The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers are set to engage in a clash of titans in the 2024 World Series. It’s the first Fall Classic between No. 1 seeds since 2020, and the first such matchup in a full season since ‘13. It also pits teams with two of MLB’s three highest payrolls against each other, as well as the two presumed MVPs of the regular season in New York’s Aaron Judge and Los Angeles’s Shohei Ohtani.

The Dodgers are slight favorites at sportsbooks, but if we break down the matchup position by position, would we get the same sense?

Catcher

Will Smith (Dodgers) vs. Austin Wells (Yankees)

Smith, an All-Star for the last two seasons, doesn’t get as much attention as he probably should in Los Angeles’s star-studded lineup. The 29-year-old ranks third among catchers in WAR over the last four seasons, behind only J.T. Realmuto and Sean Murphy, and has delivered several clutch postseason hits for the Dodgers over the years. L.A. clearly values him, though, having signed him to a 10-year, $140 million contract in March.

Austin Wells has been a nice rookie success story for the Yankees, providing a league-average bat and earning plaudits for his work behind the plate. He’s already better defensively than Smith, whose fielding metrics took a concerning tumble this year, but Smith’s clear advantage on offense gives him the nod.

Advantage: Dodgers

First base

Freddie Freeman (Dodgers) vs. Anthony Rizzo (Yankees)

These 35-year-old, sweet-swinging lefties have long been compared since their rookie seasons in 2011. Rizzo got off to a quicker start in the majors as a cornerstone for the Cubs that ended the franchise’s World Series drought in 2016. But Freeman has eclipsed him since winning the 2020 NL MVP while enjoying one of baseball’s most graceful aging curves. Rizzo hasn’t made an All-Star team since 2016—Freeman has six All-Star invites in that span.

Honing in on this year, Freeman was worth 4.6 WAR while Rizzo was below replacement level. It’s not much of a comparison anymore, even if Freeman is slightly hobbled by his sprained ankle.

Advantage: Dodgers

Second base

Gavin Lux (Dodgers) vs. Gleyber Torres (Yankees)

Torres has yet to match the production of his first two seasons that earned him All-Star status in 2018 and ‘19, but he’s settled in as a 20-homer threat and has done well setting the table for New York’s sluggers during these playoffs.

Lux, a former top prospect, has had his career affected by injuries, and that issue cropped up again in the NLCS after he left Game 1 with hip flexor tightness and made only one more start in the series. But he’s expected back in the lineup for the World Series after playing a career-high 139 games this season while slashing .251/.320/.383.

This is one of the closest calls on the board—both guys recorded a 101 OPS+ this year, meaning they’re almost exactly league-average hitters, and neither is anything special on the base paths or in the field. But Torres’s power stroke and recent hot streak gives him the edge.

Advantage: Yankees

Shortstop

Tommy Edman (Dodgers) vs. Anthony Volpe (Yankees)

Miguel Rojas entered the playoffs as the Dodgers’ starting shortstop, but missed the NLCS with an adductor injury. Edman, who was injured for the season’s first few months and was acquired in July from St. Louis, stepped in and earned NLCS MVP honors while leading Los Angeles with 11 RBIs. Even if Rojas is healthy enough to play, it’d be surprising if Edman was usurped at this point.

Volpe earned a Gold Glove as a rookie last year, and despite not quite living up to his top-prospect billing on offense has reached base in all nine of the Yankees’ playoff games.

This is another close one. Volpe’s superior speed and glovework at a premium defensive position makes the slightest difference here.

Advantage: Yankees

Third base

Max Muncy (Dodgers) vs. Jazz Chisholm Jr. (Yankees)

Both of these guys have made the All-Star Game for other infield positions—Muncy for first base, Chisholm for second—but possess the versatility to hold down the hot corner well enough. They’re accordingly two players with very different profiles: Muncy possesses one of the sport’s best batting eyes and has four 35-homer campaigns under his belt, while Chisholm’s 24 dingers this year are a career high, as are his 40 stolen bases (Muncy has 14 SBs in nine seasons).

Muncy takes this matchup on the strength of his extensive postseason résumé and current form—he has reached base 15 times (including two homers) in the Dodgers’ last five games, while Chisholm is 5-for-34 (.147) with one homer and two walks in the Yankees’ nine playoff contests.

Advantage: Dodgers

Left field

Teoscar Hernández (Dodgers) vs. Alex Verdugo (Yankees)

Verdugo gets to face the team that traded him to Boston for Mookie Betts. While he has been a serviceable outfielder in the five seasons since that infamous deal, it’s fair to say he hasn’t lived up to expectations, especially this season with career lows in every slash line category (.233/.291/.356). 

Hernández, meanwhile, is in the midst of his second All-Star campaign with 30-plus home runs. Easy call here.

Advantage: Dodgers

Center field

Kiké Hernández/Andy Pages (Dodgers) vs. Aaron Judge (Yankees)

Two fun facts: (1) Both Hernández (.863) and Pages (.776) have a higher OPS than Judge (.704) during these playoffs, and (2) Hernández and Judge both have 15 home runs in exactly 239 career postseason plate appearances. Neither of those change the result here, though.

Advantage: Yankees

Right field

Mookie Betts (Dodgers) vs. Juan Soto (Yankees)

Now this is a fun matchup. Both of these sluggers are raking in October (Betts: 4 HRs, 1.063 OPS; Soto: 3 HRs, 1.106 OPS) and are severely overcast in supporting roles to another superstar on their respective teams.

Soto is the better hitter than Betts at this point, but the latter carries a large advantage in base running and defense (despite Soto’s dubious status as a 2024 Gold Glove nominee). If Betts reels off a stunning all-around performance similar to the one he gave in the 2020 NLCS against the Braves, I’ll eat the words I’m about to type. When it comes down to it, though, Soto was intentionally walked in front of Aaron Judge by the Guardians in Game 2 of the ALCS—and they weren’t wrong to do so! He went on to hit the go-ahead home run in the clincher.

Soto is perhaps the one hitter whom pitchers would least want to face in the postseason with the game on the line. We’re about to discuss one of the very few players who may have a better argument.

Advantage: Yankees

Designated hitter

Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) vs. Giancarlo Stanton (Yankees)

Despite Stanton’s heroics over the last couple of weeks, I was not referring to him in the section above. While he did launch four home runs in the five-game ALCS, it’s worth noting those were his only four hits of the series. Stanton is the epitome of an all-or-nothing slugger.

Ohtani, meanwhile, does it all—hits for power, hits for average, takes walks, steals bases. He’s about to become the first full-time designated hitter ever to be named MVP, and there’s no one else more worthy of that distinction.

Advantage: Dodgers

Bench

Andy Pages, Chris Taylor, Miguel Rojas, Austin Barnes (Dodgers) vs. Jon Berti, Oswaldo Cabrera, Jasson Domínguez/Trent Grisham, Jose Trevino (Yankees)

Berti platoons with Rizzo at first base, but since the Dodgers won’t carry any lefthanded starters, it’d be a surprise if any of the Yankees’ bench players cracked the starting lineup during the World Series.

Los Angeles has long been known for valuing versatility and making stellar use of its entire roster based on matchups. Taylor basically wins this category for the Dodgers by himself based on his postseason experience alone, but you can bet he won’t be the only L.A. backup entrusted in a key moment this series.

Advantage: Dodgers

Rotation

Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler, Landon Knack (Dodgers) vs. Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt, Luis Gil (Yankees)

The Dodgers’ starting pitching issues have been well documented. In Tom Verducci’s must-read obituary of Fernando Valenzuela, he noted that Valenzuela pitched more innings in the 1981 postseason as a rookie (40⅔ innings over five starts) than the Dodgers’ rotation has in 11 playoff games (40 IP). With Yamamoto’s arm still not completely stretched out since his return from injury last month, and Buehler lacking consistency throughout his first season back from his second Tommy John surgery, Flaherty is the only one whom manager Dave Roberts can trust to provide length—and Flaherty was shelled his last time out against the Mets.

The Yankees, meanwhile, have starters to spare as Marcus Stroman and Nestor Cortes have been relegated to the bullpen. Cole is the best pitcher on either roster and Rodón has looked good in his last two starts while learning from Cole and Yankees legend Andy Pettitte how to stay even-keeled on the mound. Schmidt and Gil have demonstrated they can get through opposing lineups twice while minimizing damage.

This answer would have been an easy call in favor of the Dodgers at the beginning of the season, but instead it’s an obvious advantage for the Yankees.

Advantage: Yankees

Bullpen

There’s some uncertainty on both sides as to which relief arms will be available when rosters are finalized Friday—Alex Vesia for Los Angeles, Cortes for New York—so I won’t speculate how that shakes out by listing each team’s entire projected bullpen.

What won’t be affected by those machinations is the Dodgers’ advantage in this aspect of the game. Roberts has proved many times over, especially this October, that he’s an expert at navigating bullpen usage. If Vesia isn’t available, there will be some concern over Anthony Banda being Los Angeles’s only lefty out of the ‘pen. But Daniel Hudson has actually been slightly more effective against lefthanded hitters this year, and Blake Treinen and Evan Phillips are the sort of elite arms whom Roberts won’t hesitate to deploy against anyone. Los Angeles wouldn’t be here without its stellar relief corps, which has yet to blow a lead this October.

The Yankees’ bullpen can’t say the same. Luke Weaver and Clay Holmes both served up home runs in New York’s ALCS Game 3 collapse against the Guardians, and Jake Cousins, Holmes and Mark Leiter Jr. combined to blow a four-run lead in Game 4 before a Yankees rally in the ninth inning. Tommy Kahnle and Tim Hill are nice weapons to have against the Dodgers’ lefty sluggers, but as a whole, manager Aaron Boone can’t be feeling as confident in his relievers as Roberts is in his.

Advantage: Dodgers

Final score: Dodgers, 7–5

أثارت معاناة محمد صلاح هذا الموسم مع ليفربول، محل نقاش كبير بين نجوم الريدز السابقين جيمي كاراجر وجون بارنز.

وشكك جون بارنز في ما قاله جيمي كاراجر عن النجم المصري هذا الموسم، وكان مدافع وقائد ليفربول السابق قد ذكر أن صلاح لم يعد بإمكانه أن يبدأ كل مباراة بشكل أساسي، كما كان يفعل في المواسم الماضية.

ورد بارنز نجم ليفربول السابق صاحب الـ33 عاماً، قائلاً في تصريحات نشرتها “rousing the kop”: “حسناً، محمد صلاح يستطيع البدء في كل مباراة، الأمر ببساطة أن ليفربول يلعب بطريقة مختلفة الآن، لقد ذكرت هذه الحقيقة مع توماس توخيل فيما يتعلق بطريقة لعب إنجلترا”.

وأضاف: “في الماضي كان ترينت يصنع اللعب وصلاح ينهي الهجمة، كانت طريقة لعبنا تمهد لصلاح تمرير الكرة له والتسجيل، أما الآن فإننا نلعب بطريقة مختلفة تماماً”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. صحيفة ألمانية تهاجم محمد صلاح بقوة: انظروا ماذا يفعل مع صفقات ليفربول

وواصل: “لدينا فيرتز وإيكتيكي الذي يراوغ كثيرًا، وجاكبو على اليسار، لذا نلعب بطريقة مختلفة، ما يعني أن صلاح لن يكون مؤثراً بنفس القدر، لا علاقة للأمر بكونه في الثالثة والثلاثين، أو الرابعة والثلاثين من عمره”.

وتابع: “الفريق الآن يلعب بطريقة مختلفة لخلق فرص للاعبين مختلفين، لذا يتزامن ذلك مع كونه في الثالثة والثلاثين، لذا يمكنه أن يبدأ في كل مباراة لكنه لن يبدأ لأننا نملك وفرة من اللاعبين الهجوميين وبالتالي قد يتم إبعاده”.

Global superstar Dua Lipa brought star power to Argentina's biggest footballing rivalry as she watched Boca Juniors defeat River Plate 2-0 in the Superclasico at La Bombonera. The 30-year-old singer, in Buenos Aires for her Radical Optimism world tour, turned heads in Argentina's iconic blue and white-striped national team jersey — the colours synonymous with Lionel Messi.

• Dua Lipa watches Superclasico clash at La Bombonera

  The pop sensation added football fever to her South American tour by attending one of the most intense derbies anywhere in the world – the Superclasico in Buenos Aires. Dua Lipa, fresh off two sold-out concerts at River Plate's Estadio Monumental, made the short trip across the city to La Bombonera on Sunday to witness Boca Juniors' 2-0 win over their fiercest rivals. Goals from Exequiel Zeballos and Miguel Merentiel sealed victory for the home side in a charged atmosphere that left the singer visibly captivated.

  Staying true to her global fanbase, the London-born star chose neutrality on the day, wearing the Argentina national team shirt rather than either club's colours. Her decision drew admiration from fans, who praised her for embracing the spirit of the event without taking sides. Despite the neutral attire, Lipa was seen cheering enthusiastically as Boca players celebrated their goals, soaking up the unique emotion of South America's most famous fixture.

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• Dua Lipa refuses to choose between River Plate and Boca Juniors

  After the game, Lipa shared a warm moment with Boca Juniors legend Juan Roman Riquelme, who gifted her a personalised Boca shirt emblazoned with her name and the iconic number 10. The club's official X account posted the photo with the caption: "Dua Lipa alongside Roman, fascinated with these colours." River Plate also took the opportunity to showcase their global reach by presenting Lipa with their jerseys.

• Dua Lipa and her relationship with football

  Lipa's Argentine adventure was part of her Radical Optimism world tour, which has already captivated audiences across Europe and the Americas. Her decision to attend the Superclasico came just days after performing two sold-out shows at River Plate's stadium – a fitting coincidence given the rivalry's cultural weight. Despite performing at River's home ground, she made sure to show respect to both clubs, balancing her allegiances with charm and diplomacy.

  It wasn't the first time Lipa has displayed her passion for football. Over the years, the singer has been linked to both Arsenal and Liverpool, two of England's most storied clubs. She famously performed before the 2018 Champions League final in Kyiv – a match that featured Liverpool – and later described herself as an "honourary Liverpool supporter", though she admitted her father and brother's Arsenal loyalty made things complicated at home.

  Her genuine appreciation for the sport has earned her credibility among fans worldwide, who appreciate her enthusiasm without viewing it as opportunistic. Whether attending a Champions League final or an Argentine derby, Lipa consistently embraces the occasion with authenticity.

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  Dua Lipa continues her South American tour

  Lipa will continue her Radical Optimism tour across Latin America, with scheduled stops stiill to come in Peru, Colombia, and Mexico before wrapping up in December. After captivating Argentina both on stage and in the stands, her next shows are expected to draw similar excitement, particularly among her growing fanbase across the region.

  For Boca Juniors, the derby win represents a major boost ahead of the final stretch of the Clausura competition, as they continue to chase top spot behind Rosario Central. River Plate, on the other hand, face mounting pressure to turn their form around after another frustrating result.

MatériaMais Notícias

Santos e São Paulo fizeram um embate na Vila Belmiro que terminou com o resultado de 0 a 0, em jogo válido pela 34ª rodada do Brasileirão. A equipe paulistana dominou as chances da partida, mandou bola na trave do Alvinegro Praiano e até chegou a balançar as redes em um gol impedido, mas o placar não foi movimentado no duelo.

➡️ Veja tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro-2023 clicando aqui

Com este placar, o Peixe alcança 42 pontos na briga contra o rebaixamento e fica na 14ª colocação. Enquanto isso, o Tricolor chega aos 46 pontos e fica na 10ª posição da tabela.

CINCO LANCES QUE MARCARAM A PARTIDA

> NÃO PARA DE EMPURRAR! O torcedor santista fez mais um corredor de fogo para incentivar os atletas do Peixe. Na entrada em campo, a torcida do Santos recebeu o time com bandeiras bracas e um mosaico escrito “Um reinado de pura magia”.

> NO TRAVESSÃO! Depois de bola alçada na área por Caio Paulista, Michel Araújo cabeceou, a redonda desviou em Messias e explodiu no poste! A primeira grande chance da partida foi Tricolor.

> JOAQUIM! Após jogada pela direita, a redonda sobrou livre para Wellington Rato finalizar sem goleiro. Porém, o defensor santista se atirou na frente da bola e impediu que a equipe paulistana abrisse o placar da partida.

> ANULOU! Quase que o São Paulo abriu o placar com Juan. Contudo, depois da análise do VAR, ficou clara a posição irregular de Wellington Rato na construção do gol..

> NA PONTA DOS DEDOS! Na reta final do clássico, David finalizou de longe, a bola cortou a área, João Paulo buscou a bola e a trave completou o serviço.

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

COMO FOI O PRIMEIRO TEMPO?

A tônica dos 45 minutos iniciais se deu com um São Paulo dominante, que criou as melhores chances. Em uma descida rápida, o Tricolor quase abriu o marcador com Michel Araújo, mas Messias desviou e a redonda explodiu no travessão. Pouco depois, outro lance marcante aconteceu após a bola sobrar para Wellington Rato, ele finalizar sem goleiro e o zagueiro Joaquim salvar o Peixe. As oportunidades criadas pelo Santos foram raras e não deram muito trabalho para o goleiro Rafael.

E A ETAPA FINAL?

O segundo tempo teve um Peixe mais equilibrado em campo. Entretanto, a equipe do litoral não deu trabalho para o goleiro Rafael. Em contrapartida, o São Paulo balançou as redes com Juan, mas o VAR assinalou corretamente a posição irregular de Wellington Rato na jogada. Nos minutos finais do San-São, uma perigosa finalização rasteira de David cortou toda a área e o goleiro João Paulo salvou com a ponta dos dedos, em um lance que o Santos ainda contou com a trave para se salvar. Mesmo com o ímpeto do elenco visitante, o empate foi o resultado final do clássico.

O QUE VEM POR AÍ

Agora, Santos e São Paulo dão um respiro na data FIFA. Depois, o Tricolor volta a campo no dia 22 (quarta-feira) diante do Fluminense. Enquanto isso, o Peixe retorna para os compromissos no dia 26 (domingo), contra o Botafogo.

➡️ Clique aqui para ter mais detalhes sobre o jogo

FICHA TÉCNICA
SANTOS 0 X 0 SÃO PAULO
34ª RODADA – CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO

Data e horário: domingo, 12 de novembro de 2023, às 18h30 (de Brasília)
Local: Vila Belmiro, em Santos (SP)
Arbitragem: Raphael Claus (árbitro); Alex Ang Ribeiro e Marcelo Carvalho Van Gasse (auxiliares); Ilbert Estevam da Silva (quarto árbitro); Daiane Caroline Muniz dos Santos (VAR)
Público e renda: 13.442 pessoas / R$ 663.562,50
Cartão amarelo: Rafinha e Wellington Rato (São Paulo)
Cartão vermelho: –

SANTOS

João Paulo; Lucas Braga, Messias, Joaquim e Kevyson; Tomás Rincón, Jean Lucas, Nonato e Soteldo; Maxi Silvera e Marcos Leonardo. Técnico: Marcelo Fernandes.

SÃO PAULO

Rafael; Rafinha, Arboleda, Beraldo e Caio Paulista; Pablo Maia, Alisson e Michel Araújo; Wellington Rato, Luciano e Juan. Técnico: Dorival Júnior.

Tottenham have now been told what it’s going to take to strike a January deal for Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney, following the player’s alleged talks with former boss Thomas Frank.

Spurs’ immediate need for a new centre-forward might dwindle in the eyes of some once Dominic Solanke returns to full fitness, with Randal Kolo Muani also steadily getting up to speed after spending most of this season out injured.

Kolo Muani notched an impressive assist against FC Copenhagen in Spurs’ last outing, but missed glorious chances to double the home side’s lead, much to the bewilderment of Xavi Simons, who put the ball on a plate for the Frenchman twice.

However, while Kolo Muani earned Frank’s praise for his overall display at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it is important to remember that the 27-year-old is only on a dry loan and there is no guarantee he stays beyond 2025/2026.

Meanwhile, Richarlison has been heavily criticised for his form lately, and his abject penalty miss against Copenhagen, immediately after taking the ball off Dane Scarlett, best sums up the Brazilian’s woes right now.

According to some reports, with his contract expiring in 2027, Richarlison could well leave Tottenham in January and there are suggestions that he would jump at the chance to re-join Everton.

However, any transfer for the 28-year-old may well hinge on Spurs finding a winter replacement.

Depending on developments surrounding Richarlison and the long-term future of Kolo Muani, Tottenham could suddenly find themselves needing a new number nine after all.

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Toney is being linked as one of their many potential options alongside the likes of Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović.

Vlahovic’s deal expires at the end of this season and Tottenham have reportedly spoken to his representatives about a move, while Frank is believed to have reached out to Toney personally.

The former Brentford star, who scored 20 Premier League goals during his best campaign under Frank, has scored for fun in Saudi Arabia with 41 goals in just 59 total appearances.

However, ever since his switch to the Gulf, Toney has largely been excluded from the Three Lions squad, bar one call-up earlier this year for games against Andorra and Senegal.

The 29-year-old will be eager to challenge for a place in Thomas Tuchel’s plans, but he may have to consider a return to England for this to be possible.

Tottenham told Ivan Toney deal conditions after Frank talks

According to TEAMtalk, Frank has indeed held ‘direct talks’ with Toney about a possible move to Tottenham in the new year.

The Saudi Pro League side, who are still unbeaten this season, lie eight points behind table-toppers Al-Nassr and could be very reluctant to part company with their star striker.

However, they would entertain talks on a few key conditions.

Al-Ahli value Toney at around £30 million for a permanent January deal, but suitors are said to be ‘baulking’ at this asking price, while the player himself faces a hefty tax bill if he departs Saudi for good just under two years after arriving, meaning a loan to buy is the most likely solution.

Making this option an obligation could apparently sweeten the deal and obtain Al-Ahli’s green light, with Tottenham now ‘leading the race’ to sign Toney ahead of the window’s reopening.

Appearances

59

Goals

41

Assists

8

Bookings

7

Red cards

0

Minutes played

4,796

The Lilywhites apparently view him as the ‘ideal’ solution to potentially replace Richarlison, and Frank’s strong relationship with Toney hands Tottenham a secret weapon to beat off competition for his signature.

The Spurs boss has made no secret of his admiration for Toney, though, once branding him the ‘number two’ striker in England.

Arsenal are now ready to submit an offer for Valencia star Javi Guerra, with it emerging the midfielder could be available for a bargain fee.

The Gunners bolstered their options in the middle of the park considerably during the summer transfer window, bringing in Martin Zubimendi and Oliver Norgaard, and they now have two midfielders ranked among the best 15 in the world.

Declan Rice, who has been likened to a modern-day Patrick Vieira, has also continued to impress, with Micah Richards saying: “He’s taken his game to the next level now where you’re taking about one of the best in world football.

“It is so good to see and if Arsenal do win the Premier League this season it will be because players like him. I said at the start that it’s a team game but he’s just exceeding all expectations.”

Despite Mikel Arteta being blessed with a number of top-quality options, however, the north Londoners remain keen on bringing in another central midfielder…

Arsenal ready to submit offer for Javi Guerra

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Arsenal are now ready to submit an offer for Guerra, with it being revealed Valencia could be willing to listen to bids in the region of just €20m (£18m), despite the €100m (£88m) release clause in his contract, meaning the Gunners could get a £70m discount.

Atletico Madrid have also emerged as one of the strongest contenders to sign the midfielder, with the Spanish club preparing a move, alongside the Gunners, who have been closely monitoring his performances.

Valencia have tied the 22-year-old down to a contract which lasts until 2029, which should put them in a strong negotiating position in theory, but Arteta’s side could get a bargain deal over the line if they move quickly.

The Spanish maestro has been impressing in his home country for quite some time, catching scout Ben Mattinson’s eye courtesy of a solid display against Real Madrid during the 2023-24 campaign.

The Valencia-born star has remained an important player this season, setting up two goals in 11 La Liga outings, and he places in the 83rd percentile for assists per 90 over the past year, when compared to other midfielders, having averaged 0.17.

With the likes of Zubimendi, Rice and Norgaard on the books already, Guerra may not be a necessary signing, but a deal would not break the bank at around just £17m, and he would be a fantastic back-up option for Arteta in midfield.

Declan Rice named in top 10 of 2026 Ballon d'Or Power Rankings Ballon d'Or 2026 Power Rankings

Who will be lifting the individual honour in 2026?

ByCharlie Smith Nov 6, 2025

Florian Wirtz has been compared to Luka Modric, with Liverpool's struggling £116m signing being backed to silence his doubters just as the former Real Madrid midfielder did. Wirtz was considered one of the brightest midfield talents in the world at Bayer Leverkusen, but the Germany international has experienced a major dip in form since moving to the Premier League.

Wirtz's underwhelming start to Anfield journey

Liverpool spent a whopping £116 million ($154m) to sign Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen during the summer transfer window. The talented German midfielder had also attracted interest from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and Manchester City, but he opted to join the Premier League champions.

Anfield fans were very excited at the time of Wirtz's arrival as they expected fireworks on the pitch from a world-class talent, but the 22-year-old has failed to live up to his potential and has been a disappointment at the start of the 2025-26 campaign. The Germany international has faced fierce criticism in England, but it has not affected the midfielder or his family, as his father Hanz recently told : "My thought from the very beginning was to wait and see how the first ten league games went," he said. "We and Florian are perfectly happy with that. The incredible speed, the back and forth, that was very impressive for the first few games. The distances covered and the speed were significantly greater. The style of play is sometimes enormously different because it doesn't seem as organised, but rather more focused on pace."

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWirtz compared to Modric

Amid all the negative chatter around Wirtz's performances, former Premier League star David Bentley has come to the midfielder's defence while drawing a comparison to Real Madrid and Croatia legend Luka Modric. When Modric initially arrived at Tottenham Hotspur, he was initially panned by critics, however, the Croatian eventually went on to establish himself as one of the greatest footballers of all time, winning the Ballon d'Or in 2018.

Speaking to , ex-Spurs winger Bentley said: "He is an unbelievable player, so talented, fans and pundits have to stick by him. Yes he’s exactly the same [as Modric]. When Modric came through the door, he was exactly the same in the way he receives the ball, scans, he knows what he is doing. He was an unbelievably technically gifted player, and both can set the tone and tempo of a football match, so you have to stick with him."

Nagelsmann defends Reds star

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has also backed Wirtz during this difficult period of his career. He even aimed a dig at the Liverpool attackers for failing to convert the chances Wirtz has been creating. Speaking to reporters, the Germany boss said: "Liverpool could also help him out by scoring some of the chances he creates. They somehow don't like to shoot the ball in. To be honest, the overall situation doesn't make it easy for Flo either. The whole club isn't as stable this year as it was last year. It's much harder to slip into the team now. If you look at the game against [Manchester] City, they were actually the worse team over the 90 minutes. So it's also difficult for Flo to make a big impact. Ultimately, the overall situation is such that he just needs a little more time, which is normal; you see that with other players who move to the Premier League too. 

"We all know what he's capable of, and it's perfectly normal for a player of his age to go through a bit of a dip in form. We can't expect him to perform at the same level for three years straight. Instead, we all need to support him a little bit so that he can clear his head here, and then maybe Liverpool could also help him out by scoring some of the chances he creates. That would be one idea, because he does not create few chances, it's just that… they somehow don't like to shoot the ball in, that's also part of the truth."

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Getty Images SportWirtz eyes comeback with Germany

Wirtz has made it into the Germany squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifying matches despite his poor club form. The former Leverkusen star will hope to make the most of the chances he gets during the international break to help Germany secure a World Cup berth and regain his form before returning to Anfield later this month. Germany are scheduled to take on Luxembourg on November 14, before facing Slovakia three days later.

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has displaced India opener Smriti Mandhana to become the No. 1-ranked ODI batter in the world.She was the highest run-scorer with 160 runs at 53.33 average in the recently concluded three-match ODI series against India.While Mandhana slips one position to second in the latest ODI rankings, there is a notable jump for India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who is up ten spots to 11th on the batting charts after making a total of 126 runs in the series. Jemimah Rodrigues also rose two spots to 13th on the list.Harmanpreet didn’t start the ODI series well, but finished with 102 in the last match, which helped India seal the series 2-1. She also became the third India women’s batter to breach the 4000-run mark during the course of her seventh century.Rodrigues managed 101 runs in three games, with a highest score of 50 in the final game and 48 in the first.

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South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt is third in the rankings, while Australia allrounder Ellyse Perry and Australia captain Alysa Healy round out the top five of the list in ODIs.There was also some movement for the Ireland players following their 2-0 ODI series win over Zimbabwe. Allrounder Orla Prendergast rose 12 spots to move to joint-22nd on the ODI batters list after an unbeaten 67 in the second ODI. She also rose ten places on the bowlers’ list and moved to tenth position on the allrounders list.England spinner Sophie Ecclestone continues to lead the ODI bowling list after finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker in the ODI series against India with five wickets. Ashleigh Gardner, Meghan Schutt, Deepti Sharma and Kim Garth round out the top five of the bowlers list.

The Pakistan batter was arrested on suspicion of rape by the Greater Manchester Police in the UK last month

Danyal Rasool04-Sep-2025The investigation into Pakistan cricketer Haider Ali, who was arrested on suspicion of rape by the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in the UK last month, has been closed, with all charges against the player dropped. Haider, who had been released on bail following his arrest, is now free to leave the UK.”We always take allegations of this nature very seriously and will assess each incident thoroughly,” the GMP told ESPNcricinfo. “Following a comprehensive review of all available evidence, the investigation has been closed at this time. Should any further information come to light, we would review the material and case again appropriately.”Related

Haider Ali under criminal investigation in the UK, suspended by the PCB

Haider Ali arrested and granted bail after report of alleged rape

Haider, 24, was part of a tour by the Shaheens – effectively a Pakistan A side – to the UK, playing matches against a select XI in Beckenham and Hove. During a game on August 3, GMP officers arrived at the ground in Beckenham, where Haider was arrested during the game. According to a GMP statement at the time, the alleged offence leading to the arrest had occurred in Manchester on July 23, the day after the Shaheens’ first tour game, which Haider played. Haider was bailed at the time and the alleged victim was being “supported by officers”.The PCB confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that charges against Haider had been dropped. At the time of his arrest, the PCB had put out a statement saying it “reserve[d] the right to take appropriate action under its Code of Conduct, if necessary”.ESPNcricinfo understands a decision on whether to take action against Haider has not been made yet, with the PCB waiting on the player to return to Pakistan before it takes a decision.Haider has played two ODIs and 35 T20Is for Pakistan. Initially feted as a destructive hitter, he burnished his reputation with standout performances in the PSL with Peshawar Zalmi in 2020, when he scored 239 runs at a strike rate of 157.23. He was called up to the national side later that year, his international debut coming in a T20I game in Manchester, where he scored a 33-ball 54 as Pakistan won by five runs.Inconsistency has dogged him since, and he has repeatedly found himself in and out of the Pakistan side. However, his talent and explosiveness have kept him in international contention, and the current Shaheens tour was widely viewed as an opportunity to reintegrate a player whose batting approach aligns with the aggressive style Pakistan’s current T20 set-up has made no secret it wants to pursue.

Started in 2003, the Golden Boy award has featured some incredibly impressive talents, but not all of those talents have gone on to justify winning the trophy over the years.

We’ve seen some generational stars start their journey at this very point, becoming destined to become the world’s best, yet we’ve also seen ultimate transfer flops take hold of the award.

Ballon d'Or 2026 Power Rankings

Who will be lifting the individual honour in 2026?

ByCharlie Smith Nov 6, 2025

These days, European football is filled with some names that should be guaranteed to take this current era by storm.

The likes of Lamine Yamal, Desire Doue, Estevao and Arda Guler have all been nominated for the 2025 award and all of those players will be hoping to avoid following the same path as some of the last 10 players to win the award.

10 2024: Lamine Yamal

Whilst it’s tough to decide which path most winners are going to take, it’s easy with Yamal. The Barcelona star is going to go straight to the very top. It’s easy to argue that he’s there already, having finished second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or.

Now, he looks destined to become the first-ever player to win the Golden Boy award in back-to-back years. At just 18 years old, there simply isn’t a better young player on the planet than La Masia’s latest wonderkid.

Since winning the award in 2024, the Spain international has only become even better, even more confident and even likelier to take football’s vacant crown in place of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

9 2023: Jude Bellingham

It’s easy to forget just how young Jude Bellingham is. He has that natural leadership way beyond his years. Yet, it was only two years ago that he was picking up the Golden Boy award after a sensational debut campaign for Real Madrid.

His rise didn’t come to a crashing halt, either. Although injuries are currently handing him a disrupted start to life under Xabi Alonso at the Bernabeu, the Englishman remains one of the most important players at the club and will no doubt make his mark under his new manager.

At just 22 years old, Bellingham is a Champions League winner who has already featured at the World Cup and European Championship for the Three Lions. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, he’s also expected to win his place back for the first time under Thomas Tuchel.

8 2022: Gavi

Football has a scheduling problem and one of the biggest victims to that schedule has been Gavi. Barcelona discovered their next best thing in 2022 when the midfielder won the Golden Boy award, but they simply did too much too soon.

The Spaniard was rarely rested when he first broke through in La Liga and has since suffered significant knee injuries. What was football’s newest Golden Boy in 2022 is now a star frustrated by injury setbacks at just 21 years old.

There’s still time for Gavi to work his way back to full fitness, but his problems should act as a stark warning for UEFA and FIFA as they add more fixtures to the football calendar.

7 2021: Pedri

Onto another Barcelona star, Pedri picked up the Golden Boy award in 2021 and has not looked back since. Whilst he’s also suffered a number of injuries since breaking through in Spain, the 22-year-old is now enjoying the best form of his career and is being recognised by many as one of the best midfielder’s that European football has to offer.

Like Yamal, Pedri is just getting started. He’s one that looks destined to become a generational talent four years on from winning such a prestigious award.

6 2020: Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland was unstoppable in 2020 and is inevitable in 2025. He looked destined to reach the peak of European football when he won the Golden Boy award at Borussia Dortmund and now looks likely to win a Ballon d’Or one day at Manchester City.

Since winning the award, the Norway international has joined City, won the Premier League, broke the record for goals in a single Premier League campaign and won a historic treble with the Citizens. He is one of, if not the best striker in the world.

5 2019: Joao Felix

It’s not all Haalands and Yamals on this list. A certain Joao Felix picked up the award in 2019 just months after sealing a move worth as much as £113m to Atletico Madrid.

The La Liga giants went all in one what was one of the best young players in the world. Now, six years on, he plays his football at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

Atletico Madrid

34

131

Chelsea

40

11

Barcelona

44

10

AC Milan

21

3

From Chelsea and Barcelona all the way to AC Milan, it’s never clicked for Felix. The most damning statistic of all is that the failed wonderkid never even reached the 20-goal mark for any of those aforementioned clubs after Atletico Madrid. Simply put, he peaked when he won the Golden Boy award in 2019.

4 2018: Matthijs de Ligt

Matthijs de Ligt is a difficult one to judge. Whilst he’s now part of a struggling Manchester United side under Ruben Amorim, he still went on to seal a move to Juventus and then Bayern Munich after picking up the award in 2018 with Ajax.

The Dutchman was part of a generation of young players that very nearly made history under Erik ten Hag in the Netherlands, as they reached the Champions League semi-final. Ultimately, it wasn’t to be, but the defender did enough for his reputation to earn a big move elsewhere alongside several others.

De Ligt hasn’t endured the same struggles as Felix since the Golden Boy honour, but he is not the best defender in the world that many expected him to be by this stage.

3 2017: Kylian Mbappe

Like Haaland earlier in this list, Kylian Mbappe was destined to win the Golden Boy from the start of his Monaco career. Picking up the award at Paris Saint-Germain not long after sealing a loan move to the French giants which would become a £166m one year later, Mbappe stood tall as the best young player in the world.

Since then, although he is yet to be recognised with a Ballon d’Or, the Frenchman has fulfilled his prophecy and is now arguably Real Madrid’s most important player. After initially making a slow start in Spain, the 26-year-old has discovered his best form and may well be back in conversation for football’s highest honours soon enough.

2 2016: Renato Sanches

Who remembers Renato Sanches? Swansea City fans certainly will. The midfielder took Europe by storm as Portugal won Euro 2016 and went on to win the Golden Boy award as a result. Bayern Munich thought they had stolen a generational player from Benfica when he was accepting the award, but injuries soon struck and a move to Wales soon came calling.

No matter his struggle for form and injuries, Swansea couldn’t believe their luck when they signed Sanches on loan in 2017, only to suffer relegation and watch on as he failed to make his mark.

Beyond the English side, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and AS Roma also attempted to revive the midfielder’s career, but he ultimately never rediscovered his best form. Now, at 28 years old, he plays his football on loan from PSG at Greek side Panathinaikos.

1 2015: Anthony Martial

“Welcome to the Premier League, Anthony Martial”, is what Martin Tyler famously exclaimed when the Frenchman left Martin Skrtel bamboozled to score a stunning debut goal for Manchester United against Liverpool. At that point, Old Trafford and the rest of the Premier League believed a generational star had arrived.

A star boy quickly became a struggling star, however, and that debut goal remains Martial’s most memorable moment in a Man United shirt. As the Red Devils hired and fired Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and others, the Frenchman failed to truly make his mark. Now, he plays for Mexican side Monterrey.

That Ballon d’Or clause is beginning to look a tad awkward, isn’t it?