David Gower at Leeds in 1989, when Australia topped 600 and declared. Here they chose to leave out their best player from the second Test, Scott Boland, for Nathan Lyon, and were forced to leave out their best player of the last decade, Steve Smith, for Josh Inglis, as well as dropping Nic Maddinson and Beau Webster for Cameron Green and Cooper Connolly.
Perusing the records we could find of Leyton Orient’s 4-0 shellacking of Sheffield Wednesday on a cold January afternoon in 2011 at Brisbane Road, Football Daily could find little or no indication that the young tyro who scored the O’s second goal might one day be presented with the most prestigious individual gong in world football. On loan from Spurs, a whey-faced 17-year-old Harry Kane marked his first senior start with what the BBC described as “a neat finish”, stealing in at the far post to convert a Dean Cox free-kick.
Sir Stanley Matthews remains the oldest player to win the Ballon d’Or, but Harry Kane has joined the list of footballers who claimed the prestigious individual award in their 30s after winning the 2026 edition. The Bayern Munich and England striker was crowned the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or winner at a ceremony in London on Monday, October 26, becoming the first Englishman to receive the honour since Michael Owen in 2001.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has backed a “mature” Cole Palmer to learn from the mistakes that led to the England forward’s red card against Tottenham. Palmer was sent off for two bookable offences during Chelsea’s 2-0 loss to their London rivals on Saturday as Spurs won a Premier League match at Stamford Bridge for just the second time in 36 years.
Carrick will be in charge of football's Man United when they visit Chelsea on October 31, reports in British media say.
By Adegboyega Adeleye Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany is improving after collapsing during training last week, but there is no confirmed date for his return, assistant coach Aaron Danks has said. The assistant coach also reflected on an emotional week for Bayern, with Kompany’s health scare coming shortly before striker Harry Kane won the Ballon d’Or on Monday.
Chinese state television has suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches following remarks by Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe about Mao Zedong, state-owned China Media Group announced Tuesday. CMG, which oversees public broadcaster CCTV, said in a release that it had suspended the broadcast of La Liga matches, as well as advertisements involving the French player, following his comments in a viral video.
By Emmanuel Okogba Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane has thanked his wife, Katie Goodland, for her support after being named winner of the 2026 Ballon d’Or award, declaring that his achievement “wouldn’t be possible without you.” Kane emerged ahead of a final three-man shortlist that included France international Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid and Spanish forward Lamine Yamal of Barcelona.
Michael Carrick is set to remain in charge of Manchester United for this weekend’s Premier League match away to Chelsea, according to media reports on Tuesday. But the BBC, Sky Sports and Britain’s Press Association all reported that former United and England midfielder Carrick would take the team to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
FC Samartex 1996 General Manager Edmund Ackah has vowed to resign from his position if the club is found to be involved in match-fixing or any illegal activity. Matchday nine will see Samartex hosts Bibiani Gold Stars at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena on Sunday November 1.
Kylian Mbappe apologised on Tuesday after the Real Madrid star was dropped by major Chinese brands for apparently joking about Mao Zedong in a video that has gone viral. State media outlet The paper cited sources at the state broadcaster saying that CCTV has suspended all broadcasts of La Liga matches and removed all advertisements involving Mbappe.
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Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca on Tuesday defended goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and centre-back Marc Guehi after costly mistakes in their first Premier League defeat of the season at Aston Villa. Maresca said Donnarumma was among a group of players who had been given time off to recharge after the Villa defeat, also including Erling Haaland, Elliot Anderson, Josko Gvardiol and captain Ruben Dias.
Sri Lanka win means England cannot reach final Madushanka takes five wickets as Pakistan crumble A rejuvenated Sri Lanka routed Pakistan by eight wickets on Tuesday to end England’s hopes of reaching the ODI tri-series final. Fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka grabbed a career-best five for 34 as Pakistan were skittled for 110 after captain Kusal Mendis had won the toss and elected to field.
Neglect of African football and a third win for the Spanish great does little to challenge narrative that the prize is reserved only for top nations’ players After a four-year wait, Alexia Putellas is the queen of women’s football once again. Receiving the Ballon d’Or for a record‑equalling third time to continue Spain’s domination of the award, the 32-year-old reinforces her status as one of the greatest players of all time.
Cristiano Ronaldo is in Portugal’s preliminary squad for next month’s Nations League matches, opening the door to an international return after his fallout with coach Jorge Jesus, a federation source told AFP on Tuesday. A spokesperson for the Portuguese football federation (FPF) confirmed reports Ronaldo was in line for a return to the squad ahead of games at home to Denmark and in Wales on November 14 and 17.
Harry Kane said Tuesday that his Ballon d’Or triumph “feels like a dream” as tributes poured in for the first English winner of the award in a generation. England and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice described Kane as “incredible” while Chelsea’s Morgan Rogers, another international teammate, said he was the “best ever”.
Frenchman’s future was in doubt after bad start to season He could be sacked if Palace lose at Spurs on Saturday Pierre Sage has been given more time to turn around Crystal Palace’s fortunes but remains under huge pressure and could be dismissed if they lose to Tottenham on Saturday. The Frenchman’s position was in serious doubt after another poor performance in the 2-0 defeat to Newcastle at the weekend.
By Enitan Abdultawab Harry Kane has joined an exclusive group of English footballers to have won the prestigious Ballon d’Or, becoming the fifth Englishman to claim the men’s award after his remarkable 2025/26 campaign with Bayern Munich and England. Kane became the fifth Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or after an extraordinary season with Bayern Munich and England.
FC AshantiGold CEO, Edward Akuoko, has backed the inclusion of locally-based players in the Black Stars urging Ghana to develop a pool of home-based talents capable of stepping in whenever key players of the national team are unavailable. Speaking to Luv FM, he said: “We can have a local Black Stars team, and then we can have the foreign base as well, and then we can always blend them so that whenever the foreign ones are not available, the local ones can step in.
Celebrity, bias towards players in attack and European dominance undermine football’s most prestigious individual award.
Black Maidens eye ‘glory’ after making knockout stages – Adarkwa. Head coach of Ghana’s Black Maidens, Nana Joe Adarkwa, says his side are now going all out for the top prize after advancing into the next stage of the 2026 U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Bayern Munich assistant coach Aaron Danks on Tuesday praised Harry Kane after his Ballon d’Or win, saying the striker will already be focused on scoring his “next goal”. Kane had won several goalscoring honours and was runner-up in the Premier League and Champions League with Tottenham but did not break through for a first team trophy until after he moved to Bayern in 2023.
FC Ashantigold 04 have dismissed head coach Abdul Karim Zito, assistant coach Ernest Okyere and goalkeeper’s trainer Robert Dabo with immediate effect. The former Dreams FC coach subsequently guided Ashantigold to promotion to the Ghana Premier League.