Close Yamal, more trophies than Dembele – why can’t Mendes win Ballon d’Or?
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He is a Champions League, Treble-winning superstar who recently canceled one of the most talented players in Lamine Yamal “through his own admission”.
Yet Paris Saint-Germain‘s Nuno Mendes does not seem to be in the conversation when it comes to Ballon d’Or nominations prior to the crowning of September. Why?
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The 22-year-old full-back illuminated Portugal’s Nation competition final triumph over Spain On Sunday evening, earning a man from the Match Award earned.
He scored a beautiful equalizer to make it 1-1 in the first half-driven effort peakIncluding his 40-year-old teammate Cristiano Ronaldowould have been proud.
He then stepped up in an impressive spot kick in the shoot-out in guns, after he had given the 17-year-old winger Yamal-a balloon d’Or favorite-a night to forget in Munich, a real training in the art of defending and positional dominance.
Mendes said after the game: “It was a collision [with Yamal] Just like many others I had during the season.
“I have confronted with many great players, very technically competent players who can make a difference, but today I have canceled Lamine and [did] Don’t let him do what he does best.
“This helped the team and I am happy that I helped the team to win this trophy. It’s about being consistent.
“I have played many good games and it’s about the work I do individually and with the coaches at PSG and Portugal.
“The Balloon d’Or? I play with Ousmane [Dembele] And he had a wonderful season, Lamine also had a wonderful season. But Ousmane will be in the World Cup Club And not Lamine, so I am very happy for Ousmane.
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‘I wish him the best for the Balloon d’Or And I and his teammates will help him get there.
“I play my football; there are players who are closer to that price. I don’t concentrate much on it.”
New images shows the wild reaction of Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal Nations League victory as a man Utd Star ‘used as Shield’
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He can add modesty to his growing list of attributes, but why would Mendes recall himself from the most coveted individual prize football?
It is the peak of snobism in sport that is the biggest prizes – one Ronaldo And Lionel Messi have dominated over the years on attackers and objectives.
It will probably also continue this year. Barcelona’s Yamal, PSG’s Dembele and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah Are the favorites.
When Jamie Carragher Once famous said: “Nobody wants to grow up and be a Gary Neville”, but does that change?
Full-backs are now sexy, admired, idol and coveted.
The day comes for sure that someone in that position will win the Ballon d’Or for the first time.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold Has the full-back-control book rewritten in recent years with its passing skills and goal statements, and has openly admitted that he is now being viewed to the Ballon d’Or while preparing himself to put on the shirt of Real Madrid next season.
Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly has emerged as another young full-back wonder child after scoring on his England Debut in March, someone originally came through the Hale End Academy as a midfielder.
But Mendes now seems to be on another planet.
In return for SpainHe had more successful dribbles, touches, tackles, last third steps and successful duels in the opposition box than all others Portugal player.
He tasted Champions League glory against Inter Milan On May 31, after already one Ligue 1 and cup double, and can lift even more silverware at the World Cup Club In the United States next month.
Current top 10 favorites for Ballon d’Or
- Ousmane Dembele
- Lamine Yamal
- Ferreira Vitinha
- Mohamed Salah
- Raphinha
- Kylian Mbappe
- Gianluigi Donnarumma
- Khvicha kvaratskhelia
- Long
- Achraf Hakimi
The balloon d’Or is often about goals, with ErlingVinicius JR, Robert Lewandowski And Sadio mane Come close to winning in recent editions.
Yet it is also about large titles, and very few players can rival Mendes rival in that respect, but because he is a defender, De Limelight is likely to be – and perhaps wrong – on others.
Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk Is the last defender to be found in the Ballon d’Or Top Three in 2019 in 2019, and you have to go back to 2006 to win a defender to win it downright – Fabio Cannavaro in Italy after he led his nation to a world cup win.
The time is on the side of Mendes to replicate that and Manchester City with midfielder Rodri’s recent victory will encourage him.
Play a leading role Portugal winning the world cup over the pond next summer And full-backs can finally get their moment in the sun.
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