After being nominated for the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award 2023, Rafael Nadal said he wants Lionel Messi to win this year's Laureus Sportsman title as both he and the Argentine football star have been nominated for the top prize.

Both Nadal and Messi had a great performances in 2022 in their respective sports. While Nadal topped the list of all-time Grand Slam titles in 2022 with 22 trophies. It was a beautiful year for Messi as his leadership and performances helped Argentina win the FIFA World Cup 2022 title in Qatar along with the Golden Ball. Nadal wrote in a story on Instagram on that. He said that he was "honored" to be nominated for the award and felt Messi "deserves" it. Nadal himself has called Messi deserving of the title despite being nominated.

"An honor to be nominated again to the Laureus Sportsman of the Year … but … this year … vamos @leomessi te lo mereces tu . He is a top player in history and he played almost his entire career in my country," the athlete had said, adding. I still think that Argentina is a candidate to win the World Cup."

The former World No. 1 declared on his Instagram story.

"Messi lifting the World Cup made me happy. That someone so great culminates with a title that was missing, of this caliber, with all that it means for Argentina."

Apart from Rafael Nadal and Lionel Messi, some other players have also been nominated for the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award 2023. They are Kylian Mbappé, Max Verstappen (motor racing), Armand Duplantis (athletics), and Steve Kerr (basketball). The nominees for the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award 2023 were among the best in 2022.

This is Rafael Nadal's ninth nomination at the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award, while it is Lionel Messi's eighth. Both the tplayers have now received the nomination for Sportsman of the Year seven times. Argentine jointly won the award alongside Lewis Hamilton in 2020, and Rafael Nadal earned the accolades in 2011 and 2021. Additionally, the duo have been nominated for the Breakthrough of the Year in 2006, where the Spaniard clinched the trophy. The tennis legend also received the award in the Comeback of the Year category in 2014.

Welcome to our live coverage of the Arsenal vs Real Madrid UEFA Champions League 2024-25 quarter-final 1st leg match at Emirates Stadium.

This is Koushik Biswas, who will bring you the buildup, head-to-head stats, team news and real-time updates of the all-important match from our web desk. 

Real Madrid qualified for the last eight after a controversial penalty shootout win over Atletico Madrid, after losing four games to their road to the round of 16. 

In the meantime, Arsenal thrashed PSV by 9-3 on aggregate to reach the quarter-finals. 

We have an exciting 90-minute game at hand. So, sit back and relax as we bring you all the updates from Sportz Point's web desk.

Real Madrid's president, Florentino Perez, is known for his brilliant business strategy during the transfer windows. In recent years, Los Blancos have built one of the most impressive and young squads in football. Players like Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, Thibaut Courtois, Fede Valverde, and Rodrygo are all playing for the team, there are not many sides in world football who can compete with them. 

As a result, Los Blancos have to pay for their talent and their wages are pretty handsome. Toni Kroos was the club's highest-paid player but decided to retire at the end of the 2023-24 season. After Kroos' retirement, the club brought in Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain, as of now Mbappe is the most earning player for the Los Blancos. 

So, let's take a look at how much money all Real Madrid players are making in 2025, featuring Los Blancos' stars like Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Junior and rising stars like Arda Guler, Endrick, and Raul Asencio.

Every Real Madrid's Players wages in 2025:

Goalkeepers:

In goal, it should come as a surprise to no one that Thibaut Courtois is comfortably the highest earner in Real Madrid. The Belgian international joined Real Madrid in 2018 from Chelsea and has been a number-one choice since then. However, his injuries were never any doubt about his spot in the starting lineup, and his weekly wage reflects that. Courtois is currently earning at Real Madrid €248,249 per week.

Andrey Lunin is another goalkeeper currently in the first squad and he is currently earning at Real Madrid €46,505 per week. He is the only backup of Thibaut Courtois, so, first-team opportunities are not something he is expected to be presented with too often, but he stepped up brilliantly during Courtois' injury last season.

Defenders:

In terms of the highest-paid defenders at Real Madrid, David Alaba is currently earning at Real Madrid €372,373/week more than any other defenders in the squad. David Alaba's teammates Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao both are currently earning at Real Madrid €234,139 per week.

Similarly, Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy both are currently earning at Real Madrid €172,450/week. Lucas Vasquez is currently earning at Real Madrid €155,238/week. Fran Garcia, Jesus Vallejo, and Raul Asencio, these three defenders are currently earning at Real Madrid €86,225/week, €28,914/week, and €13,493/week each. 

And, as the current reports, Liverpool's Trent Alexander Arnold has agreed on a deal to join Real Madrid on a free transfer in the summer and will be taking home €240,000 per week and this will make him the second-highest earning defender for Los Blancos and also, he will become highest-paid right back in the football world. 

Midfielders:

Jude Bellingham has been playing like the best midfielder in the world since his Real Madrid transfer in 2023 and he is currently earning at Real Madrid like the midfielder too. Jude is making €344,735 per week. Federico Valverde is currently earning at Real Madrid €275,887 per week. Aurelien Tchouameni is making over €200,000 per week as he is currently earning at Real Madrid €206,874 per week. 

The last two midfielders in the squad are tied, with Dani Ceballos and Luka Modric both are currently earning at Real Madrid €172,450 per week. The Croatian has accomplished some legendary things for Real Madrid, including winning the Ballon d'Or in 2018. 

Forwards:

Kylian Mbappe is far and away the highest earner for Los Blancos. Kylian Mbappe is currently earning at Real Madrid over half and million euros every single week. Some way behind him in second place among the forwards is Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian is currently earning at Real Madrid under €350,000 per week. 

Vinicius' fellow Brazilian Rodrygo is currently earning €206,874 per week at Real Madrid. And the remaining forwards, Brahim Diaz, Arda Guler, and Endrick, this three-forwards are currently making at Real Madrid €120,649, €83,566, and €66,845 per week each.

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The European Golden Shoe is one of the most prestigious individual awards in football, given annually to the leading goal scorer from the top European leagues. Over the past decade, some of football’s biggest superstars have dominated this recognition, showcasing their incredible talent and consistency in front of goal.

In this article from Sportz Point, discover the last 10 European Golden Shoe winners list, featuring stars like Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane, and legendary players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Luis Suarez.

Last 10 European Golden Shoe winners List:

Harry Kane | 2024-25 season | Bayern Munich:

Harry Kane is among the greatest strikers to crave his name in the European Golden Shoe winners list. Despite the Bayern forward's failure to win any silverware, he won one of the most prestigious individual awards the Golden Shoe, this award shows his goal-scoring prowess. The Englishmen won the award for scoring 36 goals in the 2024-25 season.

 Erling Haaland | 2022-23 | Manchester City:

Earling Haaland scored 36 goals in the Premier League 2022-23 season to win the prestigious individual award and cemented his name among the top players to win the European Golden Shoe winners list. In that season Earling Haaland and company won their maiden UEFA Champions League title and completed a treble for Manchester City under Pep Guardiola.

 Robert Lewandowski | 2021-22 and 2020-21 | Bayern Munich:

Robert Lewandowski won the Golden Shoe Award in the 2021-22 season, as he cemented his name as one of the two players to win the European Golden Shoe multiple times in the list. His goals were more than enough to declare him a Ballon d'Or winner, but he was overshadowed by Karim Benzema in that season. 

In the 2020-21 season, Robert Lewandowski won his first Golden Shoe Award. In that season Robert Lewandowski and his company won a treble for Bayern Munich under Julian Nagelsmann, but he failed to win the Ballon d'Or award as Lionel Messi won the Copa America.

Ciro Immobile | 2019-20 | Lazio:

Immobile scored 36 league goals for Lazio in 2019-20 to win the prestigious individual award and cemented his name among the top players to win the European Golden Shoe winners list. Despite scoring 36 league goals for Lazio but did not get the chance to claim a Ballon d’Or rank as the award was cancelled that year due to Covid.

Lionel Messi | 2018-19, 2017-18, and 2016-17 | FC Barcelona:

Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski are the only players to crave their names multiple times in the European Golden Shoe winners list. In the 2018-19 season, Messi became the last player to win the Golden Shoe and Ballon d'Or in one season. Messi was the only player, who was dragging Ernesto Valverde's managed Barcelona side to the treble and scored 36 goals.

In the 2017-18 season, Messi scored 34 league goals and won his second European Golden Shoe, despite delivering a stinker performance in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In the 2016-17 season, Messi scored more goals than Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the Ballon d'Or that season, but Messi won the European Golden Shoe and became the first player to win the Golden Shoe thrice in the list.

Luis Suarez | 2015-16 | FC Barcelona:

Luis Suarez was a goalscoring machine in 2015-16, as he even managed to outgun the likes of Messi and Ronaldo. The Uruguayan scored 40 goals in La Liga alone, and he became the one and only player to win an individual award in Messi and Ronaldo's era. His goalscoring prowess is the reason, he is on the European Golden Shoe winners list. 

Cristiano Ronaldo | 2014-15 | Real Madrid:

Surprisingly, 2014-15 was the last time that Ronaldo ever won the European Golden Shoe. He enjoyed an excellent individual season, scoring 48 league goals for Real Madrid, but was ultimately overshadowed by Barcelona and Messi who won the treble that year. His excellent goal-scoring skills are the reason he is on the European Golden Shoe winners list. 

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UEFA has assigned an Ethics and disciplinary inspector to the actions of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Antonio Rudiger, and Dani Ceballos after Real Madrid's dramatic win in the penalty shoot-out over Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match on March 12.

One of the incidents being examined is a gesture of Antonio Rudiger's cut-throat celebrations towards the Atletico Madrid's fan base. Meanwhile, some video footage is circulating on social media, showing that Mbappe is making a gesture of groin-squeezing during the triumph celebrations. If the investigations lead to charges and a guilty sentence, the players could face disciplinary actions in the form of suspension, fines, or both.

UEFA's Statement:

🚨 UEFA announce they have opened an investigation into celebrations of Rüdiger, Ceballos, Mbappé and Vinicius Jr after the Real Madrid vs Atlético game at the Metropolitano. pic.twitter.com/Ni4D54i71P

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 27, 2025

A UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to investigate allegations of indecent conduct by Real Madrid CF players (Antonio Rüdiger, Kylian Mbappé, Daniel Ceballos Fernández, and Vinicius Junior) during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match between Club Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid CF on 12 March 2025.

What would Real Madrid's planning be?

Real Madrid will eagerly await UEFA's final statement, as a ban for Vinicius, Rudiger, Ceballos, and Mbappe could significantly impact their preparations for the tie against Arteta. They will face the Gunners on April 8 in the Emirates Stadium, with the return fixture a week later in Santiago Bernabeu.

Previous Incidents:

An example of similar behavior in the past led to financial fines and suspensions, setting an example that could influence UEFA’s decision on the current case.  Last summer, during Euro 2024, England midfielder Jude Bellingham was fined 30,000 euros and handed a one-match suspended ban for a groin-squeezing gesture after scoring a late equalizer in England’s 2-1 win over Slovakia in the tournament’s Round of 16.

Another example occurred in 2019 when Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone received a 20,000 euro fine for a similar act after his team scored against Juventus in the UEFA Champions League.

Let us know your thoughts via our Twitter, moreover, you can follow us on Twitter for all the updates. Join our Telegram and WhatsApp channels to get all the news and scorelines.

It is a childhood dream for everyone to represent their country in a global tournament like FIFA World Cup. But imagine, you are actually a young lad, and yet you are playing the tournament and winning it. For some lucky but no doubt exceptionally talented players, this became a reality. 

In this article from Sportz Point, discover the 5 youngest players to win the FIFA World Cup, including legends like Pele and Ronaldo Nazario, who made history at an early age.

5 youngest players to win the FIFA World Cup:

5. Thierry Henry | 20 Years | France:

Before Kylian Mbappe became a familiar name, there was Thierry Henry in a star-studded French team including the biggest stars like Zinedine Zidane, Lillian Thuram, and Patrick Viera led by Didier Deschamps. Henry at the age of just 20, burst into the limelight with France, winning the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and craved his name among the youngest players to win the FIFA World Cup.

However, Henry did not make an appearance against Brazil, where France won 3-0. He had already played his role, scoring thrice in six matches. During the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Henry was one of the guaranteed starters in the squad.

4. Kylian Mbappe | 19 Years | France:

With astonishing speed and agility, it feels like he is in a sports car on a football field. Kylian Mbappe announced himself at the age of 19. Mbappe became the youngest player to score in the FIFA World Cup final since Pele in 1958, bringing back the title to France after 20 years.

He was one of the most important players for France throughout the season. In the round of 16, Mbappe managed to score a brace in five minutes, knocking out Lionel Messi's Argentina 4-3. Mbappe craved his name among the youngest players to win the FIFA World Cup.

3. Giuseppe Bergomi | 18 Years | Italy:

Giuseppe Bergomi was selected by the Italian national team coach Enzo Bearzot in the 1982 FIFA World Cup squad. He started the tournament on the bench and during the group stage did a great job marking Socrates and Serginho against Brazil in a memorable 3-2 win. Bergomi impressed everyone with his maturity in the Semi-final and the Final.

Giuseppe Bergomi was a FIFA World Cup winner just over a year after making his first appearance in the senior match. Bergomi is one of the youngest players to win the FIFA World Cup. 

2. Ronaldo Nazario | 17 Years | Brazil:

Ronaldo Nazario "The Phenomenon" was a generational talent. If not for a catalog of serious knee injuries, he would probably be known as the greatest ever to play football. In 1994, a 17-year-old Ronaldo was part of the World Cup-winning Brazil team in the United States. However, he only made it to the bench and did not play a single minute. Ronaldo Nazario placed second in this list of the youngest players to win the FIFA World Cup.

Ronaldo scored a staggering 115 goals in 134 games between 1994 and 1999 during two brilliant spells at Barcelona (37 goals, 34 games) and PSV (46 goals in 42 games). By 23, he had scored over 200 goals for club and country.

1. Pele | 17 Years | Brazil:

Pele is the most well-known footballer in the history of the sport and possibly the greatest attacking player of the 20th century. The Brazilian legend was just 17 years and 249 days old in 1958 when Brazil outdid Sweden by 5-2 in the final at the Rashunda Stadium in Solna, Sweden. Pele scored a brace, winning Brazil their first-ever World Cup. 

Pele is the youngest player to win the FIFA World Cup on this list. Brazil’s 5-2 triumph over France in the semi-finals saw Pele become the youngest scorer of a hat-trick in World Cup history. He also won the World Cup in 1962 in Chile. Later on, he went on to claim his third World Cup trophy after eight years in Mexico. He is the only player to have won 3 World Cup trophies.