German football legend Lothar Matthaus expressed his belief that Harry Kane, the Bayern Munich striker, is leading the race to win the “Golden Ball” award as the best player in the world last season.
Matthäus (65 years old) said during his talk show on the Bild newspaper website today (Wednesday): “I would be happy if Kane won the award, not because he is one of Bayern’s players; “But because he is a distinguished ambassador for football.”
Matthews presented three reasons why the English star is most deserving of winning the Ballon d'Or, namely his distinguished scoring average during Bayern Munich's winning of the league and cup titles in Germany, and the England national team's arrival to the semi-finals of the World Cup, in addition to Kane's role as a sporting role model.
Matthews, who won the Ballon d'Or in 1990, added: "All players have achieved certain achievements, but I think that Harry Kane excels overall."
Kane (33 years old) is among a list of 30 players nominated to win the prestigious award that will be presented by the French sports newspaper L'Equipe at a ceremony in the British capital, London, which will be held on October 26.
The list also includes Rodri, captain of the Spanish national team, champion of the 2026 World Cup, Frenchman Kylian Mbappe, who became the all-time top scorer in the World Cup, and Argentine star Lionel Messi.
Spaniard Carlos Alcarras, the defending US Open tennis champion, exited this year's edition by losing to American Ben Shelton after a marathon match that lasted four hours and 28 minutes in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Alcarras, ranked third in the world, faced great difficulty in facing his opponent, as the Spanish star won the first set with a score of 7/6 (7/5), and Ben Shelton responded by winning two straight sets with scores of 6/1 and 6/3, before the defending champion tied the fourth set with a score of 6/1.
Ben Shelton, ranked ninth in the world, clinched the qualification ticket by winning the fifth group with a score of 7/6 (10/7), and qualifies to face his compatriot Frances Tiafoe in an all-American match in the semi-finals.
By eliminating the defending champion, Ben Shilton jumped four steps forward, occupying fifth place in the direct ATP world rankings.
The match extended until three-thirty in the morning, New York time, to be the latest confrontation to extend until midnight in Flushing Meadows, which angered the players and fans.
Alcarras was seeded second in the tournament, but he returned to competition after recovering from a wrist injury that prevented him from participating in the French Open (Roland Garros) and Wimbledon.
Italian Jannik Sinner will also be absent due to injury, while veteran Serbian Novak Djokovic bid farewell to the competition, leaving German Alexander Zverev currently ranked first among men.
The Associated Press reported that this loss broke a series of 18 consecutive victories for Alkaras in the four major “Grand Slam” tournaments.
The agency added that Ben Shelton will face Frances Tiafoe, who qualified for the semi-finals at the US Open for the third time in his career after another marathon victory over his compatriot Alex Mikkelsen with a score of 5/7, 3/6, 7/5, 6/3, 7/6 (10/6).
The United States guaranteed the presence of an American player in the final match, amid its efforts to win the first Grand Slam title at the men's level since Andy Roddick won the title in 2003.
She pointed out that Alkaras had previously played a marathon match that extended until dawn in the US Open, when he ousted the Italian Siner in the quarter-finals of the 2022 edition, continuing his journey towards winning his first Grand Slam title at the age of 19.
The Spanish star will have to wait to achieve another title, while Ben Shelton reached the semi-finals of the Grand Slam tournaments for the third time after reaching the semi-finals at the US Open in 2023 and the Australian Open in 2025.
Alkaras said after the marathon match: “I am very happy to be here to participate in the tournament, and to play such matches, and I am in good health.”
The Spanish star added: “It was a very equal match, so I am disappointed not to win.”
He continued: “But I am happy and proud of myself, and my struggle in the match, because I was suffering physically, but I succeeded in motivating myself to make an additional effort.”
For his part, Ben Shelton said: “I have repeatedly emphasized that New York is the greatest sports city in the world, and this is the greatest stadium in the world.”
He added, laughing: “I hope that my close friend and my sister in the stands will not have to go to work at six in the morning, that is, only three hours later.”
He continued: “It would be great if they got a vacation.”
The American player concluded his statements by saying: “I was honored to compete with Carlos Alcarras, and I am very proud of every moment of my journey in the tournament.”
Inter Milan coach Christian Chivo defended Spaniard Josep Martinez, the team's goalkeeper, after he caused the Italian league champions to lose 1-2 to their host, Real Madrid, at the start of the two teams' Champions League campaign on Tuesday evening.
Martinez slowed passing the ball and tried to dodge Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, who took advantage of the Spanish goalkeeper's hesitation to score the second goal for the hosts.
Kefu said in statements reported by the Associated Press after the match that was held at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium: “I liked the reaction of our goalkeeper.”
The Romanian coach added: “Getting back into the atmosphere of the match after committing an influential mistake is not easy, and I think he (Martinez) gave a wonderful performance.”
He continued: “We must continue to perform in the same way, and it is necessary to maintain our mentality, character, and fighting spirit, and deal with difficulties.”
Martinez, 28, participated in an international match with the Spain national team in 2021.
Real Madrid ended the first half ahead with goals by Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde in the 14th and 23rd minutes, after serious errors by centre-back Jan Pesek and his colleague Josep Martinez.
Carlos Augusto reduced the gap for Inter with a single goal in the second half, in the 77th minute, of the match that was held at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, and witnessed Courtois excelling in stopping many dangerous opportunities.
The Madrid team added the first three points to its tally, reconciling its fans a few days after its first loss this season to Real Betis in the fourth round of the Spanish League.
On the other hand, Inter Milan suffered its first loss this season after three consecutive victories in the league championship.
