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.

Mohamed Salah’s public criticism of Arne Slot has produced sharply contrasting reactions. The Egypt national team and a number of team-mates moved quickly to defend the forward on social media, while former Liverpool players criticised the decision to make the issue public.

The Pharaohs’ official X account shared: “You will never walk alone. You will always be the best.” A slew of Salah’s Egypt teammates echoed the sentiment, posting their captain sitting with last season’s Premier League trophy with various captions hailing him as a “legend.” Egypt manager Hossam Hassan joined in as well, posting on his own social media: “Always a symbol of determination and strength.”

Salah’s comments followed a decision by Slot to leave the 33-year-old on the bench for a third consecutive game as the manager looked for a winning formula amid a run of poor results. Liverpool sit ninth in the standings with just two wins in their last 10 league matches.

Closer to Anfield, reaction was less sympathetic. Danny Murphy criticised the public nature of Salah’s remarks on Match of the Day: “Knock on the manager’s door, see the owners, whatever you have to do, express your frustration,” Murphy said on Match of the Day. “By doing this, he’s causing the team a problem and the manager a problem and making it all about him.

“You can’t do it. Whether you agree with him you don’t deal with it like this.”

Michael Owen expressed understanding of Salah’s feelings but agreed with the need for restraint in public: “I can imagine how you feel. You’ve carried this team for a long time and won everything there is to win.

“But this is a team game and you simply can’t publicly say what you’ve said. You’re going to AFCON in a week. Surely you bite your lip, enjoy representing your country and see how the land lies when you get back?”

There are immediate practical implications. Liverpool could be without Salah for up to seven matches if Egypt make the AFCON final. The forward also urged his parents to come to the Reds’ clash with Brighton next Saturday because it could be his final time at Anfield, hinting at a potential move in the January transfer window.

Mauricio Pochettino has made plain that a return to England’s top flight remains central to his long-term goals even as he prepares the U.S. men’s national team for World Cup duty. In an interview with BBC Sport released the day after the World Cup draw he said plainly: “The Premier League is the best in the world.”

Pochettino outlined a clear appetite to return to the competition he described as “the most competitive league.” “Of course I miss it. I am so happy in the USA, but I am always thinking about returning one day. It is the most competitive league, and of course I would love to come back again.”

On the field with the USMNT, Pochettino’s side were listed as co-hosts and placed in a group described in the draft as relatively kind. He has already overseen victories against their two confirmed opponents, Australia and Paraguay, and the team will next face the playoff winner from UEFA’s pathway C, which could be any of Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo.

The draft also summarises Pochettino’s recent club record. It lists Southampton finishes of 14th in 2012–13 and 8th in 2013–14. His Tottenham seasons are given as 2014–15 5th, 2015–16 3rd, 2016–17 2nd, 2017–18 3rd, 2018–19 4th and 2019–20 14th. The 2023–24 season at Chelsea is listed as 6th.

Pochettino remains explicit about unfinished business from his time in England. The draft recalls his tenure at Tottenham, noting he “never finished lower than fifth with Spurs and took the north London outfit to second place in 2016–17.” Tottenham also reached the 2019 Champions League final under his watch, losing 2–0 to Liverpool. When asked for one remaining ambition he replied without hesitation: “To win the Premier League and the Champions League.” He added: “We were so close in Tottenham,” and “I want to achieve this. I am still young, I have the energy, experience and motivation to try in the future.”