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

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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.

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British-American Duo Win First Grand Slam Together in Melbourne

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British-American Duo Win First Grand Slam Together in Melbourne

Neal Skupski and Christian Harrison clinched the men’s doubles title at the Australian Open on Saturday, defeating Australian wildcards Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans 7-6 (4), 6-4 to secure their first Grand Slam crown together. The sixth-seeded British-American pair showed composure and resilience to overcome a spirited challenge from the home favourites in front of a lively crowd at Rod Laver Arena, with play taking place under a closed roof due to rain in Melbourne.

Skupski and Harrison made a strong start to the final, breaking serve early in the opening set to race into a 4-2 lead. However, Kubler and Polmans, buoyed by vocal home support, fought their way back to force a tiebreak. The visitors eventually took control, sealing the set through a decisive smash from Skupski.

The second set followed a similar pattern, with the favourites again securing an early break. Despite sustained pressure from the Australians and the drama of two missed championship points, Harrison held his nerve to close out the contest with a powerful ace down the middle on the third opportunity.

The victory marked a significant milestone for Harrison, who claimed his maiden Grand Slam title. The American described the moment as surreal, noting the significance of achieving the feat on such a big stage and against determined opponents in a charged atmosphere.

For Skupski, the triumph represented his fourth major title overall and his first outside Wimbledon. The Briton said lifting the trophy with Harrison in their first Grand Slam outing as a partnership made the success particularly special. Kubler and Polmans, who enjoyed an unexpected run to the final, received a standing ovation from the crowd in recognition of their impressive performances throughout the tournament.

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Justin Rose Sets 36-Hole Record, Opens Four-Shot Lead at Torrey Pines

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Ex-Sri Lanka Star Jayasuriya Named in USA Squad for T20 World CupJustin Rose Sets 36-Hole Record, Opens Four-Shot Lead at Torrey Pines

Justin Rose maintained his imperious form at the Farmers Insurance Open on Friday, producing a brilliant seven-under-par 65 on the demanding South Course at Torrey Pines to open up a four-shot lead at the halfway stage of the tournament. The Englishman, who had set the early pace with a stunning 62 on the easier North Course on Thursday, followed it up with another composed display, recording six birdies and an eagle against a lone bogey.

His two-round total of 17-under-par 127 established a new 36-hole scoring record in the history of the event. Rose’s second-round effort was particularly eye-catching given the difficulty of the South Course, a venue where he previously claimed the Farmers Insurance Open title in 2019 and where he famously finished runner-up at the 2013 U.S. Open. Reflecting on his performance, the 45-year-old said he was pleased with his decision-making and ability to recover from difficult situations, noting that his putter proved decisive whenever he found himself under pressure.

Ireland’s Seamus Power sits in second place on 13-under-par after a solid round of 66, which he capped with an eagle on the ninth hole. Power expressed confidence heading into the weekend, pointing to improvements in his long game after leaning heavily on his putting in the opening round. Americans Joel Dahmen and Max McGreevy are tied for third at 11-under-par. Dahmen surged with a 63 that included three eagles, while McGreevy carded a steady 67 to remain in contention.

Former world number one Brooks Koepka also enjoyed a positive day, securing his place in the weekend in his first PGA Tour appearance outside the majors since 2022. The five-time major champion shot a 68 to make the cut on the mark at three-under-par, marking a significant step in his return to regular Tour competition following a 14-week layoff. In contrast, world number three Xander Schauffele suffered a rare setback as his streak of 72 consecutive made cuts — the fifth-longest in PGA Tour history — came to an end. Despite posting a second-round 69, Schauffele finished one stroke outside the cut line.

Rose will head into Saturday’s third round with a commanding advantage as he chases his 13th PGA Tour victory and a second Farmers Insurance Open crown, firmly positioning himself as the man to beat at Torrey Pines.

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Ex-Sri Lanka Star Jayasuriya Named in USA Squad for T20 World Cup

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Ex-Sri Lanka Star Jayasuriya Named in USA Squad for T20 World Cup

Former Sri Lanka all-rounder Shehan Jayasuriya has been handed a surprise international return after being named in the United States squad for next month’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Jayasuriya, 34, who previously represented Sri Lanka in 12 One-Day Internationals and 18 T20 Internationals, including appearances at the 2016 T20 World Cup, retired from international cricket in 2021 before relocating to the United States with his family.

Since moving, he has remained active in the game, featuring in Major League Cricket and other franchise competitions, and has now qualified to play for the USA under International Cricket Council eligibility regulations. His inclusion headlines a 15-man American squad that blends experience with emerging talent as the team prepares for the global tournament. The squad also features possible debutants, including Pakistan-born leg-spinner Mohammad Mohsin and all-rounder Shubham Ranjane, who is the grandson of former India international Vasant Ranjane.

The United States side will be captained by Monank Patel and includes established players such as fast bowler Ali Khan and left-arm seamer Saurabh Netravalkar, alongside a number of domestic prospects who have impressed in recent competitions.

The USA will face a tough test at the start of their campaign, having been drawn in Group A alongside defending champions India. The Americans open their tournament against India on February 7, a high-profile fixture in a competition co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The United States enjoyed a historic outing at the last edition of the tournament in 2024, where they advanced to the Super Eight stage as hosts, and will be aiming to build on that momentum on the world stage.

USA Squad: Monank Patel (captain), Jasdeep Singh, Andries Gous, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milind Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamala, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, Shubham Ranjane.

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