Category: Football

Real Madrid said they will boycott the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris on Monday as they are convinced that their striker Vinicius Jr, the bookmakers’ favourite to win the men’s award, has been snubbed.

The club told AFP it questioned the methods behind the selection of the Ballon d’Or winner, saying that their defender Dani Carvajal, another of the 30 players nominated, had also been unfairly overlooked.

Carvajal scored the opening goal in the 2024 Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund and Brazilian Vinicius rounded off the 2-0 win at Wembley with the second goal.

The Ballon d’Or is awarded by a jury of journalists representing the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings.

“If the award criteria doesn’t give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner,” Real Madrid told AFP.

“As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.”

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The Ballon d’Or organisers decided to innovate this year by keeping the winner’s identity a secret until the very end, to avoid any leaks to the press and all the nominees were invited to Monday’s ceremony in the French capital.

In previous years, the winner was revealed a few days before the awards ceremony.

In response to Real Madrid’s boycott — which was announced as the nominees were gathering for the glitzy ceremony at a Paris theatre — the organisers insisted that “no player or club” knew in advance who has won the award.

“All the clubs and players are in the same boat,” a Ballon d’Or source told AFP.

The absence of the Real players and the club’s declaration suggest that neither Vinicius, Carvajal nor English midfielder Jude Bellingham, the architects of the club’s Champions League triumph, will win the trophy.

That could leave the way clear for Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder Rodri, who was voted Euro 2024’s player of the tournament after inspiring his country to victory in Germany in July.

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Real Madrid condemned racism from some of their supporters aimed at Barcelona players including teenager Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Balde during the club’s 4-0 El Clasico defeat on Saturday.

“Real Madrid strongly condemns any kind of behaviour involving racism, xenophobia or violence in football and sport, and deeply regrets the insults that a few fans uttered last night in one of the corners of the stadium,” said Los Blancos in a statement Sunday.

Videos emerged on social media after the game of racial abuse aimed at Barcelona players.

The Spanish champions said they had “opened an investigation in order to locate and identify the perpetrators of these deplorable and despicable insults”.

Spanish football is struggling to combat racism in stadiums across the country.

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Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior has become a figurehead in the fight against racism and has been targeted on numerous occasions since arriving in Spain in 2018.

The Brazilian winger earned worldwide support in May 2023 when he squared off with Valencia supporters after suffering abuse at their Mestalla stadium.

In January 2023, an effigy in a Vinicius shirt was found hanging from a bridge near the club’s training ground alongside a banner saying: “Madrid hates Real”.

In December, four Atletico Madrid fans were charged over the incident, with prosecutors pushing for jail terms of four years.

This week Spanish police arrested four men suspected of inciting an online hate campaign against Vinicius.

READ: Robert Lewandowski strikes twice as Barcelona thump Real Madrid in El Clasico

Robert Lewandowski struck twice in two minutes as Barcelona crushed rivals Real Madrid 4-0 on Saturday, inflicting the Spanish champions’ first La Liga defeat in over a year.

Teenage winger Lamine Yamal and Raphinha completed the rout, while Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe had two goals ruled out for offside on a frustrating first Clasico appearance for Los Blancos, who now trail league leaders Barcelona by six points.

France captain Mbappe was consistently outwitted by the visitors’ high defensive line to the chagrin of the exasperated Santiago Bernabeu crowd, whose mood darkened as Barcelona hit four second-half goals.

Barcelona snapped Madrid’s 42-match unbeaten streak in La Liga, one game short of the Catalan giants’ all-time record, adding further shine to their triumph.

“It’s a hard moment, a tough moment when you lose a game, (especially after) so many unbeaten,” admitted Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.

His counterpart Hansi Flick has whipped Barcelona into shape in just a matter of months and in ending a run of four Clasico defeats, his young side made a statement victory to show how far they have come.

“The big objectives are (fought) against the best in the world and we’ve shown that we’ve got the ability to beat anyone, that we’ve got the mentality and that we’ve changed,” said Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena.

Ancelotti’s game plan was clear — defend in numbers and try to spring Mbappe or Vinicius Junior with a long ball into the space behind Barcelona’s defence.

It led to an intense but repetitive first half, with Barcelona’s defence catching Madrid offside on eight occasions.

Mbappe hit the side-netting and lobbed over but was offside on both occasions, while Jude Bellingham forced a superb save from Pena, but it would also have been disallowed for offside.

“We always play with the back four very high, (regarding Mbappe’s goals), it’s always like that because the referees don’t whistle, so it looks dangerous — but it’s not dangerous,” said Flick.

At the other end, Yamal sent a soft effort at Andriy Lunin when put through on goal by a superb Lewandowski flick.

Barcelona were not playing with the fluidity they have demonstrated in recent weeks, culminating in the impressive 4-1 Champions League win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

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Mbappe thought he had broken the deadlock when he got in behind and produced a fine dinked finish over Pena, but yet again the forward was marginally offside and his celebration was cut short.

Despite the feeling they were constantly menacing Barcelona, Madrid only produced one legal shot in the first half, with Vinicius dragging into the side-netting when he tried to catch Pena out at the near post.

Eager for more control, Flick replaced Fermin Lopez with Frenkie de Jong at half-time and Barcelona soon took the lead and never looked back.

Marc Casado slipped Lewandowski through and with Madrid defender Ferland Mendy a step behind his team-mates, the Pole was onside.

The 36-year-old slotted low past Lunin to silence the Bernabeu, and two minutes later he pounced again.

Lewandowski headed home Alejandro Balde’s cross to double Barcelona’s advantage and net his 14th league goal in 11 games, continuing his stunning revival under Flick after struggling last season.

Mbappe had a second goal ruled out for offside as Madrid struggled to find a way back in and Pena kept out a low stinging effort from the former Paris Saint-Germain forward.

Lewandowski spurned two golden chances to complete his hat-trick, shooting against the post from Raphinha’s lay-off and then blazing over after good work by Yamal.

Spain’s Euro 2024 star Yamal plundered Barcelona’s third by rifling home after the surging Raphinha teed him up, with Flick celebrating jubilantly in the dugout.

Raphinha completed the rout with a lob over Lunin to leave the Bernabeu reeling.

“We played a first half with intensity, we could have scored (but) we lacked some accuracy,” said Ancelotti.

“When they scored they hit two goals that took all of our energy away, we took more risks at the back and they found a lot more chances on the counterattack.

“For 60 minutes we competed very well and we have to forget the last 30.”

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Vinicius Junior scored a sublime hat-trick as Champions League holders Real Madrid came back from two goals down to hammer Borussia Dortmund 5-2 on Tuesday.

After a shock stumble at Lille in their previous European match, Madrid crushed Dortmund, in a repeat of last season’s final, with a superb second half display.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side claimed a record-extending 15th Champions League crown at Wembley and, as in that match, struggled in the first half against the Bundesliga side, who went two goals up through Donyell Malen and Jamie Gittens.

However Antonio Rudiger and Vinicius pulled Madrid level with two goals in two minutes and Lucas Vazquez fired home the third after 83 minutes.

Vinicius produced a brilliant solo goal for Madrid’s fourth and slammed in the fifth as Los Blancos ended Dortmund’s 100 percent start to the competition by producing another comeback to add to a vast collection in Europe.

“We know that when we are at home, with our fans, anything can happen,” Vinicius told Movistar. “We went in (at half-time) very quiet and just listened to the coach, we said just one thing.

“If we scored the first, we would come back once again, and we made another comeback, thanks to the fans and the whole team who gave everything.”

After midfield maestro Toni Kroos’ retirement and while trying to bed Mbappe into the team, Madrid have struggled to find balance and consistency this season.

They were frustrated for the first half an hour of the game by the visitors, unable to create clear cut openings before the game burst open.

“We have to learn from what we are capable of in this second half with high intensity and high tempo, we have to start games like that, not wait until they have scored two to react like we did,” warned Ancelotti.

“To be more balanced in terms of intensity between the first half and the second is something we have to achieve and I am sure we will do it.”

Malen opened the scoring with a cool finish after Julian Brandt won the ball back on the edge of the area and Serhou Guirassy squeezed a pass through a tight gap to find the Dutch winger.

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Four minutes later Malen created the second, using his explosive pace to escape Ferland Mendy and crossing for Gittens to gleefully finish.

Madrid responded by carving open Dortmund before the break but without finding a killer finish.

Bellingham, without a goal in 10 games this season, headed straight at Gregor Kobel when he ran onto a scooped pass into the area.

The England international, facing his former club, then struck the crossbar from close range on the rebound after team-mate Rodrygo had also hit the woodwork, with Madrid fans barely able to believe they had not scored.

The hosts turned the screw in the second half and Kobel saved well at the near post from Lucas Vazquez but could not keep out Rudiger’s powerful header from Mbappe’s cross after an hour.

Two minutes later Madrid were level when Mbappe was tackled in the area but the ball fell invitingly for Vinicius to stroke home with ease.

Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin, formerly a Madrid player, took off goalscorers Gitten and Malen but his team could not keep the insatiable hosts at bay.

Madrid’s comeback was completed by Vazquez after Rodrygo did well to keep the ball from going out of play, and Vinicius added shine with his fine fourth.

The Brazilian, expected to claim a first Ballon d’Or on Monday in Paris, carried the ball forward without support and produced a lethal low finish.

Vinicius then added a fifth by bursting into the area and rifling past Kobel, also issuing a warning to La Liga leaders Barcelona who visit the Bernabeu on Saturday in La Liga.

“We’ll go for it, in our stadium, with our fans, and we will fight for everything this season like always,” added Vinicius.

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Brazil superstar Neymar returned to action on Monday following more than a year out, with the Al Hilal forward appearing as a second-half substitute in his side’s gripping 5-4 win against Asian champions Al Ain in the UAE.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) attacker, 32, had not played since rupturing his meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while on international duty in October last year.

Neymar, who underwent surgery and a sustained period of rehabilitation, is his country’s all-time leading goalscorer, with 79 goals in 128 appearances.

Named on the Hilal bench for the first time since his injury, he was introduced on 76 minutes of the Asian Champions Elite encounter at a heaving Hazzan Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain.

By then, the record four-time Asian champions, who lead the current Saudi Pro League, were 5-3 up, thanks to goals from Renan Lodi and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and a Salem Al Dawsari hat-trick.

Neymar cannot be registered for the Saudi top flight until January.

“I need to prepare Neymar with games; that’s the only possible means to bring him to his level, which was the idea today,” Hilal coach Jorge Jesus said.

“There are some risks for the team because we need to use the games to prepare him, but it’s the only way to have one of our important players back at the highest level,” the Portuguese boss added.

On Monday, Hilal took the lead in 26 minutes, when former Newcastle United and Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic played in Lodi down the left, and the ex-Atletico Madrid full-back drilled a low shot past Khalid Essa in the Al Ain goal.

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However, Hernan Crespo’s side drew level six minutes before half-time, Morocco international Soufiane Rahimi sliding home a cross.

Rahimi was the star of Al Ain’s Asian Champions League success last season, finishing top scorer and being named player of the tournament.

In first-half stoppage-time, Hilal seemed to take the contest away from their UAE rivals.

First, Joao Cancelo, a summer signing from Manchester City, crossed for Milinkovic-Savic to head home unmarked from six years. Moments later, reigning Asian Player of the Year Al Dawsari raced cleared of the Al Ain defence, skipped around the onrushing Essa and curled home superbly on the angle.

Al Ain reduced the deficit just after the hour, through substitute Mateo Sanabria, only for Al Dawsari to flick home his second of the night from a Milinkovic-Savic centre.

Minutes later, Rahimi notched his double as a see-saw clash took another swing. Al Dawsari then restored Hilal’s two-goal advantage with a sublime strike from range.

Not long into 12 minutes of the allotted injury time, and with Hilal reduced to 10 men after defender Ali Al Bulaihi was sent off for an intentional handball, Rahimi won and converted a penalty to secure his hat-trick and give Al Ain hope, but the Saudi champions hung on to claim the win.

Neymar had little time to truly impact the game, although he did flash wide an effort in the dying moments of normal time.

Hilal sit top of the Western region group, with three victories from three while Al Ain have picked up a solitary point.

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Robert Lewandowski and Pablo Torre struck twice each as Barcelona hammered Sevilla 5-1 on Sunday to stay three points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga ahead of next weekend’s Clasico.

Los Blancos beat Celta Vigo on Saturday to pull level with Hansi Flick’s side but Barca swiftly restored their advantage with a dominant display of attacking football.

Veteran striker Lewandowski reached 12 goals in 10 La Liga matches, his strikes sandwiching Pedri Gonzalez’s effort from the edge of the box before substitute Torre added the fourth.

Stanis Idumbo grabbed a consolation for Sevilla in the final stages but Francisco Garcia Pimienta’s side were roundly beaten on his return to the club he spent nearly three decades in various roles.

Torre finished the rout with a crossed free-kick which flew beyond Nyland and in at the far post.

“(It was) very important, given the games ahead, but this was an important game (too) and we got the three points,” Pedri told Movistar.

“Just before the game, the coach said the space was just outside the area and I had the luck (to score).”

Despite upcoming clashes against Bayern Munich in the Champions League and Saturday’s visit to the Santiago Bernabeu, Flick started arguably his strongest fit and available side.

The coach was able to name Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez and Gavi on the bench after injury, the latter sidelined since November 2023 following a knee operation.

Ansu Fati started for the first time this season after Eric Garcia felt discomfort in the warm-up, with Raphinha shifting into a central attacking midfield position.

Lamine Yamal, starting after recovering from a minor hamstring strain which saw Spain release him from international duty early, curled off target early on after a spritely burst past two Sevilla players.

The Catalans took the lead when Raphinha went down in the box under light contact from Peque, a former Barca youth player, and the referee pointed to the spot.

Robert Lewandowski, stuttering in his run-up, sent Sevilla goalkeeper Orjan Nyland the wrong way to fire Barca ahead.

The 36-year-old striker is enjoying a second wind under Flick and leads Spain’s scoring charts with 12 strikes in 10 matches, twice as many as any other player.

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Pedri soon doubled Barcelona’s lead from the edge of the box after the active Yamal set him up. The teenage Spain star then threaded through Lewandowski but Nyland made a fine save to deny him.

Polish veteran Lewandowski netted his second before the break by guiding home Raphinha’s drive from distance with a flick of his boot.

Suffering Sevilla were dealt more bad news before the break when explosive winger Chidera Ejuke limped off injured.

Raphinha fired home early in the second half but was offside, as Barcelona strolled, carving open the Andalucians at their leisure.

Yamal produced an outrageous shot from a distance with the outside of his boot which Nyland clawed to safety.

Dodi Lukebakio struck at the other end on a rare Sevilla foray forward but had strayed offside.

Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre rattled home the fourth with the aid of a deflection before Gavi made his first appearance in 11 months as a substitute with a few minutes remaining to a rapturous reception.

“He’s a great guy, a hard worker, and he deserves this moment, you can see the fans love him and we all do,” added Pedri.

Idumbo pulled one back for Sevilla, 13th, but Torre wrapped up Barcelona’s night with a stroke of fortune when his free-kick crept in at the far post.

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Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will feature in next year’s expanded FIFA Club World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced on Saturday.

Messi and his team-mates will kick off the tournament in the opening game at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, on Sunday, June 15, Infantino added.

The FIFA president was speaking on the field at Inter’s Chase Stadium moments after Messi scored a hat-trick as the team broke the MLS regular season points record with a 6-2 win over the New England Revolution.

Miami, who this month won Major League Soccer’s Supporters’ Shield for the best regular season record, will take the qualification slot designated for the host nation.

“Inter Miami qualifies as the host country representative team on the basis of the club’s outstanding and consistent 34-match campaign that saw them secure the shield with two MLS matches to play,” FIFA said in a statement.

The official champions of MLS are determined by the MLS Cup playoffs which begin next week and conclude with the final on December 7.

Inter Miami are the favourites to win the playoffs but the FIFA decision to select the regular season winners ensures the involvement of the Argentine superstar.

The participation of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is a much-needed boost to the profile of the new-look tournament, which FIFA hope will capture the imagination of the global television audience as well as fans in the United States ahead of the World Cup in 2026.

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The competition could pit Messi against top European club opposition for the first time since he left Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) last year to move to Miami.

The 32-team tournament will feature title-winning teams from each of FIFA’s continental confederations.

Real Madrid, Manchester City and Bayern Munich are among the 12 European teams who have qualified for the tournament while Argentina’s River Plate and Boca Juniors and Brazil’s Flamengo are among six South American teams.

FIFA has yet to announce any broadcast deals or sponsorship contracts for the tournament and the competition has faced some opposition within the game.

Players union FIFpro and the European Leagues body filed a joint complaint to the European Commission against FIFA over the introduction of the tournament into the international match calendar.

Opponents of the new tournament have said it adds further congestion to an already crowded schedule and increases the workload of players.

The last version of the Club World Cup featured seven teams in a knockout format and was won by Manchester City who beat Brazil’s Fluminense in the final in Saudi Arabia.

FIFA plan to hold the expanded tournament every four years although no host as yet to be chosen for the 2029 edition.

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Robert Lewandowski struck a 26-minute hat-trick to steer La Liga leaders Barcelona three points clear of Real Madrid with an emphatic 3-0 win at Alaves on Sunday.

The Polish striker reached 10 goals for the season in nine league games, stretching his lead as the division’s top goalscorer with a first-half treble.

Champions Madrid beat Villarreal on Saturday to pull level with Barcelona but the Catalans strolled to a comfortable triumph at Alaves’ Mendizorroza stadium to continue a strong start to the campaign under new coach Hansi Flick.

Barcelona secured their eighth victory in nine La Liga matches by taking control from the start.

Lewandowski and winger Raphinha, in superb form this season, were Barcelona’s key players in a match they largely dominated.

The Brazil international had a goal disallowed for offside before setting up Robert Lewandowski for the opener with an inviting free-kick, which the striker headed home.

Raphinha burst down the left wing for Barcelona’s second, crossing for the veteran Polish forward to knock in with ease.

Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera denied both Raphinha and Lewandowski before the latter completed his hat-trick.

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Marc Casado found Eric Garcia, who had replaced the injured Ferran Torres early on, and the defender slipped in Lewandowski to finish clinically across Sivera.

The 36-year-old hitman looks far sharper than last season and has 12 goals in 11 games across all competitions.

Alaves thought they had pulled a goal back before the break when Toni Martinez headed home but Nahuel Tenaglia was offside in the build-up.

Martinez hit the post in the second half when a corner escaped Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena, playing in place of the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Sivera made a fine save to thwart Ansu Fati, who had replaced an unusually quiet Lamine Yamal.

Alaves had another goal disallowed when Santiago Mourino headed home a free-kick, but he had strayed offside — the hosts were flagged off 11 times in the match, largely thanks to Barca’s high defensive line.

Later on Sunday, Atletico Madrid visit Real Sociedad and Sevilla host Real Betis in a Seville derby.

READ: Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal to miss several months due to knee injury

Spanish defender Dani Carvajal is facing several months on the sidelines after Real Madrid confirmed on Sunday that he needed surgery after suffering a serious knee injury during a La Liga match against Villarreal.

“He has been diagnosed with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, a rupture of the external collateral ligament and a rupture of the popliteal tendon in his right leg,” Real Madrid said in a statement.

Madrid captain Carvajal hurt his knee in the final minutes of the reigning champions’ 2-0 win over Villarreal on Saturday night which saw the team pull level with La Liga leaders Barca, who face Alaves on Sunday.

Carvajal went down in agony after attempting to clear a ball away under pressure from Villarreal winger Yeremy Pino.

The right-back, who won Euro 2024 with Spain this summer, confirmed he would miss a few months himself on social media network Instagram.

“A serious cruciate ligament injury has been confirmed, I’m going to have to undergo surgery and be out for a few months,” wrote Dani Carvajal.

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“I can’t wait to start my recovery and come back like a beast. Thank you very much to everyone for your messages, I feel very loved.”

Carvajal was offered support on social media by his team-mates and other celebrity figures.

“Keep up the good work Dani! You will come back stronger,” wrote Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz.

Last season Real Madrid missed Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao for much of the campaign with similar knee injuries.

Spain will be without Carvajal in the months ahead too, along with Manchester City midfielder Rodri Hernandez, also sidelined with a serious knee injury.

Madrid also confirmed winger Vinicius Junior, who scored in the win over Villarreal, had suffered a neck injury, although Spanish reports expect him to be fit after the international break.

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Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco named his squad on Friday that will take on Italy and France in the Nations League, with Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne missing out due to injury.

The 33-year-old midfielder had left the question of his international future somewhat up in the air but told Tedesco that he would still be available for selection for the next two years.

“I had a long telephone talk with Kevin where, first of all, now he is injured but in general he is very motivated to continue to be with us and to play also the World Cup,” said the Italian coach.

“He asked me to be out for this camp and for the November camp to take care of his body.”

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Napoli star Romelu Lukaku’s name was also missing from the list of 23 as Tedesco decided to rest the striker and allow him “to work individually” as he settles into life in the southern Italian club, which he joined in late August.

Belgium will play Italy in Rome on October 10, before travelling to Brussels to face France four days later.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (Al Qadsiah/KSA), Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Maarten Vandevoordt (RB Leipzig/GER)

Defenders: Sebastiaan Bornauw (Wolfsburg/GER), Timothy Castagne (Fulham/ENG), Zeno Debast (Sporting Portugal/POR), Maxim De Cuyper (Club Bruges), Wout Faes (Leicester/ENG), Matte Smets (Genk), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Francfort/GER), Koni De Winter (Genoa/ITA)

Midfielders: Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta/ITA), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa/ENG), Orel Mangala (Lyon/FRA), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa/ENG), Arne Engels (Celtic/SCO), Malick Fofana (Lyon/FRA)

Forwards: Johan Bakayoko (PSV/NED), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City/ENG), Dodi Lukebakio (Sevilla/ESP), Lois Openda (RB Leipzig/GER), Cyril Ngonge (Naples/ITA), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal/ENG)

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