Salah, Hakimi, Guirassy Make 2025 Ballon d’Or Shortlist

Three African football stars have been named among the 30-man shortlist for the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or, cementing their place among the game’s global elite.

Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, and Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy were all recognised for their outstanding performances during the 2024/25 season.

Guirassy’s Record-Breaking Season

Guinea international, Serhou Guirassy, enjoyed a remarkable debut campaign with Borussia Dortmund, making Champions League history by scoring 10 goals — the highest ever by a Dortmund player in a single season.

The prolific striker’s domestic form was equally devastating, highlighted by a stunning four-goal display against Union Berlin.

He ended the season with 38 goals across all competitions, proving decisive in Dortmund’s deep European run and domestic challenge.

Hakimi’s Historic Campaign

Moroccan full-back, Achraf Hakimi, was instrumental in Paris Saint-Germain’s historic treble-winning season.

The 25-year-old scored in both the UEFA Champions League final and the Coupe de France final, finishing the campaign with 11 goals and 16 assists — remarkable numbers for a defender.

Widely hailed as the best right-back in the world, Hakimi’s attacking threat and defensive solidity were crucial to PSG’s dominance.

Salah’s Premier League Masterclass

Liverpool’s talisman, Mohamed Salah, once again underlined his world-class status by leading the Reds to the Premier League title.

The Egyptian forward topped both the goals and assists charts, scoring 29 times and setting up 18 more.

With 47 goal involvements in total, Salah’s influence on Liverpool’s season was unmatched, further cementing his legacy as one of the Premier League’s greatest-ever players.

The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony will crown the world’s best footballer later this year, with African fans hoping one of their own can lift the coveted golden ball.

FC Barcelona is set to pay Lionel Messi the remaining €5.95 million from his deferred salary during the 2020 season by Monday, marking the final installment in a payment plan agreed upon during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The payment relates to a portion of Messi’s salary that was postponed as part of financial adjustments made when Barcelona was under severe economic strain.

The agreement, made in 2020, ensured the balance would be paid in phases, and with this final installment, Barcelona will have fulfilled all outstanding commitments to the Argentine legend.

Messi had agreed to defer part of his wages to support the club’s financial recovery, showcasing his commitment to the team’s well-being.

This move officially closes the financial chapter between the club and its greatest-ever player, nearly three years after his departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

Messi, now with Inter Miami, remains a beloved figure at Barça, with ongoing talks about a possible tribute match at the Camp Nou once renovations are complete.

The total deferred wage payment to Messi amounts to €47.6 million, with Barcelona making eight scheduled payments from December 2021 to June 2025.

Other players, including Ronald Araújo, Pedri, Ansu Fati, and Iñaki Peña, are also expecting similar payments as part of agreements made during the financial strain of the pandemic.

Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, had previously confirmed that the club would continue to pay Messi’s deferred wages until 2025, stating, “We have outstanding payments to Messi until 2025. What is owed to him is the deferral of the wage bill that was agreed with the previous board and that produces outstanding payments that end in 2025. He is paid religiously”.

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Nigeria’s sprint icon, Tobi Amusan, has made history by winning the Diamond League trophy for the third consecutive time.

Although the latest reports indicate her impressive performance at the 2025 Paris Diamond League, where she clocked 12.24 seconds in the women’s 100m hurdles, securing a strong second-place finish, her previous wins were marked on September 17, 2023, at the Eugene Diamond League in Oregon, USA, with a record time of 12.33 seconds.

Amusan’s consistency throughout the season has been impressive. After a slow start with fourth-place finishes in Xiamen and Shaoxing, she rebounded with a win at the Rabat leg of the Diamond League, setting a meet record of 12.45 seconds.

Her recent performance in Paris demonstrates she’s building momentum ahead of major international competitions.

The Nigerian athlete faced stiff competition from top runners like Grace Stark, who won the Paris Diamond League with a lifetime best and meet record of 12.21 seconds, Ackera Nugent, and Keni Harrison.

Despite the challenging field, Amusan showcased her experience and rising form, scoring valuable points toward the Diamond League Finals in Zurich.

Amusan currently sits fourth on the Diamond League leaderboard with 10 points, behind Grace Stark (23 points), Danielle Williams (15 points), and Marione Fourie (12 points).

Her determination and hard work have paid off, solidifying her position as one of the top athletes in the world.