Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo said on Friday it was “unfair” that Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior missed out on this year’s award.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri took the prestigious prize in October with favourite Vinicius in second place.

Rodri helped City to a fourth straight Premier League title and Spain to Euro 2024 while attacker Vinicius guided Madrid to a record-extending 15th Champions League.

This year’s ceremony in Paris was clouded by controversy after Vinicius’ Madrid boycotted the event.

“In my opinion he deserved to win the golden ball. It was unfair, I say it here in front of everybody,” former Madrid attacker Ronaldo said at the ceremony of the Global Soccer Awards.

“They gave it to Rodri, he deserved it too but I think they should have given it to Vinicius because he won a Champions League,” the Portugal captain added.

Only Argentina superstar Lionel Messi with his six successes has won the Ballon d’Or more than Ronaldo.

The winner of the Ballon d’Or is chosen from the shortlist by an international jury of 100 specialist journalists.

AFP

Arsenal Are back To 2nd On The EPL Table after defeating ipwich Town but still six points behind Liverpool

Arsenal were dominant, but still unconvincing.

They could have won by much more than just a 1-0 margin, but in the end, Kai Havertz’s goal is enough to win it for them.

Arsenal are now unbeaten in 11 games across all competitions, while Ipswich, second bottom, have lost five of their last six.

See table below:

High-flying Chelsea were stunned by neighbours Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, going down 2-1 to a 95th-minute winner from substitute Rodrigo Muniz in the Premier League on Thursday.

It was Fulham’s first win at Stamford Bridge since 1979 and put a dent in second-placed Chelsea’s title hopes as the hosts stay on 35 points, four points off the pace having played two games more than leaders Liverpool who host Leicester City later.

Chelsea took the lead after 16 minutes when Cole Palmer danced past two defenders and slid the ball through Issa Diop’s legs into the bottom corner to score a classy goal.

Chelsea looked in control. Palmer had another two shots on target and Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno was called into action with a sharp save from a diving header by Marc Cucurella.

He also tipped over a rocket from captain Enzo Fernandez early in the second half.

But Fulham, who last scored in the league at Stamford Bridge in 2011, showed renewed energy and determination as Chelsea sat back to defend their lead.

It paid off in the 82nd minute when Harry Wilson headed home from close range.

Muniz clinched all three points when he swept home a pass from Sasa Lukic in the dying moments of the match to take Fulham up to eighth with 28 points from 18 games.

Final statistics showed they deserved the win, with 26 touches in the opposition box to Chelsea’s 20, more than 52% possession and 14 shots to the home side’s 12.

It was Chelsea’s first league loss since a 2-1 defeat on Oct. 20 by Liverpool and they risk being overtaken by Arsenal, two points behind, who play lowly Ipswich Town on Friday.