Lionel Messi has been somewhat controversially included on the shortlist for the best men's player prize at the 2024 Fifa Best Awards.
The 37-year-old Argentina and Barcelona legend is seeing out his career in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, and failed to make the top 30 for the far more prestigious Ballon d'Or earlier this year.
Messi, who has won a record eight Ballons d'Or in the past, is the only player on the list playing outside of Europe.
He scored 20 goals as Inter Miami won the Eastern Conference but was on the losing side in the MLS Cup play-offs as Atlanta United pulled off a surprise result.
Fifa's determination to include arguably the world's most famous player in their competitions was demonstrated when they rewarded Inter Miami's regular season success with a spot at the expanded Club World Cup, delivering a snub to both Western Conference champions LAFC and whoever is eventually crowned MLS Cup champions on December 7.
There is no spot on Fifa's shortlist for Messi's great rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who led the scoring charts in the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr last season. There is also no place for in-form Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, the leading player from the Arabic world and Mena region.
In fact, there are only two nominees from the Premier League, both from Manchester City, in 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri and striker Erling Haaland.
The pair have been recognised after City became the first team in English top-flight history to win four league titles in a row.
Will Vinicius Jr get his Ballon d'Or payback?
Real Madrid and Brazil winger Vinicius Jr is one of 11 nominees for the prize, which is dominated by players from Spain's La Liga.
Vinicius had been heavily tipped to win the Ballon d'Or this year only to find out at the last minute he had been beaten to the prize – voted for by journalists – by City's Rodri.
Such was his disappointment, both he and his club Real Madrid decided to boycott the ceremony in Paris. Vinicius will once again be among the favourites, and this time might land the individual accolade he clearly feels his performances deserve.
The award will be decided by an equally weighted split between fans, current captains and coaches of all women's and men's national teams, and media representatives.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, who won coach of the year in 2023, is again nominated, alongside Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti, Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni and Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente.
Arsenal's David Raya, Manchester City's Ederson and Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez are among the nominees for the goalkeeper of the year award. Real Madrid's Andriy Lunin, Paris Saint-Germain's Gianluigi Donnarumma, AC Milan's Mike Maignan and Athletic Bilbao's Unai Simon are also in the running.
The ceremony is set to take place in January as the award takes into consideration the entire calendar year, unlike the Ballon d'Or, which now goes season by season.
A date has not been confirmed for the ceremony, but voting remains open for fans on Fifa's official website until December 10.
Best men’s player nominees
Dani Carvajal (Spain/Real Madrid)
Erling Haaland (Norway/Manchester City)
Federico Valverde (Uruguay/Real Madrid)
Florian Wirtz (Germany/Bayer Leverkusen)
Jude Bellingham (England/Real Madrid)
Kylian Mbappe (France/Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid)
Lamine Yamal (Spain/Barcelona)
Lionel Messi (Argentina/Inter Miami)
Rodri (Spain/Manchester City)
Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid)
Vinicius Jr (Brazil/Real Madrid)
Best men’s coach nominees
Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)
Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)
Luis de la Fuente (Spain)
Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen)
Best men’s goalkeeper nominees
Andriy Lunin (Ukraine/Real Madrid)
David Raya (Spain/Arsenal)
Ederson (Brazil/Manchester City)
Emiliano Martinez (Argentina/Aston Villa)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy/Paris Saint-Germain)
Mike Maignan (France/AC Milan)
Unai Simon (Spain/Athletic Bilbao)
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
FA Cup semi-finals
Saturday: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, 8.15pm (UAE)
Sunday: Chelsea v Southampton, 6pm (UAE)
Matches on Bein Sports
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
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List of alleged parties
- May 15 2020: Boris Johnson is said to have attended a Downing Street pizza party
- 27 Nov 2020: PM gives speech at leaving do for his staff
- Dec 10 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
- Dec 13 2020: Mr Johnson and his then-fiancee Carrie Symonds throw a flat party
- Dec 14 2020: Shaun Bailey holds staff party at Conservative Party headquarters
- Dec 15 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
- Dec 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
Simran
Director Hansal Mehta
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey
Three stars
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Lecce v SPAL (6pm)
Bologna v Genoa (9pm)
Atlanta v Roma (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Hellas Verona (3.30pm)
Juventus v Brescia (6pm)
Sampdoria v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sassuolo v Parma (6pm)
Cagliari v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Torino (11.45pm)
The%20Beekeeper
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