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Vinicius Jr Named FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year

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Vinicius Jr Named FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year

Real Madrid and Brazil star Vinicius Jr has been crowned the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year at the prestigious ceremony in Doha, Qatar. The 24-year-old winger’s stellar performances during Real Madrid’s Champions League and La Liga-winning 2023-24 campaign earned him the accolade, marking his first-ever FIFA Best award.

Vinicius contributed significantly to his club’s success, scoring 24 goals and providing 11 assists, solidifying his status as one of the world’s top football talents. His win comes months after Real Madrid and Vinicius boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony, where Manchester City’s Rodri claimed top honors.

“It seemed impossible when I played barefoot in the streets of São Gonçalo, and now I’m here,” Vinicius reflected emotionally while accepting the award.

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In the women’s category, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati won the FIFA Best Women’s Player award for the second consecutive year. Her victory highlights her dominant role in both club and international football.

The FIFA Best Awards are decided through a combination of votes from the public, journalists, and national team captains and managers, with each group’s votes carrying equal weight.

Spain’s Rodri, a key figure in his nation’s Euro 2024 victory, finished second behind Vinicius, while England and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham secured third place.

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  • England captain Harry Kane voted for Rodri, Bellingham, and Vinicius, respectively.
  • Interim England manager Lee Carsley prioritized Bellingham, Rodri, and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.
  • Brazil’s captain and coach both supported Vinicius.
  • Notably, Spain’s representatives voted for Dani Carvajal, Vinicius’ Real Madrid teammate.

Vinicius’ triumph coincides with Real Madrid’s presence in Qatar ahead of Wednesday’s FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Mexican club Pachuca at Lusail Stadium.

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Warren Gatland to Step Down as Wales Head Coach

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Warren Gatland to Step Down as Wales Head Coach

Warren Gatland is set to leave his role as Wales head coach after a record-breaking 14 consecutive Test match defeats, bringing an early end to his second tenure in charge.

Although the 61-year-old was contracted until the 2027 Rugby World Cup, he was already expected to step down after the Six Nations. Now, his departure will come midway through the tournament, with Wales still set to face Ireland on 22 February in Cardiff, Scotland on 8 March, and England on 15 March.

Possible successors include former Australia coach Michael Cheika, Glasgow’s Franco Smith, and Ireland interim boss Simon Easterby.

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Gatland, who enjoyed a highly successful 12-year first stint with Wales—winning three Grand Slams and leading the team to two World Cup semi-finals—returned in December 2022 to replace Wayne Pivac. However, his second tenure has been marred by poor performances, with Wales suffering their worst losing streak in 144 years of international rugby. The 22-15 loss to Italy last weekend cemented their decline, dropping them to 12th in the world rankings.

In total, Gatland has overseen 151 Tests across both spells, with 76 wins, 73 losses, and two draws. His recent record stands at just six victories in 26 matches, a win ratio of only 23%.

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Tiger Woods Withdraws from Genesis Invitational Following Mother’s Passing

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Tiger Woods Withdraws from Genesis Invitational Following Mother's Passing

Tiger Woods has pulled out of this week’s Genesis Invitational, stating he is “still processing” the recent death of his mother, Kultida Woods.

The 15-time major champion, who had initially planned to participate, announced his withdrawal on social media, saying, “I planned to tee it up this week, but I’m just not ready. I did my best to prepare, knowing it’s what my mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss.”

Woods’ mother, Kultida, passed away on February 4. Just days later, tournament organizers had confirmed Woods’ participation in the event, which is now being held at Torrey Pines instead of its usual Riviera Country Club venue due to wildfires in Los Angeles.

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Woods has not played a PGA Tour event since The Open at Royal Troon last July. His competitive appearances have been sporadic since a 2021 car accident left him with severe leg injuries, and he underwent additional back surgery in September. Most recently, he played alongside his son, Charlie, in a 36-hole event in December and participated in an exhibition for the Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL), which he co-founded.

As the tournament host, Woods hopes to attend the Genesis Invitational later in the week but has not committed to a specific timeline. The event benefits his TGR Foundation, which supports youth education initiatives.

Fans and fellow players have expressed their condolences and support for Woods as he navigates this difficult time.

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Tottenham’s Radu Dragusin Suffers Season-Ending ACL Injury

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Tottenham's Radu Dragusin Suffers Season-Ending ACL Injury

Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee. The 23-year-old sustained the injury during Spurs’ Europa League clash against Elfsborg last week and will undergo surgery.

Dragusin is expected to be sidelined for at least six months, though recovery from ACL injuries can sometimes extend to a year. Tottenham confirmed that their medical team will monitor his rehabilitation to determine his return timeline.

The Romanian international had become a key figure for Spurs, starting 21 of their last 23 games. His absence adds to an already extensive injury list, which includes Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner, Wilson Odobert, Cristian Romero, and Dominic Solanke. However, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies have recently returned to action.

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Dragusin joined Tottenham from Genoa in January 2024 in a £25 million deal. To bolster their defensive options, Spurs signed Austria international Kevin Danso on loan for the remainder of the season, with an option to buy for £21 million. They also made an ambitious £70 million bid for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, which was rejected, but secured the signing of 19-year-old attacker Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich.

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