"It stays in the back of my mind, which is normal. If I keep going like this, I don't think I'll be very far off it,"

Veteran leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the front-runner to unseat far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in a presidential runoff this month, thanked Brazilian football legend Rai for backing him Monday at the Ballon d'Or awards.

Karim Benzema said he had become more ambitious with age as the Real Madrid and France striker won the Ballon d'Or on Monday, and dedicated his trophy "to the people".

Champions League winners Real Madrid outclassed Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 on Wednesday to clinch the UEFA Super Cup for a record-equalling fifth time and kick off their season with a trophy.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has heaped praise on Lionel Messi for his sensational performance against Estonia in a friendly on Sunday.

Real Madrid's France star Karim Benzema deserves to win the Ballon d'Or, according to seven-time laureate Lionel Messi.

Competition for the world’s biggest individual football award opens up.

Cristiano Ronaldo reveals that he does not harbor anymore dreams football wise as he has won so many beautiful things.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar headline an impressive 30-man shortlist unveiled on Monday for the 2017 Ballon d'Or world footballer of the year award.

Ronaldo will be looking to forget his early season struggles as Real Madrid aim to lay down a marker in their quest for a third consecutive Champions League at Borussia Dortmund.

Lionel Messi reportedly promised that he would make Neymar a Ballon d'Or winner if he stayed back at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi should win the Ballon d'Or award every year, according to club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, after the Argentine was beaten to the prize by Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi should win the Ballon d'Or award every year, according to club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, after the Argentine was beaten to the prize by Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo won his fourth Ballon d'Or on Monday to get one over his nemesis Lionel Messi in their long-running duel for the title of best footballer on the planet.

Cristiano Ronaldo won his fourth Ballon d'Or on Monday to get one over his nemesis Lionel Messi in their long-running duel for the title of best footballer on the planet.

Come 1900 GMT on Monday, what looks to be a poorly kept secret will officially be out -- Cristiano Ronaldo will bag his fourth Ballon d'Or as the world's top footballer.

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane insisted he has no doubt Cristiano Ronaldo will be the deserving winner of a fourth Ballon d'Or come January, but his hat-trick in a 3-0 defeat of Atletico Madrid on Saturday may convince others.

The Ballon d'Or deal between France football and FIFA has ended, the French publication and football's governing body announce.

The winner of the next Ballon d'Or award won't be named for another six months, but Neymar is pretty sure who will be.

Luis Enrique has lauded Lionel Messi as Barcelona's leader and "the best wherever he plays".