Cristiano Ronaldo has won his fifth Ballon d’Or trophy.

The Real Madrid forward pipped the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar to the prestigious honour after leading Los Blancos to European and La Liga glory last season.

Ronaldo now joins Messi in winning the trophy five times, with the pair dominating the award for the last decade.

The 32-year-old had already scooped FIFA’s ‘The Best’ award earlier this season as his triumphant 2016-17 campaign was recognised.

Fresh off the back of winning Euro 2016 with Portugal, Ronaldo followed that up with 42 goals in 46 games as Real Madrid won La Liga, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup - the first time the side had won four trophies in a season.

Mirror

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said Russia would allow athletes to compete at the 2018 Winter Olympics under a neutral flag, after the country was banned from the Games over a state-orchestrated doping programme.

There had been speculation Moscow could boycott the Games entirely after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday barred the country from competition over what its chief Thomas Bach described as Russia's "unprecedented attack on the integrity of the Olympic Games and sport".

Clean Russian athletes would be allowed to compete under an Olympic flag, the IOC said.

"We will certainly not declare any boycott, we will not prevent our Olympians from competing, if they want to take part in a personal capacity," Putin said after a speech at an automobile plant in Nizhny Novgorod, in which he announced he would run for a fourth presidential term next year.

"The final decision of course must be made by the Olympic team," he said.

Putin said the ban looked like "an absolutely staged and politically motivated decision", repeating denials that any state sponsored doping programme had existed in Russia.

"I feel for those guys -- I consider many of them friends rather than just acquaintances. I really feel for them," he said of the athletes in the Russian team.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier Wednesday cautioned against an "emotional" response to the ban.

Russian officials are expected to address the ban in a meeting next Tuesday.

Politicians and athletes earlier reacted with anger and disappointment to the IOC decision.

The head of Russia's Olympic Committee, Alexander Zhukov, told the IOC that punishing clean athletes was "unjust and immoral".

Russian media expressed regret at the decision while welcoming the possibility of some athletes participating in South Korea next year, albeit under tight restrictions.

The IOC "chose one of the harshest options it was considering but still not the harshest of all", which would have been a total ban, wrote Kommersant business daily.

"It's very hard to take accusations and punishments. But the fate of our athletes and preserving our place in the Olympic family is more important," wrote the Sport Express daily.

It slammed the decision as "very harsh and in some ways even humiliating for Russia," citing the life bans on attending the games for ex-sports minister Vitaly Mutko, now first deputy prime minister.

"Can't get by without Russia," the pro-Kremlin Izvestia daily headlined its front page, stressing that "Russian Olympic athletes will defend the honour of the Motherland under any banner."

Some top sports figures agreed, with ice hockey forward Ilya Kovalchuk telling TASS state news agency: "We must go to the Olympics. Refusing is surrender."

Pole vault star Yelena Isinbayeva told TASS: "Addressing our athletes, I want to say that they should absolutely not despair and should continue training for the games."

"This is an absolute outrage," said the last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, quoted by state RIA Novosti news agency. "This is sport, damn it!" he added.

Nationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, condemned the decision as "sporting racism, political racism."

Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, writing on his Telegram social networking page, warned that "not one athlete living in Chechnya will participate under a neutral flag."

Olympic gold-medallist gymnast Svetlana Khorkina, now a ruling party MP, told Sport Express: "What have we come to? Crushing our great country Russia? No, they won't manage it. Russia has an army, nuclear weapons and great people."

Pro-Kremlin media focused on discrediting Grigory Rodchenkov, the whistleblower who gave evidence of a state-controlled doping programme in which he played a central role.

Rodchenkov has been living in hiding in the United States since lifting the lid on the intricate workings of a state-supported doping scheme at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

"Grigory Rodchenkov is the perfect traitor," wrote tabloid daily Komsomolskaya Pravda.

It said the IOC's actions proved that "you can destroy a whole Olympic country on the basis of indirect evidence and a single witness who was under a criminal investigation and has been treated in a psychiatric hospital”.

AFP

Lionel Messi reportedly turned down a huge offer to join Manchester City before penning an extension at Barcelona.

The Argentine signed a new £500,000-a-week contract last month, keeping him at the Nou Camp until 2021.

But only after a blockbuster offer from the Etihad in a desperate attempt to lure him to the Premier League.

MARCA reports City put on the table a deal worth a staggering £850,000-a-week alongside a stunning £88m (€100m) signing bonus.

It is suggested City made the bid to Messi's representatives without Barcelona's permission.

City could have spoken to Messi in he new year, had he not signed the extension, with his previous deal expiring in the summer.

But the Premier League leaders reportedly knew they needed to act if they were to ever lure the 30-year-old to the Etihad.

Messi is having another superb season with Barca, who are five points clear at the top of La Liga.

He scored his side's first goal in their weekend 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo.

Mirror

Lionel Messi rarely gets cut down on the soccer field, using his agility and extraordinary dribbling skills, not to mention his diminutive stature, to stymie his opponents’ efforts. However, a statue of the Argentine star has not proved so elusive, as it was recently attacked by vandals for the second time this year.

Situated along the Paseo de la Gloria (“walkway of glory”) in Buenos Aires among tributes to other sports heroes from the country, including Manu Ginobili and Gabriela Sabatini, Messi’s statue was found severed at the ankles, with most of the figure lying next to its pedestal. As with the first incident, authorities have yet to identify any suspects.

In January, Messi’s statue was discovered without its top half, as vandals apparently made off with its torso, arms and head. In 2014, the racket held by Sabatini’s statue was cut off and stolen.

Messi’s statue was installed in June 2016, and the honor was widely viewed as an attempt to get him to reconsider his decision to retire from Argentina’s national team, following his country’s defeat to Chile in the Copa America final.

That marked the fourth time a Messi-led Argentina squad lost in the final of a major international tournament, including the 2007 and 2015 Copa America and the 2014 World Cup, and he had come under some criticism for not achieving better results.

Despite his enormous success at the individual and club level, including five FIFA player of the year awards and four Champions League titles with Barcelona, Messi is not universally adored in his home country. That stems not only from the losses in tournament finals, but also the fact that he left Argentina at age 13, after agreeing to join Barcelona’s youth system.

However, Messi’s retirement announcement was met with widespread dismay in Argentina, and the phrase “No te vayas Lio” (“Dont go, Leo”) began popping up around the country.

Just a few weeks later, he had a change of heart, and while Argentina came disconcertingly close to failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, Messi almost single-handedly averted disaster by scoring a hat trick in a pivotal win last month over Ecuador.

Washington Post

The Super Eagles of Nigeria were, on Friday, drawn in Group D to play against Iceland, Croatia and nemesis, Argentina in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup scheduled to hold in Russia.

Nigeria first played against Argentina in the 1994 World Cup. They met again at the group stage three other times in 2002, 2010, 2014.

The Super Eagles will play its first game of the prestigious competition against Croatia on June 16, in Kaliningrad.

The team’s last group match will be against Argentina in St Petersburg on June 26.

The World Cup draw!

Group A

Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay

Group B

Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran

Group C

France, Australia, Peru, Denmark

Group D

Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria

Group E

Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia

Group F

Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea

Group G

Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England

Group H

Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

Punch 

Sky Sports News  on Monday that the Toffees had reopened discussions with the 63-year-old about succeeding Ronald Koeman, after original dialogue broke down some two weeks ago.

An agreement could not be reached at the time but, after Everton failed with an attempt for Watford boss Marco Silva, progress was made over the key aspect of the length of a contract for Allardyce earlier this week.

It is also understood that Shakhtar Donetsk manager Paulo Fonseca was also interviewed for the role, while Republic of Ireland's Martin O'Neill was also being considered, but Everton owner Farhad Moshiri was expected to make a firm decision on Tuesday.

Allardyce, who has been the preferred choice of director of football Steve Walsh, is close to managing his seventh Premier League club after leaving his role as boss of Crystal Palace in the summer.

He is likely to be joined by former Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare, who was his right-hand man during the ill-fated four-month spell with England.

Everton find themselves in a relegation battle after a torrid spell of five defeats in seven games under caretaker boss David Unsworth, and Allardyce is set to arrive having kept Palace up against the odds last term.

Palace chairman Steve Parish agreed to his departure and it is believed the south London club would receive a compensation package of around £2m if Allardyce takes a new job before next summer.

Allardyce has been on holiday in Dubai, having enjoyed a trip to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix over the weekend.

Sky Sports

Swimmer Mark Foster felt he had not been true to himself as he “tiptoed around” issues over his sexuality for so long before coming out as gay.

The 47-year-old six-time world champion, who carried the Great Britain flag at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, confirmed he was gay in a wide-ranging interview with the Guardian, which was published yesterday.

Foster made the decision after believing he had always been “telling half-truths in public” despite the full support of friends and family.

Since retiring, Foster – who claimed 11 European Championship gold medals, was twice Commonwealth Games champion, set eight sprint world records and also competed across five Olympics – has gone on to work as a coach and media pundit, as well as appearing on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing programme.

Foster told the Guardian: “It’s not like I’ve been pushed to come out. I’ve just swerved and swerved. Telling half-truths and not being my true self is only hurting me.

“I’m 47, a middle-aged man, and I’m no longer competing. And I’m not the first gay sportsman to come out.”

Foster added: “I tiptoed around the issue for so long. I got really good at the dance of telling half-truths. I’ve supported the Terence Higgins Trust, Stonewall, Ben Cohen’s Stand Up to Bullying campaign. But I’ve always done it under the radar.”

Foster recalled a conversation with a swimmer friend who told him his Olympic disappointments were because he had been “afraid of the spotlight” and “never wanted to show the real you”.

The Briton added: “I don’t know if that’s true but when you’ve spent your whole life shying away from scrutiny it must have some impact.

“I’m not saying I would’ve won the Olympics but, if I wasn’t subconsciously processing all this stuff, I would have achieved more.” The National

Vincenzo Montella has been sacked by AC Milan following their poor start to the season.

Milan swiftly moved to replace Montella as head coach, promoting club legend Gennaro Gattuso from the youth set-up to take charge of the first team.

The San Siro club are a disappointing seventh in the Serie A table  - a whopping 18 points behind leaders Napoli - despite their new Chinese owners spending big in the summer, notably on Leonardo Bonucci and Andre Silva.

Montella's last game in charge was a toothless draw at home against Torino.

A club statement released on Twitter account read: '#ACMilan announce to have parted ways with @VMontella. Management of the first team is entrusted to Gennaro Gattuso, who leaves his position as Primavera coach and to whom we wish the best of luck.'  

Gattuso was a key part of one of Milan's greatest ever teams, providing the muscle in midfield alongside the more gifted Clarence Seedorf and Andrea Pirlo as they won the Champions League in 2003 and 2007, as well as losing the final to Liverpool in 2005.

'The Pitbull' played for Milan between 1999 and 2013, also winning two Serie A titles. 

He will need to pick up a Milan side that have won just twice in their last nine league matches - Sunday's result was the fourth successive home league game without a goal, a dreadful return on the £160million spent on 10 new players in the summer.

ust six wins in Serie A have cost Montella his job as his impressive start to the campaign, winning 10 of the first 12 matches in all competitions, faded quickly. 

Milan have already qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League with a match to spare but their dwindling domestic form has been a concern for some time.

Gattuso's coaching career has made a promising start - he has guided the club's Primavera side to third in their table, just two behind leaders Atalanta and behind city rivals Inter on goal difference only, having won six of their last eight matches.

Montella released a statement on social media, admitting he had 'obviously failed' in his 17 months at the club.

'I tried and tried to give myself to this company but I accept the decision taken,' he said. 'I want to thank the players and the fans for the wonderful moments we have spent together hoping that Milan will rise up. I obviously failed but I will continue to support these colors.#Thanks #ForzaMilan'

Daily Mail

Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with Barcelona until 2021, the Liga leaders confirmed, ending speculation that the five-times world player of the year could leave the club where he has spent his entire career for free next June.

"FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi signed on Saturday morning a new contract that will keep the Argentine superstar at the Club through the 2020/21 season," said a statement from Barca, posting a picture of Messi signing the deal alongside president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

"The buyout clause was set at 700 million euros (626.25 million pounds)."
Messi, 30, agreed the new contract with Barcelona in July but the club did not release the usual photo of the player putting pen to paper, fuelling speculation he could depart in June 2018, when his previous deal ran out, for free.

Messi is Barca's all-time top scorer with 523 goals in all competitions and has won eight Liga, five King's Cup and four Champions League titles since making his debut for the Catalan club in 2004, having joined their youth academy in 2000 aged 13.

He leads the scoring charts in La Liga with 12 goals and on Friday picked up the 2017 European Sports Media Golden Shoe for being the top scorer in a domestic league last season with 37 goals.

Barca can extend their lead at the top of La Liga to seven points if they beat second-placed Valencia on Sunday.
"We should have signed this a long time ago and now we have and I'm happy to continue with the club, which is my home," Messi told Barca's official television channel.

"My dream was to finish my career at Barça and we are moving down that path. Our objective is to continue achieving great things, fill the trophy cabinet and keep making history.

"We've been lucky enough to have won a great many things and I hope there will be more in the future."

Barca president Bartomeu hinted that Messi's buy-out clause had been cranked up from 300 million euros in the agreement in June up to 700 million euros after the club lost Neymar to Paris St Germain in August after the French giants paid the Brazilian international's clause of 222 million euros.

"It's a new contract that we have signed today, because although the one we signed in June was up to par with his greatness as a player, the new one is more in line with the current situation in the ever-changing world of football," Bartomeu said.

"It's a great contract for the best player in football history. It fills me with pride to see him with us renewing his love for the club."

Reuters

Anthony Joshua could be set for a return to the O2 Arena in late March if terms can finally be agreed with Joseph Parker.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn is increasingly ‘confident’ of a fight after weeks of discussions over the purse split.

Parker’s team initially demanded 40 per cent of the purse and are now calling for 35 per cent for the WBO champion amid a blaze of publicity stunts.

Hearn is refusing to go so high but said they are ‘closer’ and revealed that the unification bout, if it was to happen, would likely head to London’s O2 Arena, where the WBA and IBF champion has not fought since June 2016.

Hearn told Sportsmail: ‘We are certainly closer than we were. We have spoken a lot with their team and we are within touching distance, so it is just about getting all parties happy and agreed. I’m confident we will and the aim would be for the end of March.

‘The location could be the O2 and what a great return that would be. Our aim has always been for three fights in 2018 and that means March and the weather means going indoors.

‘The O2 has been great to AJ so it’s a strong possibility, if we can get everything else lined up.

‘I’m confident we will, so long as they are serious about wanting this fight.’

The concern for Joshua’s team is that Parker’s camp are using the talks to generate exposure and publicity for their fighter.

Earlier this week, the unbeaten New Zealander and his promoter, David Higgins, were part of a bizarre press conference that attempted to show Joshua’s fallibilities via footage of his earlier fights.

Hearn added: ‘Parker’s team have gone public in saying 65-35 and while I won’t say what our position is, I can say we are not far off on a deal that would be worth around five times Parker’s biggest purse.

‘He should take this; if he doesn’t he will face Lucas Browne which will virtually kill the chance of an AJ fight in 2018.’

Discreet talks remain ongoing with WBC champion Deontay Wilder, though that fight would be for later in the year in a stadium.

Sun