International
When World Cup Glory and the Ballon d’Or Came in the Same Year
Seven men have combined World Cup victory with a Ballon d’Or in the same year, across decades. True.
The World Cup has often strengthened a player’s case for the Ballon d’Or. Across successive tournaments, a handful of individuals converted international triumph into the sport’s highest individual prize in the same year.
Bobby Charlton received the Ballon d’Or on Dec. 27 following England’s 1966 World Cup success. A decade after Stanley Matthews won the inaugural prize, Charlton’s performances for England were decisive, including a semi-final in which he struck a brace against Eusébio’s Portugal. The deciding vote was cast by the Portuguese journalist Fernando Couto e Santos from Mundo Desportivo.
Paolo Rossi’s Italy story spans two tournaments. Three goals at the 1978 World Cup earned him a place in FIFA’s Team of the Tournament, but Italy finished fourth and he placed fifth in that year’s Ballon d’Or. Four years later Rossi scored six goals across the final three matches in Spain, including the opener in a 3–1 victory over West Germany in the final. Marco Tardelli and Alessandro Altobelli also scored in that final.
Lothar Matthäus powered West Germany’s 1990 charge. Already established through success with Bayern Munich and then Inter, he scored four times at the tournament, including a decisive penalty against Czechoslovakia, and finished runner-up for the competition’s Golden Ball to Salvatore Schillaci. Matthäus prevailed in the Ballon d’Or vote over Schillaci and Andreas Brehme.
Zinedine Zidane arrived at the 1998 World Cup after claiming the Serie A title with Juventus, was sent off in the group stage against Saudi Arabia, then delivered two first-half headers to defeat Brazil in the final as France won. Zidane collected both Player of the Match and the Ballon d’Or.
Ronaldo’s 2002 World Cup haul — four group goals, a last-16 strike against Belgium, the semi winner against Türkiye and a two-goal final against Germany — was followed by a move to Real Madrid and Ballon d’Or success later that year.
Fabio Cannavaro, one of only three defenders to win the Ballon d’Or, led Italy’s resilient defence in 2006 after Juventus’s 2005–06 title was later revoked. Italy kept multiple clean sheets en route to a final settled on penalties after Zinedine Zidane’s sending off; Cannavaro joined FIFA’s All-Star Team and won the Ballon d’Or.
The vote’s switch to a seasonal cycle and the winter scheduling of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar meant Lionel Messi did not receive his record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or until late 2023. Messi scored five goals leading up to the final, recovered from an opening defeat to Saudi Arabia, then scored twice in the 3–3 final with France and helped Argentina to victory on penalties under Lionel Scaloni before his retirement.
International
Carrick urges England to reassess Maguire after Manchester United resurgence
Carrick says Maguire’s return to Man Utd starting XI warrants England consideration for 2026. period
Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick has signalled that Harry Maguire deserves fresh consideration for England as the national side prepares for its final pre-World Cup fixtures.
England will name a March squad next week ahead of friendlies against Uruguay and Japan at the end of the month. Those matches are the last opportunities before England manager Thomas Tuchel selects his official 26-man World Cup roster in May.
Maguire has not played for England since September 2024, when he won his 64th cap in a Nations League match at Wembley. He was a regular starter under Sir Gareth Southgate during England’s runs to the respective semifinal and quarterfinal stages of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, but absence from the national team has followed a spell hampered by injury.
Carrick pointed to the defender’s recent return to form at club level as a reason to reconsider his international prospects. Maguire reestablished himself in Manchester United’s starting lineup in January after a thigh injury and a series of knocks last autumn. Carrick emphasised that the club have managed the defender’s reintroduction carefully while building his fitness and match sharpness.
“Considering you look back not too long ago, he was out for a considerable period of time injured,” Carrick said. “So he came straight back in when we came, kind of arrived really, and there’s been a little bit of managing him as well through the weeks, in the games and getting him right up to speed physically.”
Carrick’s comments frame Maguire’s situation as one of recovery and renewed availability rather than past form alone. With Tuchel due to finalise his World Cup squad in May, the March friendlies will offer a final runway for players returning to fitness to make their case for inclusion in the 26-man squad.
International
Pochettino Plays Down Madrid Interest as Spurs’ Slide and Real Madrid’s Troubles Collide
Pochettino downplays Real Madrid links as Spurs teeter near relegation and Madrid stumble and tense
Mauricio Pochettino sought to deflect recent speculation linking him to Real Madrid while under contract as U.S. men’s national team manager. Asked about the reports, Pochettino coyly stated “there are many rumors”.
When pressed on the Madrid links on El Chiringuito he added: “There are many rumors, almost always negative, so as long as they’re pleasant …” He also addressed his relationship with the club president, saying: “I always maintain a very good relationship with almost all clubs, not just with Madrid ,” when questioned about his relationship with Pérez.
Pochettino’s contract with the Stars and Stripes runs through the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he hopes to lead the team to glory largely on home soil. The draft of a strong summer from the USMNT would increase the likelihood U.S. Soccer would extend his deal beyond the tournament, but any new contract might not prevent a return to club management.
The former Tottenham Hotspur boss has long expressed a desire for a second stint in north London. Tottenham’s current position makes that possibility more plausible. Spurs sit 16th in the Premier League with 29 points from 29 games, only one point clear of the drop zone. Igor Tudor, who replaced Thomas Frank, has lost his first four games in charge—three Premier League, one Champions League, —the worst start for a Tottenham manager in club history.
At the same time, Real Madrid’s internal situation has shifted. There was a reality in which Arbeloa kept his place on the Bernabéu’s touchline after Xabi Alonso’s dismissal and never had “interim” attached to his title. Arbeloa was handed full control of a dressing room of superstars; one major trophy would likely have persuaded Pérez to keep him for 2026–27. Instead, Los Blancos crashed out of the Copa del Rey under his watch, fell out of the top eight in the Champions League league phase standings and surrendered their place at the top of La Liga.
That combination of Tottenham instability and Madrid turmoil leaves the door open for Pochettino, though the outcome will depend on results at both club and international level.
International
Pochettino sets bold USMNT target for 2026 World Cup and responds to Spurs links
Pochettino challenges USMNT to aim for the title at the 2026 World Cup while denying Spurs contact.
Mauricio Pochettino has framed a clear objective for the U.S. men’s national team with the 2026 World Cup approaching in less than four months. When asked about the team’s ambitions he posed a simple question: “Why not win it all?”
On the mindset behind that statement, Pochettino was direct. “To me it wouldn’t … because we want to win [the World Cup], we are winners” Pochettino said. “It’s complicated for every team to win the World Cup, it won’t be easy. It’s also a different experience with different circumstances, we’ll see, surprises can always happen.
“It’s true that nobody in the world puts the USMNT among the favorites to win the World Cup, I’m conscious of that. But internally, when we took on the challenge of going to the World Cup, we considered: ‘Why not? Why not win it? Why not make it to the final stages of the World Cup?’
“We know we have a lot of work to do and that we’ve been working now for a year and a half to achieve being at the level that a World Cup—the most important event—will demand.”
Pochettino also addressed the expanding profile of the sport in the United States, citing the influence of high-profile players. He singled out the role of Lionel Messi in helping to accelerate soccer’s growth and described the co-hosted tournament as a significant opportunity. “The World Cup is a massive motivation for everyone,” Pochettino said. “Internally [as a staff] we always felt that pressure to compete and to win. We’re trying to transfer that culture and philosophy to the organization [U.S. Soccer], of course, but also to the players, about the way we must prepare to compete.
“The pressure is there because we are one of the World Cup organizing nations and also because the U.S. always wants to be first, in everything it wants to be first and that idea is there.
“It’s true that the sport [soccer] isn’t the first like in other countries, but I think it’s up to us to handle it in the best way and transform that pressure into energy, to then compete in the best way we can.”
With his focus on a historic summer, Pochettino was also asked about links to Tottenham Hotspur after reports tied him to the job in the aftermath of Thomas Frank’s dismissal. “They’re rumors,” Pochettino said, denying any contact. “The always associate me with Tottenham, like they did at a certain time with Espanyol or other clubs. In the end, especially because I have a past with these teams, when things aren’t going well, people fall back on emotions.
