Kevin De Bruyne Wont need Surgery says Roberto Martinez

Kevin De Bruyne will not need surgery on his facial injuries but is at risk of missing Belgium’s Euro 2020 opener, according to manager Roberto Martinez.

The Manchester City midfielder suffered multiple fractures to his face during their Champions League final loss to Chelsea. De Bruyne had to be substituted off after a clash with Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger.

De Bruyne, 29, is now a doubt for Belgium’s game against Russia on June 12.

What has Martinez said?
He said: “Kevin had a different programme to the rest of the players.

“He was only going to join us seven days later because he was playing in the Champions League final. But that programme has obviously been changed, he won’t be able to relax and rest just yet.

“We’ve got to be very cautious, and we will get more clarity in the next few days, but I’ve spoken to Kevin and he was quite positive. We are very fortunate that even though he has a double fracture, he doesn’t need surgery.

“An operation would have made it impossible for him to play in the European Championship. We don’t know if we can use him in the first game. I cannot give an answer because I don’t have any medical facts right now.

“We are still assessing the injury and over the next four to five days we expect clarity.’ Then we will know what the next steps for Kevin will be.”

How did De Bruyne get injured?
De Bruyne went down injured shortly before the hour mark of Saturday night’s game.

The Belgian was assessed by City’s physios and the club doctor. De Bruyne was seen with a noticeable black eye.

The decision was then taken for De Bruyne to be substituted off due to the injury. He was clearly not happy with the call.

Gabriel Jesus came on in his place, with a visibly devastated De Bruyne being consoled by City’s backroom staff as he left the pitch in tears.

Who will Belgium face at Euro 2020?
They kick off their …

UEFA 23man Squad of the Season

UEFA’s Technical Observers have chosen their 23-man squad from the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League.

UEFA’s Technical Observers: Packie Bonner, Cosmin Contra, Corinne Diacre, Dušan Fitzel, Steffen Freund, Robbie Keane, Roberto Martínez, Ginés Meléndez, John Peacock, Gareth Southgate, Patrick Vieira.

Goalkeepers

Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
Ederson (Man. City)
Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)

Defenders

César Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Rúben Dias (Man. City)
Marquinhos (Paris)
Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea)
Ben Chilwell (Chelsea)
David Alaba (Bayern)

Midfielders

Jorginho (Chelsea)
Mason Mount (Chelsea)
N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea)
Kevin De Bruyne (Man. City)
İlkay Gündoğan (Man. City)
Luka Modrić (Real Madrid)
Sérgio Oliveira (Porto)
Phil Foden (Man. City)

Forwards

Erling Haaland (Dortmund)
Kylian Mbappé (Paris)
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern)
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Neymar (Paris)
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)…

Aguero joins Barcelona on a free Transfer

Sergio Aguero, Man City’s record goalscorer with 260 goals, is departing the Etihad after a decade at the club; Argentina forward joined from Atletico Madrid in 2011; injuries and illness restricted his appearances in final season at City; 32-year-old unveiled by Barca on Monday

The forward was presented in a Barca kit and greeted the media on Monday evening after completing a medical in the afternoon prior to signing a two-year deal.

Aguero will move to Barcelona on a free transfer but the Catalan club have said Aguero’s buyout clause is set at €100m (£86m). He will officially become a Barcelona player on July 1 after his City contract expires.

Aguero’s departure from the Etihad was announced at the end of March after Pep Guardiola informed City’s record goalscorer of the club’s decision not to renew his deal.…

Chelsea Win the Uefa Champions League

Chelsea are celebrating being crowned Champions League winners for only the second time after a memorable victory over Manchester City in Porto on Saturday night.

The Blues were excellent in an entertaining final at the Estadio do Dragao, thoroughly deserving of a hard-fought 1-0 victory secured courtesy of a cool first-half strike from £71million record signing Kai Havertz that came after a superb, defence-splitting Mason Mount pass.

The triumph – Chelsea’s first in the Champions League since that famous 2012 night in Munich – represents an incredible turnaround from Thomas Tuchel, who has far exceeded expectations since replacing Frank Lampard in January and will surely be handed a long-term contract after a strong few months that also included a top-four Premier League finish and FA Cup Final appearance.

As for domestic champions Manchester City, their frustrating wait for a first taste of Champions League glory continues after a chastening evening in Portugal.

Allegri in Pirlo Out

Massimiliano Allegri has signed his contract until June 2025 as new Juventus manager, done and completed. Salary around €9m net per season. He’s back after he decided not to wait for Real Madrid – official statement in the next hours.

Andrea Pirlo led Juventus to the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana titles but they finished fourth in Serie A and secured a Champions League spot on the final day of the season; Massimiliano Allegri is set to re-join the club two years after leaving.

Allegri departed in 2019 having secured the Serie A title by an 11-point margin, his fourth top-flight triumph in a row, with the Turin club’s Champions League struggles – that saw them lose out to Ajax in the quarter-finals – seen as a primary reason for his exit.

With Juve having failed to significantly progress under either Sarri or Pirlo, they have now elected to hand the reins back to the 53-year-old, with an official announcement to follow.

It is understood that Allegri will have significantly more freedom in the transfer market than before, which is likely to have played a part in him agreeing to return.

As well as potential incomings, the Juve boss will also have to consider player exits, with the future of Cristiano Ronaldo, who is contracted until 2022, appearing to be uncertain.…

Europa League final: Villarreal triumph in Penalty Thriller

Gerónimo Rulli was the hero for Villarreal in the UEFA Europa League final, saving the decisive spot kick from opposite number David De Gea,

 

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted that their season cannot be classed as a success after they lost in the Europa League final.

Man United started the game well but it was Villarreal who took the lead just before the half-hour mark. Dani Parejo’s free-kick was converted by Gerard Moreno with the help of some shoddy defending from Victor Lindelof.

Solskjaer‘s side got an all-important equaliser shortly after half time. United were piling on the pressure as Villarreal could only clear it to Marcus Rashford on the edge of the area.

The forward struck the ball back towards the goal. It eventually found its way to Edinson Cavani, who tapped it home from close range.

Man United finished the half strongly but Unai Emery’s side held firm to keep it 1-1 at the final whistle. The finalists navigated their way through extra time to set themselves up for a tense penalty shootout.

It proved to be a high-quality shootout as the first 21 spot-kicks were all converted. The decisive moment came as De Gea stepped up to take the 22nd penalty.

His effort was saved by Geronimo Rulli, which handed Emery his fourth Europa League trophy as a manager. With this defeat, United’s wait for silverware under Solskjaer goes on.

As cited by BBC Sport, Solskjaer told BT Sport post-match that it is vital that learn from this cup final defeat:

“It’s quiet, a disappointed dressing room. That’s football for you. Sometimes it’s decided on one kick – and that’s the difference between winning and losing.

This was Villarreal’s first major title — and third overall after winning the now-extinct UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2003 and 2004.

 

This is the Unai Emery league! Emery has become the first manager to win the UEFA Cup/Europa League four times (thrice with Sevilla — 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 & now with Villarreal 2020-21), surpassing Giovanni …

Europa League final: Villarreal vs Manchester United

UEFA Europa League final Kicks off time: 20:00 BST on Wednesday between Villarreal and Manchester United and it promises to be a Showdown.

 

If Manchester United beat Villarreal on Wednesday, they will have two Europa League wins since 2016. So will Sevilla, the UEFA Cup’s resident specialists.

It reflects the Anglicisation of a tournament the Spanish clubs have tended to dominate. There was an all-English final in 2019; there could have been another this year.

 

Premier League clubs are taking the Europa League more seriously

 

Solskjaer’s United were Europa League semi-finalists last season as well, losing to Sevilla, and in the last four campaigns, the Premier League has had three sides exit in the last four: Arsenal twice and United.

It marks a distinct change from the five seasons from 2010 to 2015 when Chelsea were the lone semi-finalists, let alone finalists, and in four of those five campaigns, England had no representative in the last eight.

Perhaps the UEFA Cup has not had such a concerted challenge from England since the 1970s when, in the space of five seasons, Tottenham and Liverpool (twice) were winners and Wolves and Spurs runners-up.

It should be more feasible still for a Premier League outfit to prosper in the Europa Conference League next season. Whether, without the prize of a Champions League place for the winners, Tottenham deem it worthwhile is another matter

But even in the heyday of English clubs in the Cup Winners’ Cup, they never claimed all three European trophies in the same season; maybe a historic first beckons.

Yet with two all-English finals in the Champions League in the space of three seasons and an English grand slam of finalists in 2019, if Europe may fear English domination, at least the Conference League, with a solitary club from each of the top five domestic leagues, is guaranteed to see someone else in the final.

Top 5 Nigerian Players Ratings On FIFA 19

The latest edition of the popular world football game will soon be available after the trailer and demo were released.

 

The final ranking on FIFA 19 are out, here is a list of the highest rated Nigerians on the video game.

1.    Jay Jay Okocha

Okocha is the highest rated player on the latest FIFA 19 with an overall rating of 87.

is the highest rated Nigerian player on FIFA 19 (EA Sports)

 

Jay Jay who is regarded as one of the finest players to wear the green and white has pace 83, shooting 79, passing 84, dribbling 91, defence 41 and physic 58.

Now retired Okocha is not among the regular players and is given the icon card on the game.

2.    Wilfred Ndidi midfielder

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Onyinye Ndidi consistent performances in the Premier League makes him the second-ranked Nigerian player in FIFA 19 with an average of 80.

playWilfred Ndidi is the highest rated Nigerian player on FIFA 19 (Leicester City )

The 21-year-old is rewarded for his fine form with Leicester despite not being among Europe’s elite Ndidi is undisputedly among the first names on the team list for Claude Puel and continued his impressive form at the 2018 FIFA World Cup where he played all 90 minutes in all three group games.

 

He has pace 73, shooting 62, passing 65, dribbling 73, defence 83 and physic 82.

Ndidi is still 21 but is the highest ranked Nigerian actively playing and has many years to develop as a professional footballer and boost his rankings.

3.    Victor Moses forward

 

Victor MosesplayVictor Moses FIFA ratings has has reduced (EA Sports)

 

Chelsea star who was ranked highly when they won the Premier League is the second highest among the players active.

The 27-year-old attacker pace 78, shooting 70, passing 74, dribbling 80, defence 73 and physic 71.

4.    Ahmed Musa forward

Super Eagles all-time highest goalscorer in the FIFA World Cup is the fourth highest ranked Nigerian on FIFA 19 …

Man City Break £500m Revenue Barrier

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak says the club will “strive for more” after they announced yearly revenues of £500 million for the first time on Thursday.
The annual report said last season’s runaway Premier League champions had enjoyed revenues of £500.5 million — a 44 per cent increase in five years.
It also highlighted a fourth successive profitable year — this time £10.4 million, with a wage to revenue ratio at “a healthy” 52 per cent.

Al Mubarak, City’s chairman since the club was bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, said in a statement: “Our aim is obviously to build on the achievements of the last year.
“We will always strive for more, our journey is not complete and we have more targets to fulfil.”
According to the report, City’s income has increased six-fold in the past decade and they have risen from 20th to fifth in European clubs’ revenues league table.

The club’s facilities have also been transformed with state-of-the-art training facilities.
On the pitch they are also thriving with former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola having taken City to the title last season with 100 points — the first club to achieve that total.

Al Mubarak added: “Most of the developments visible today are the result of a carefully crafted strategy — one in which organic evolution has also been allowed to thrive.
“The 2017-18 season will go down in history because of the incredible football we all witnessed.
“We are filled with an extraordinary sense of pride in the hard work of Pep Guardiola, the players, and the staff who work tirelessly to support them.”…

Abramovich Plots To Sell Chelsea For £2b

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has hired New York bank Raine Group in preparation for selling off the club, according to The Sunday Times.
The bank is said to have valued the club at £2 billion and Chelsea have engaged their advisors after they helped Manchester City sell a 13 per cent stake in the club to China Media Capital for £265 million in 2015.

 

It is unclear whether they would look for new owners or to sell a stake in the club which Abramovich bought for £140 million in 2003 but the move comes at a critical time for Chelsea, who look overwhelmed by the scale of the wealth of clubs such as Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain.

 

In May, following the political sanctions Great Britain imposed on Russia in response to the Salisbury poisoning, Chelsea announced that Abramovich was putting off a proposed £500 million expansion of Stamford Bridge.

They have failed to qualify for the Champions League for the second time in three years, having previously qualified for the competition every year since Abramovich took over.
They have also still to convince Eden Hazard to sign a new contract or risk having to sell him to Real Madrid next summer when he will have just one more year on his deal.
Chelsea need to rebuild the team under new manager Maurizio Sarri after having allowed talents such as Mo Salah, Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku to leave the club in recent years.
Chelsea have enjoyed a long spell of success since Abramovich completed his takeover in the summer of 2003.

 

They became the first London club to the win the Champions League in 2012, as well as earning five of their six league titles in this period.
However more inconsistent league finishes recently and the rise of uber-rich Man City have ended this dominant period.

Owen: I Hated Football Late In My Career

Michael Owen has said that injuries had left him “petrified” and made him hate playing football toward the end of his career.
Owen scored 262 goals in 571 career appearances for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United, Stoke City and England.
He first suffered a torn hamstring at the age of 19, forcing him to spend five months on the sidelines, and a series of similar injuries seriously affected the second half of his career.
“Once I did it once I was gone really,” Owen told BT Sport. “I was quick, running in channels, beating people. That’s who I was — compared to the last six or so years when I turned into the only thing I could.
RELATED STORIES
“I was petrified of running into a channel. I just knew I was going to tear a muscle. The worst thing about it is your instinct is to do what you have done all your life but you start thinking: ‘Oh no, don’t.’”
Michael Owen during a Soccer Aid match. Photo by Dave J Hogan/Injuries took their long-term toll on Owen, who admitted he could not play as the same kind of forward that he did early in his career.
“For six or seven years I hated it,” he added. “I couldn’t wait to retire.
“It wasn’t me. All I was doing is coming short, linking play and getting in the box. It ended up with people thinking I was a great goal scorer who didn’t do much else. Mentally I could do it, but physically I couldn’t.
“I admire people who can play for the love of the game. They may lose a yard of pace and they can go down a division or play against lesser teams — but, for me, it was turmoil.”

Carl Ikeme reveals his wife’s reaction to his Cancer

Former Super Eagles keeper, Carl Ikeme, who was diagnosed with acute Leukemia a year ago and had to miss the FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia, has told of his wife’s reaction after he informed her of his diagnosis.

Ikeme, who is now in remission, said his wife, Saba, was nine months pregnant at the time he was diagnosed with blood cancer and he had to inform her of the sad news even in her fragile state.

“She was the first person I told. I was obviously upset, as you would be after that sort of news,” Ikeme said.

“I was in shock. I got back home and thought: ‘I need to tell Saba.’ I called her and I couldn’t get it out on the phone, but she knew something was up. I got back and Saba came in and I told her the news. She was nine months pregnant at the time, due next week. I’ve never seen her cry the way she cried. It was tough.”

 

Other Stories

Super Eagles Coach Caught Taking Bribe

Lukaku To Return Early To Help Man United – Mourinho

Belgium striker, Romelu Lukaku, has curtailed his vacation and will join Manchester United at the start of their Premier League campaign, manager Jose Mourinho, has said.

Mourinho called for the club’s World Cup participants to shorten their rest days after last month’s tournament to help United.
The club have also been hindered by injuries, and hope to avoid a poor start to the league season.
England duo Phil Jones and Marcus Rashford were already set to return early and United will now be boosted by Lukaku’s decision.

Man United prepare to host Leicester City in their first league game on Aug. 10.
“We will have (Victor) Lindelof who started training two days ago,” Mourinho said after United’s 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the pre-season International Champions Cup on Wednesday.
He added: “Marcus Rashford, Jones and Lukaku are coming back three days early to try to be available for the team.”

The Portuguese boss praised his senior players for the intensity they showed in United’s pre-season tour but insisted the fixtures did not reveal anything new strategically.
He said: “I didn’t learn anything (tactically). I know what (Ander) Herrera is, I know what (Juan) Mata is, I know what (Alexis) Sanchez is, I know what they are…
“I know the kids need time to grow up.

“The boys tried everything, they gave everything, they know we have to try to fight for the best result but tactically it means nothing.”


United have won two of their five pre-season fixtures so far and will be keen to make a quick start in their quest to win silverware this season.
Mourinho was unsure, however, if Anthony Martial would return in time to play Sunday’s final friendly against Bayern Munich.
The Frenchman left the team’s pre-season tour early to attend the birth of his daughter.…

Atletico Unveil £52m Lemar

Thomas Lemar has been unveiled as an Atletico Madrid player after official confirmation of his £52million transfer from AS Monaco.
The versatile, World Cup-winning France midfielder was presented by his new club on Monday afternoon in the auditorium of Atletico’s Wanda Metropolitano home.
“I’m very happy to be here. I really want to meet all my new team-mates. I’ve met a few, but I want to meet them all,” Lemar said, per the official Atletico website.
“I also really want to meet the fans at the Wanda Metropolitano.
RELATED STORIES
“(France team-mates) Antoine (Griezmann) and Lucas (Hernandez) have told me lots about the club. I’m very happy with the decision I made.
“I know this team demands hard work and I’ll give it my all for the team. If I need to run more, I’ll do it without a problem.”
Lemar agreed to join Atletico in June and arrived in Madrid last week to undergo a medical check-up at the Clinica Universidad de Navarra before training for the first time after cutting short his post-World Cup holiday.
Lemar won the Ligue 1 title in the principality in 2016/17 and also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. His final season at Monaco, which came after a proposed switch to Arsenal collapsed, ended with a second-place domestic finish.

Watch Top 10 Goals Of 2018 FIFA World Cup As Ahmed Musa’s Ranks 8th

Nigeria’s Super Eagles Ahmed Musa’s goal against Iceland was ranked eighth among the Top 10 goals of  2018 FIFA World Cup held in Russia.

The winner of the Hyundai Goal of the Tournament was Benjamin Pavard of France.
And listed behind him were Juan Quintero, Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Denis Cherysev, Nacer Chadli, Ahmed Musa, Ricardo Quaresma and Toni Kroos.
The goal of the tournament is usually decided by fans who vote online to choose the winner.
Pavard becomes the first European player to win the Goal of the Tournament accolade since its creation in 2006.

At Brazil 2014, it was bestowed on eventual adidas Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez, whose venomous, dipping volley also later earned him the 2014 FIFA Puskas Award.
Other previous winners included Maxi Rodriguez of Argentina and Diego Forlan of Uruguay, winning in 2006 and 2010 respectively.
“The ball bounced up as it came to me. I didn’t even think about it. I just tried to get over it and keep it down,” Pavard told FIFA.com after France’s Round of 16 thriller with Argentina. “I was trying to hit it in the direction it came from, which is what the strikers always tell me. I didn’t think it over, and when it went in I just felt so happy.”

Super Eagles Chief Coach Salisu Yusuf caught taking bribe

Chief coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Salisu Yusuf has been caught on camera taking N360, 000 from fake football agents who wanted him to select two players for the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

As the chief coach of the Super Eagles, Yusuf is in charge of the Super Eagles home-based side and an assistant to Gernot Rohr for the Super Eagles.

 

OTHER STORIES

EX SUPER EAGLE WILSON ORUMA FINALLY SPEAKS OUT

He was in charge of the Super Eagles Team B to the 2017 WAFU and 2018 CHAN where they lost in both finals.

In an investigation led by Ghanaian journalists Anas Aremeyaw, reporters posing as football agents for some players approached Yusuf in September 2017 for a conversation about players’ selection.

During the conversation, they handed the Nigerian coach N360, 000 ($1000) and alluded to more cash incentives if he selects their players for CHAN 2018 which held in Morocco.

The clip has been made public by BBC African Eye.

The clip has been made public by BBC African Eye.

“So if anything goes through and these players are able to get their contracts, you will get 15% of that contract,” one of the reporters posing as an agent told Yusuf to which he replied; “they will be in CHAN.”

The two players were eventually selected for CHAN 2018 although the investigation stated that there is no suggestion that the money given to Yusuf influenced the selection.

Although he told the reporters that team selection is based solely on performances, Yusuf, a top Nigerian coach will be facing the wrath of FIFA, CAF and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Ozil Quits International Duty

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has confirmed that he has retired from international duty, citing “disrespect” from within the German Football Federation.
Ozil, 29, earned 92 caps for his country and was part of the team that won the 2014 World Cup.
However he drew criticism at home after he met with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in May.
He and Ilkay Gundogan – a team mate also of Turkish descent who likewise posed with Erdogan – were jeered in warm-up games before the World Cup in Russia.
At the height of the row Ozil made no comment on his meeting in London with Erdogan, an outspoken critic of Germany, who was campaigning for re-election at the time.
RELATED STORIES
He broke his silence in a string of statements on Twitter on Sunday with the third and final of these confirming his retirement.
Oil tweeted: “The treatment I have received from the DFB & many others makes me no longer want to wear the German national team shirt. I feel unwanted & think that what I have achieved since my international debut in 2009 has been forgotten.
“It is with a heavy heart and after much consideration that because of recent events, I will no longer be playing for Germany at international level whilst I have this feeling of racism and disrespect.
“I used to wear the German shirt with such pride and excitement, but now I don’t. This decision has been extremely difficult to make because I have always given everything for my teammates, the coaching staff and the good people of Germany.
“But when high-ranking DFB officials treat me as they did, disrespect my Turkish roots and selfishly turn me into political propaganda, then enough is enough. That is not why I play football, and I will not sit back and do nothing about it. Racism should never, ever be accepted.”

Juventus Unveils £105m Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo was officially unveiled as a Juventus player on Monday evening following his staggering £105 million move from Real Madrid as reported by us last week.
The Portuguese superstar was unveiled in front of the world’s media at a press conference at the club’s Allianz Stadium in Turin.
Ronaldo was pictured shaking hands with new manager Massimiliano Allegri and several of his new teammates earlier in the day ahead of his official unveiling.
Ronaldo insisted he remains as ambitious as ever as he prepares to leave his mark on Juventus after completing his switch.
He told the press conference: “The nine years at Real Madrid were wonderful, but it’s a brand new step in my life, so I thank all the supporters with my heart.
“But I have to focus on this next step. I’m looking forward to playing. I’m very motivated, concentrated and focused on that.
“I’m going to try to show that I am a top player, as usual. I’m going to work hard in training. I don’t think I have to show what I am more than that – you know my stats.
“But I am very ambitious and I like challenges. I don’t like to stay in my comfort zone, I like to seize new challenges.
“After the experiences in Manchester and in Madrid, I’d like to mark the history of Juventus. I like challenges, again, and I hope everything will go very well.”

Club Owners Postpone NPFL Resumption Indefinitely

The lingering leadership dispute at the Nigeria Football Federation has caused Wednesday’s resumption of the NPFL to be postponed indefinitely, officials have disclosed.
Last month, the country’s league went on break for the World Cup in Russia.
“I am directed to bring to the notice of all members and clubs that the resumption date of the 2017/2018 season earlier scheduled for Wednesday 18th July 2018 has been put on hold,” read a statement signed by Executive Secretary of the Club Owners Association, Alloy Chukwuemeka.
The statement said: “Consequently the league resumption date has been postponed indefinitely until further notice.
“This postponement is as a result of some unresolved issues amongst the stakeholders within the football circle.”
Lobi Stars top the league table with 43 points from 24 matches, while Akwa United are two points behind.

Ahmed Musa’s Goal Nominated For Goal Of The Tournament

World’s football’s governing body, FIFA, have shorlisted Super Eagles star, Ahmed Musa, for the Goal of the Tournament Award at the just concluded 2018 World Cup in Russia.

A total of 169 goals were scored at the 2018 World Cup; but only 18 from that pool were shortlisted for the top award.

Musa who was arguably Nigeria’s best player at the tournament, had his second goal against Iceland in the group stage of the Mundial, alongside 17 others, selected.

The list includes Cristiano Ronaldo’s third goal against Spain and Lionel Messi’s goal against Nigeria.

Leading the line are the two goals scored by Russia midfielder, Denis Cheryshev and one from his teammate striker Artem Dzyuba.

The voting for the Best Goal in Russia 2018 will be open until July 23 on FIFA’s official website.
To vote for Musa, CLICK HERE
FIFA World Cup

@FIFAWorldCup

🗳️ Voting for the Goal of the Tournament is open!

Choose from the best 18 goals at Russia 2018.

Vote here: https://fifa.to/urpU0v7pAO 

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ – Videos – GOAL OF THE TOURNAMENT – FIFA.com

Here is your chance to vote for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Goal of the Tournament, presented by Hyundai. Choose below from our shortlist of the best 18 goals at Russia 2018 and cast your vote….

fifa.com

The other contenders to win the Goal of the Tournament title are below:

Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal (third goal v Spain);

Nacho, Spain (v Portugal);

Philippe Coutinho, Brazil (v Switzerland);

Dries Mertens, Belgium (v Panama);

Juan Quintero, Colombia (v Japan);

Luka Modric, Croatia (v Argentina);

Ahmed Musa, Nigeria (second goal v Iceland);

Lionel Messi, Argentina (v Nigeria);

Toni Kroos, Germany (v Sweden);

Jesse Lingard, England (v Panama);

Ricardo Quaresma, Portugal (v Iran);

Adnan Januzaj, Belgium (v England);

Angel Di Maria, Argentina (v France);

Benjamin Pavard, France (v Argentina);

Nacer Chadli, Belgium (v Japan).