enrique (Barcelona)
2016 Claudio Ranieri (Italy)
2017 Zinedine Zidane (France) __________

Oluwasaeon:
Deserved

yeah he deserve it after all his hard work

BREAKING: PSG wonderkid Kylian Mbappe wins Golden Boy award

The PSG star has flourished at Parc des Princes and now joins a long line of wonderkids to have won the prestigious prize


Kylian Mbappe has won the prestigious Golden Boy award for the best player under the age of 21.

The PSG striker, who has scored four goals and provided four assists in 11 games for the club this season, burst onto the world stage with Monaco last season and is now flourishing in the French capital, having formed a terrifying partnership with Brazilian Neymar.

The 18-year-old, who has already won eight France caps, is currently on loan at Parc des Princes, and will officially join the club on a permanent basis next season, for a fee of €180 million.

Mbappe wins the award ahead of the likes of Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus, Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele and Milan's Gianluigi Donnarumma, and joins a list of illustrious previous winners, including Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba and Isco.

The prize is voted on by journalists from across the world, with Italian newspaper Tuttosport confirming the winner on Monday.


Mbappe won with 291 votes, ahead of second-placed Dembele by some distance - the Barcelona star earned 149 votes. There has been some confusion over third and fourth place, however, with Marcus Rashford seemingly beating Gabriel Jesus into third.

Tuttosport confirmed the top three earlier this week, however, with Jesus joining Mbappe and Dembele and Rashford nowhere to be seen, though Monday's edition claims the Manchester United striker received 76 votes, with Jesus just 72.

Donnarumma comes in fifth, ahead of Borussia Dortmund's Christian Pulisic in sixth, Ajax's Kasper Dolberg in seventh and Celta Vigo's Emre Mor in eighth. Federico Chiesa, of Fiorentina, and Juventus' Rodrigo Bentancur round off the top 10.

The PSG star has flourished at Parc des Princes and now joins a long line of wonderkids to have won the prestigious prize


Kylian Mbappe has won the prestigious Golden Boy award for the best player under the age of 21.

The PSG striker, who has scored four goals and provided four assists in 11 games for the club this season, burst onto the world stage with Monaco last season and is now flourishing in the French capital, having formed a terrifying partnership with Brazilian Neymar.

The 18-year-old, who has already won eight France caps, is currently on loan at Parc des Princes, and will officially join the club on a permanent basis next season, for a fee of €180 million.

Mbappe wins the award ahead of the likes of Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus, Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele and Milan's Gianluigi Donnarumma, and joins a list of illustrious previous winners, including Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba and Isco.

The prize is voted on by journalists from across the world, with Italian newspaper Tuttosport confirming the winner on Monday.


Mbappe won with 291 votes, ahead of second-placed Dembele by some distance - the Barcelona star earned 149 votes. There has been some confusion over third and fourth place, however, with Marcus Rashford seemingly beating Gabriel Jesus into third.

Tuttosport confirmed the top three earlier this week, however, with Jesus joining Mbappe and Dembele and Rashford nowhere to be seen, though Monday's edition claims the Manchester United striker received 76 votes, with Jesus just 72.

Donnarumma comes in fifth, ahead of Borussia Dortmund's Christian Pulisic in sixth, Ajax's Kasper Dolberg in seventh and Celta Vigo's Emre Mor in eighth. Federico Chiesa, of Fiorentina, and Juventus' Rodrigo Bentancur round off the top 10.

The PSG star has flourished at Parc des Princes and now joins a long line of wonderkids to have won the prestigious prize


Kylian Mbappe has won the prestigious Golden Boy award for the best player under the age of 21.

The PSG striker, who has scored four goals and provided four assists in 11 games for the club this season, burst onto the world stage with Monaco last season and is now flourishing in the French capital, having formed a terrifying partnership with Brazilian Neymar.

The 18-year-old, who has already won eight France caps, is currently on loan at Parc des Princes, and will officially join the club on a permanent basis next season, for a fee of €180 million.

Mbappe wins the award ahead of the likes of Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus, Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele and Milan's Gianluigi Donnarumma, and joins a list of illustrious previous winners, including Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba and Isco.

The prize is voted on by journalists from across the world, with Italian newspaper Tuttosport confirming the winner on Monday.


Mbappe won with 291 votes, ahead of second-placed Dembele by some distance - the Barcelona star earned 149 votes. There has been some confusion over third and fourth place, however, with Marcus Rashford seemingly beating Gabriel Jesus into third.

Tuttosport confirmed the top three earlier this week, however, with Jesus joining Mbappe and Dembele and Rashford nowhere to be seen, though Monday's edition claims the Manchester United striker received 76 votes, with Jesus just 72.

Donnarumma comes in fifth, ahead of Borussia Dortmund's Christian Pulisic in sixth, Ajax's Kasper Dolberg in seventh and Celta Vigo's Emre Mor in eighth. Federico Chiesa, of Fiorentina, and Juventus' Rodrigo Bentancur round off the top 10

*TOP 5 WEEKENDS LEAGUE FIXTURES*



*PREMIER LEAGUE*

*Friday 20th October*
20:00 West Ham United *vs* Brighton and Hove Albion

*Saturday 21st October*

11:30 Chelsea *vs* Watford
14:00 Huddersfield Town *vs* Manchester United
14:00 Manchester City *vs* Burnley
14:00 Newcastle United *vs* Crystal Palace
14:00 Stoke City *vs* Bournemouth
14:00 Swansea City *vs* Leicester City
16:30 Southampton *vs* West Bromwich Albion

*Sunday 22nd October*

12:30 Everton *vs* Arsenal
15:00 Tottenham Hotspur *vs* Liverpool




*SPANISH LA LIGA*

*Saturday 21st October*

11:00 Levante *vs* Getafe
14:15 Real Betis *vs* Alaves
16:30 Valencia *vs* Sevilla
18:45 Barcelona *vd* Malaga

*Sunday 22nd October*

10:00 Villarreal *vs* Las Palmas
14:15 Celta Vigo *vs* Atletico Madrid
16:30 Leganes *vs* Athletic Bilbao
18:45 Real Madrid *vs* Eibar

*Monday 23rd October*

18:00 Real Sociedad *vs* Espanyol
19:00 Deportivo La Coruna *vs* Girona



*ITALIAN SERIE A*

*Saturday 21st October*

16:00 Sampdoria *vs* Crotone
18:45 Napoli *vs* Inter Milan

*Sunday 22nd October*

10:30 Chievo *vs* Verona
13:00 AC Milan *vs* Genoa
13:00 Atalanta *vs* Bologna
13:00 Benevento *vs* Fiorentina
13:00 Spal *vs* Sassuolo
13:00 Torino *vs* Roma
16:00 Udinese *vs* Juventus
18:45 Lazio *vs* Cagliari



*FRENCH LIGUE 1*

*Friday 20th October*

18:45 St Etienne *vs* Montpellier

*Saturday 21st October*

15:00 Monaco *vs* Caen
18:00 Amiens *vs* Bordeaux
18:00 Angers *vs* Toulouse
18:00 Metz *vs* Dijon
18:00 Nantes *vs* Guingamp
18:00 Rennes *vs* Lille

*Sunday 22nd October*

13:00 Nice *vs* Strasbourg
15:00 Troyes *vs* Lyon
19:00 Marseille *vs* Paris Saint-Germain




*GERMAN BUNDESLIGA*

*Friday 20th October*

18:30 Schalke *vs* Mainz

*Saturday 21st October*

13:30 Eintracht Frankfurt *vs* Borussia Dortmund
13:30 FC Augsburg *vs* Hannover 96
13:30 M'gladbach *vs* Bayer Leverkusen
13:30 RB Leipzig *vs* Stuttgart
16:30 Hamburg *vs* Bayern Munich

*Sunday 22nd October*

11:30 Fc Cologne *vs* Werder Bremen
13:30 SC Freiburg *vs* Hertha Berlin
16:00 Wolfsburg *vs* Hoffenheim

List of Premier League highest scoring games




This is a summary of the highest scoring games and biggest winning margins in the Premier League since its establishment in the 1992–93 season.


The record for the biggest win is Manchester United's 9–0 victory against Ipswich Town at Old Trafford on 4th March 1995. Tottenham Hotspur are the only other club to have scored nine goals in a Premier League game - in their 9–1 victory over Wigan Athletic at White Hart Lane on 22 November 2009.


This game also boasts the record number of goals scored by both teams in one half of Premier League football (nine), and by one team in one half of Premier League football (eight, by Tottenham).



Manchester United also hold the record for the biggest winning margin away from home with an 8–1 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in Nottingham on 6 February 1999.



The highest scoring game is Portsmouth's 7–4 win against Reading at Fratton Park in the 2007–2008 season.
Highest scoring games


Goals
scored
Date
Home team
Result
Away team
Goal scorers
Ref
11
29 September 2007
Portsmouth
7–4
Reading
Benjani 7', 37', 70', Hreiðarsson 55', Kranjčar 75', Ingimarsson 81' (o.g.), Muntari 90' (pen.)
Hunt 45', Kitson 48', Long 79', Campbell 90' (o.g.)
[1]
10



29 December 2007
Tottenham Hotspur
6–4
Reading
Berbatov 7', 63', 73', 83', Malbranque 76', Defoe 79
Cissé 16', Ingimarsson 53', Kitson 69', 74'
[2]
10



22 November 2009
Tottenham Hotspur
9–1
Wigan Athletic
Crouch 9', Defoe 51', 54', 58', 69', 87' Lennon 64', Bentley 88', Kranjčar 90'
Scharner 57'
[3]
10



28 August 2011
Manchester United
8–2
Arsenal
Welbeck 22', Young 28', 90+1', Rooney 41', 64', 82' (pen.), Nani 67', Park 70'
Walcott 45+3', Van Persie 74'
[4]
10



29 December 2012
Arsenal
7–3
Newcastle United
Walcott 20', 73', 90+2', Oxlade-Chamberlain 50', Podolski 64', Giroud 84', 87'
Ba 43', 69', Marveaux 59'
[5]
10



19 May 2013
West Bromwich Albion
5–5
Manchester United
Morrison 40', Lukaku 50', 81', 86', Mulumbu 81'
Kagawa 6', Olsson 9' (o.g.), Büttner 30', Van Persie 53', Hernández 63'
[6]
9



9 April 1994
Norwich City
4–5
Southampton
Robins 37', Goss 49', Sutton 56', 64'
Ullathorne 44' (o.g.), Le Tissier 58', 63' (pen.), 73', Monkou 90'
[7]
9



4 March 1995
Manchester United
9–0
Ipswich Town
Keane 15', Cole 19', 37', 53', 65', 87', Hughes 55', 59', Ince 72'
[8]
9



26 October 1996
Southampton
6–3
Manchester United
Berkovic 6', 63', Le Tissier 34', Østenstad 45', 85', P. Neville 90' (o.g.)
Beckham 41', May 56', Scholes 89'
[9]
9



26 August 1997
Blackburn Rovers
7–2
Sheffield Wednesday
Gallacher 2', 7', Hyde 10' (o.g.), Wilcox 20', Sutton 24', 74', Bohinen 53'
Carbone 8', 47'
[10]
9



6 February 1999
Nottingham Forest
1–8
Manchester United
Rogers 6'
Yorke 2', 67', Cole 7', 50', Solskjær 80', 88', 90', 90'
[11]
9



12 February 2000
West Ham United
5–4
Bradford City
Sinclair 35', Moncur 43', Di Canio 65' (pen.), Cole 70', Lampard 83'
Windass 30', Beagrie 44' (pen.), Lawrence 47', 51'
[12]
9



11 March 2000
Tottenham Hotspur
7–2
Southampton
Richards 28' (o.g.), Anderton 39', Armstrong 41', 64', Iversen 45', 78', 90'
Tessem 26', El Khalej 33'
[13]
9



13 November 2004
Tottenham Hotspur
4–5
Arsenal
Naybet 37', Defoe 61', King 74', Kanouté 88'
Henry 45', Lauren 55' (pen.), Vieira 60', Ljungberg 69', Pirès 81'
[14]
9



11 May 2008
Middlesbrough
8–1
Manchester City
Downing 16' (pen.), 58' Alves 37', 60, 90', Johnson 70', Rochemback 80', Aliadière 85'
Elano 87'
[15]
9




16 January 2010
Chelsea
7–2
Sunderland
Anelka 8', 65', Malouda 17', A. Cole 22', Lampard 34', 90', Ballack 52'
Zenden 56', Bent 90'
[16]
9




14 December 2013
Manchester City
6–3
Arsenal
Agüero 14', Negredo 39', Fernandinho 50', 88', Silva 66', Touré 90'
Walcott 31', 63', Mertesacker 90'
[17]
9




22 March 2014
Cardiff City
3–6
Liverpool
Mutch 9', 88', Campbell 25'
Suárez 16', 60', 90', Škrtel 41', 54', Sturridge 75'
[18]
9





30 August 2014




Everton
3–6
Chelsea
Mirallas 45', Naismith 69' Eto'o 76',
Costa 1', 90', Ivanović 3', Coleman 67' (o.g.), Matić 74', Ramires 77'
[19]
9
23 January 2016
Norwich

Players nominated for 2017 Ballon 'DOr awards are listed below
with pictures



*Ballon d'Or 2017: All 30 nominees revealed*

*Here are the 30 nominated players:*

Neymar (PSG)

Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

Paulo Dybala (Juventus)

Marcelo (Real Madrid)

N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea)

Luis Suárez (Barcelona)

Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)

Jan Oblak (Atlético Madrid)

Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)

Dries Mertens (Napoli)

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

David De Gea (Manchester United)

Harry Kane (Tottenham)

Edin Džeko (AS Roma)

Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid)

Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)

Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)

Sadio Mané (Liverpool)

Radamel Falcao (Monaco)

Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund)

Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain)

Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich)

Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan)

Isco (Real Madrid)

Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain)

*Daily Mail's worst strikers in PL history... No. 20-1 might have some familiar names*


After 25 years the Premier League has seen its fair share of great goalscorers. But it has also witnessed a fair amount of mediocrity in its time.

While its greatest players remain revered, some of its worst are equally heralded.

Here Sportsmail finally reach the end of the road and reveal the 20 worst strikers of the Premier League era...




*20 - Roberto Soldado*
When Tottenham sold Gareth Bale and spent £109m to replace him, hopes were placed in Roberto Soldado to shoulder the burden.

The Spaniard had enjoyed three lethal seasons with Valencia and was a proven talent in front of goal.

But to the tune of £26m, Andre Villas-Boas could be forgiven for expecting more than four of the six goals in his first season to come from the penalty spot.

He was shunted to the sidelines by Mauricio Pochettino in his second season, and soon returned to his homeland, having spectacularly failed to show his true worth.




*19 - Jo*
Manchester City splashed £18m on Brazil striker Jo in July 2008, but within a month he was on a hiding to nothing.

An Abu Dhabi investment group completed a takeover of the club that transformed them overnight into the richest club in world football. Robinho joined, and the rest is history.

Jo scored only once in nine league games, and was farmed out on loan to Everton half-way through the season.

After some initial success, with five goals in 12, he was suspended by the club after returning to Brazil without permission over the Christmas period.




*18 - Yaya Sanogo*
Yaya Sanogo perfectly sums up the recent past of Arsene Wenger's Arsenal reign.

Plucked from the French league, he was a relative unknown, but Wenger believed he was investing in potential. He was severely mistaken.

Sanogo was gangly and wiry but was far from good enough for the Gunners. He was barely any better in his loan spell at Crystal Palace, scoring just the one FA Cup goal.

He was eventually released by Wenger in the summer, and we're unlikely to see him in England ever again.




*17 - Sean Dundee*
Joint managers are never a good idea, and it's their lack of joined-up thinking that led Liverpool to spend £2m on Sean Dundee in 1998.

Seeking cover for Michael Owen, Gerard Houllier and Roy Evans settled on the South African-born German striker.

After claiming he was as fast as the England striker upon his arrival, hopes were high that Liverpool had unearth a gem.

Three late-season substitute appearances later and he was back in Germany with Stuttgart.




*16 - Grzegorz Rasiak*
After a prolific few years back in native Poland, Rasiak then proved himself at Derby in the Championship.

That prompted Martin Jol to take a punt on the Pole on deadline day in August 2005, but within six months he'd been proven to be totally out of his depth.

Southampton signed him on loan, made the deal permanent and once again he flourished in the lower leagues.

Two years later he returned to the Premier League with Bolton as Nicolas Anelka departed for Chelsea. Somehow it didn't work out.




*15 - Mateja Kezman*
Mateja Kezman's Chelsea career is why you can never trust the Eredivisie. The Serb scored 105 goals in four years with PSV, and his arrival for £5.3m in 2004 was a snip.

He took Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's No 9 shirt but then took until December to score his first league goal. Only three more followed.

He was famed as a close-range poacher in Holland but barely got a chance to show it in England.

As he poked home an Eidur Gudjohnsen cross from one-yard out in the League Cup final against Liverpool, peak Kezman arrived.




*14 - Tomas Brolin*
The man who sunk a miserable England at Euro 92 arrived on these shores some three years later.

Howard Wilkinson felt the Swede could work in tandem with Tony Yeboah up front, but when he scored his first goal when a defender's clearance bounced off his shoulder the farce was only just beginning.

He piled on the weight after suffering with injury, and in two spells at Leeds and Crystal Palace he eventually departed in disgrace.

His time in England is full of a rich tapestry of tales, such as the April Fool's Joke that backfired, that time he was fined £90,000 for missing a match to attend his father's 50th birthday and when he became Attilio Lombardo's interpreter at Crystal Palace.




*13 - Bosko Balaban*
Aston Villa spent £5.8m on Bosko Balaban after he top scored in the Croatian league with Dinamo Zagreb.

But whatever eye for goal he showed in his native country disappeared in England.

Balaban made only nine appearances in two-and-a-half years, seven of those as a substitute.

He was eventually released in 2003 and joined Brugge, where he became known as 'Super Bosko' after predictably returning to goalscoring form.




*12 - Vincent Janssen*
Desperate for a striker to take the pressure off Harry Kane, Tottenham spent £17m to bring in Dutch international Janssen.

A prolific season with AZ tempted Spurs to bring him to England, but like Soldado before him the burly forward struggled with the demands.

He scored six times in all competitions, with four arriving from the penalty spot. His lack of speed and physicality saw him dumped at Fenerbahce on loan. It's unlikely we'll see him back here again anytime soon.




*11 - Xisco*
The mystery of Xisco's time at Newcastle is perhaps summed up by the fact he was seventh choice striker behind Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins, Mark Viduka, Peter Løvenkrands, Shola Ameobi and Andy Carroll.

Kevin Keegan left soon after, incensed at the signing of a player behind his back. And yet despite that firepower, Newcastle ended the season relegated.

After scoring on his debut, in a 2-1 defeat by Hull, it all went downhill. It took until January 2013 for his contract to be terminated.




*10 - Erik Meijer*
Despite being one of the most limited strikers in Liverpool history, Erik Meijer is remembered fondly by club supporters.

He spent just one season at Anfield, scored twice in the same game - a Worthington Cup win over Hull - and just ran around a lot.

Liverpool fans voted him 99th in the poll '100 Players Who Shook the Kop', pointing to the never-say-die attitude that outshone any skill he possessed.

A year after leaving he was among Reds fans who congregated in Dortmund ahead of the 5-4 UEFA Cup final win over Alaves.




*9 - Ricky van Wolfswinkel*
Norwich displayed their growing financial muscle by spending £8.5m on Ricky van Wolfswinkel in 2013.

He scored on his Premier League debut but failed to find the back of the net again. By April he had managed only eight shots on target, and ended the season with 25 appearances as Chris Hugton's side slid back to the Championship.

His best moment came late in the season, away at Fuham, with a no-look pass to absolutely no-one.




*8 - Andreas Cornelius*
Premier League new boys Cardiff smashed their transfer record to bring in Andreas Cornelius for £8m in 2013.

At just 20 and with only a year of goalscoring behind him at Copenhagen, the transition to England was steep.

Injury problems hampered him, but in 11 games he failed to score and was shipped off back to Denmark in January 2014.

This summer club owner Vincent Tan launched a fresh investigation into his signing, believing the club paid too much, and instructed lawyers to take a detailed look into the transfer.




*7 - Konstantinos Mitroglou*
Fulham were desperately battling relegation and in January 2014 they agreed a £12m fee with Olympiakos for the Greek striker.

He may have been the record fee holder but he appeared only three times due to a variety of injury, fitness and form issues.

In August he returned to Olympiakos on loan and was promptly back to scoring in the Champions League, with a winner against Atletico Madrid no less.




*6 - Victor Anichebe*
Victor Anichebe spent 12 seasons as a Premier League striker with Everton, West Brom and Sunderland.

Between 2005 and 2017 the Nigerian scored 27 times in 197 appearances, which means he scored roughly once every seven or eight games. In 12 years.

The longevity is to be admired, for Anichebe became the great survivor. Somehow remaining a Premier League striker despite all his shortcomings, he made Bambi on ice look graceful.




*5 - Afonso Alves*
Afonso Alves has become the warning from history, the irrefutable proof that you can not trust any football that happens in Holland.

Middlesbrough smashed their transfer record by spending £12.5m on the Brazilian.

And though his goal return was not necessarily that bad, at 10 goals in 42 games, he has become a figure of fun in the intervening years and a symbol of that Boro side which got relegated in 2009.




*4 - Stephane Guivarc'h*
France proved you didn't need a striker to win the World Cup when Stephane Guivarc'h toiled on his own to no reward throughout their triumph in 1998.

Kenny Dalglish must have seen something in the Auxerre striker, who had enjoyed success in his own country, when he paid £3.5m to bring him to Newcastle.

He made a bright start, scored on his debut against Liverpool, but then Dalglish was sacked soon after.

Ruud Gullit arrived and promptly got rid of him in November.




*3 - Ade Akinbiyi*
When Emile Heskey left for Liverpool for £11m in 2000, Ade Akinbiyi was lined up as a replacement at £5.5m.

After a decent enough return of nine goals in his first season, he hit rock bottom in his second as Leicester hurtled towards Division One.

In a 4-1 defeat by Liverpool in 2001 he missed three sitters and was booed by his own fans. And he didn't just missed them, he skied every single one.

He broke his duck with the winner against Sunderland - after which he ripped off his shirt to shows his bulging biceps - declared it as a 'turning point' before scoring only more in the campaign.




*2 - Ali Dia*
The man, the myth, the legend. The striking flop to end all striking flops.

Allegedly the cousin of World Player of the Year, George Weah, Graeme Souness was hoodwinked into bringing him to Southampton.

He joined in November 1996, made one solitary substitute appearance in place of Matt Le Tissier, before suffering the ignominy of being substituted himself.

He had no discernible skill and was utterly out of his depth. He was released two weeks into his contract.

Mystery, conspiracy theories and anecdotal evidence have followed Dia around ever since his one appearance in the English top-flight. Who is he? How did he get to where he was?

He briefly turned out for Gateshead before disappearing into the unknown.




*1 - Jozy Altidore*
Jozy Altidore played 70 Premier League games for Hull and Sunderland. He scored a grand total of two Premier League goals.

After a fairly non-eventful loan spell with Hull in 2009-10, he returned to England in 2013 after a prolific few years in the Dutch league with AZ.

Sunderland, managed by Paulo Di Canio, spent £6m on the US international and he repaid their faith with one strike in 42 league games.

Altidore looked big and strong, like anything could hit him and stick. He should have been a colossus, but he just wasn't.

Clumsy on the ball and wild in front of goal it was the worst of combinations to spearhead a struggling Sunderland side battling relegation.

He left for Toronto in January 2015, with a strike rate of one goal every 35 games that few Premier League strikers can hope to rival.

Ranked: the top 10 goalkeepers in European football right now*



With Manuel Neuer out injured, there’s a vacant spot at the top of the goalkeeper power rankings.

Obviously no such rankings exist but if they did, Manuel Neuer would have owned the no.

1 spot for pretty much the last four years at least. But with the titanic Teuton out on the sidelines with a foot injury having played no minutes this season, the throne sits unoccupied with any number of contenders vying for it.


Squawka outlined the 10 best goalkeepers in the world right now to see who is making the best attempt to usurp Manuel Neuer’s crown.



Defending In Numbers is a new Deezer Originals football podcast, created by Squawka. Listen to the latest episode and subscribe to the podcast on Deezer and iTunes.




*10. Alphonse Areola*

PSG

Games: 8

Saves: 12

Clean Sheets: 5

Loaned out for previous seasons (to great success at Villarreal), Areola has finally come into his own in Paris, locking down the no. 1 spot and giving the Parisians a true sense of solidity in goal. Areola’s form is such that if Hugo Lloris weren’t French captain he’d have to worry about his position.



*9. Ederson*


Manchester City

Games: 7

Saves: 9

Clean Sheets: 4

Fresh off the Benfica goalkeeper production line, Ederson has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water. He’s a wonderful player with the ball at his feet but what’s more impressive is how well he has commanded his area in the hurly burly of the Premier League. Taking Sadio Mané’s boot right in the face was a real tone-setting moment at the back for Manchester City.




*8. Hugo Lloris*


Spurs

Games: 7

Saves: 7

Clean Sheets: 4

Lloris is Spurs and France captain and a wonderfully experienced figurehead. An excellent sweeper and solid presence at saving, his kicking remains a weak point and he of course has an inexplicable tendency to fluff his lines in key games.




*7. Alisson*



Roma

Games: 6

Saves: 22

Clean Sheets: 4

Few had heard of Alisson before a year ago when he joined Roma, but he’s very much a known quantity now. Firmly established as Brazil’s no. 1 and a superb stopper for Roma, where he’s made an impressive 22 saves to give the Roman side the second best defensive record in Serie A.




*6. Samir Handanovic*



Inter

Games: 7

Saves: 15

Clean Sheets: 4

The big Slovenian is a powerful presence in goal for Inter. Commanding of his area and a solid stopper; no one has a better defensive record in Serie A this season. And only Diego Alves has saved more penalties since the start of 2012/13 than Handanovic’s remarkable 9 stops.





5. Marc-André Ter Stegen


Barcelona

Games: 7

Saves: 10

Clean Sheets: 5

Ter Stegen is the man who will inherit Manuel Neuer’s shirt for Germany, a role he’s had to work hard to earn. The German is a wonderful shot stopper, especially in 1v1 situations, but his greatest skill is his superhuman passing; the Blaugrana keeper plays the ball with the precision of a midfielder!




*4. Gianluigi Buffon*


Juventus

Games: 5

Saves: 7

Clean Sheets: 2

It’s clear that he’s nowhere near his dominant best, but no one has the kind of experience and big match savvy that Gianluigi Buffon does. The 39 year-old turns it on when it matters most and, for now, still holds his place among the game’s elite.




*3. Thibaut Courtois*


Chelsea

Games: 7

Saves: 14

Clean Sheets: 3

Chelsea’s gangly Belgian is often underrated but when he’s at his best he uses his long frame to make impossible and unexpected saves. Has been let down by his defence this season (hence just 3 clean sheets) but there’s no denying the incredible quality he possesses.




*2. Jan Oblak*


Atlético Madrid

Games: 7

Saves: 18

Clean Sheets: 4

Jan Oblak is the second former Benfica goalkeeper on this list and the second Slovenian, which is pretty incredible. Inbetween the sticks, Oblak is a colossus for Atlético Madrid. An almost impassable last line of defence for a side that prides itself on being a great defensive side. Without Oblak’s abs





1. David De Gea*


Manchester United

Games: 7

Saves: 15

Clean Sheets: 6

David De Gea has emerged from his worst season for half a decade to place the greatest claim to Manuel Neuer’s throne.

De Gea is playing so well that even if Neuer were fully fit he’d have a challenge on his hands. United have conceded just two goals in the Premier League and those both game in the same game.


De Gea has an incredible 6 clean sheets and that is only because of his own magnificence as United have left him wide-open at least once a match. The Spaniard is a picturebook of miracle saves and each game he plays bring a new page.