Robert Lewandowski considers that the FIFA Best award is better than the Ballon d'Or. He is the winner of the FIFA award for the past two years. On the other hand, he controversially missed out on the Ballon d'Or Lionel Messi in 2021. Most of the football stars are not that about such individual awards, but Robert's seeming biased comment gave a peek into the intense rivalry of the star players.
Robert Lewandowski piped out Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah for his second consecutive Best FIFA Men's Player 2021. Meanwhile, the 33-year-old lost out on the Ballon d'Or despite netting 65 goals for Bayern Munich and Poland last year.
His comments on the awards:
While talking to Polish outlet Pilka Nozna, Lewandowski shared, "I've been thinking about these two awards lately: FIFA The Best and the Ballon d'Or. I have come to the conclusion that the FIFA award does matter more than the Ballon d'Or. Only journalists vote in the latter - there is no clear verification, as many experts or former and current footballers have said. Professionals and journalists vote for it in FIFA; team captains, coaches, and they can realistically and objectively evaluate our achievements because they know how much each match, each record, each injury costs us."
He reckoned that the Ballon d'Or is more important and he was proud to win the Best FIFA Men's Player. He said, "Maybe in terms of prestige, the Ballon d'Or is positioned higher than the FIFA Footballer of the Year. But knowing that I have received the best footballer of the world award for the second time in a row in the voting from coaches and players makes me proud because I know how hard I have worked for many years."
The European Golden Boot or European Golden Shoe is awarded annually to the leading goal scorer in league matches in the top divisions of European football. First awarded in 1968, this prestigious honour is judged on a points-based system.
The winner is not simply the player with the most goals in the season. There is a weighting system where the goals scored in the top-ranked leagues are worth more. Players from the five highest ranked leagues according to UEFA (based on results of each league's clubs in European competition over the previous five seasons) get 2 points per scored goal, leagues ranked 6-22 get 1.5 points per goal and the remaining leagues get 1 point per goal.
The top five ranked leagues in 2022 were Germany, Spain, England, Italy, and France. The winners usually come from the top-ranked leagues.
Historical Overview
Between 1968 and 1991, the award was given by L'Équipe to the highest goalscorer in any European league. Between 1991 and 1996 there were no official awards given to the top goal scorers, but the leading goalscorer for those years have since been recognized.
Since the 1996–97 season, the award, given by European Sports Media, has used a weighted points system.
Most Golden Boots win
Lionel Messi has won the European Golden Boot a record six times (2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19). The next closest is Cristiano Ronaldo with four (2007-08, 2010-11, 2013-14, 2014-15).
Let's take a look at the most Golden Boots win in football history.
Who is leading the 2024-25 European Golden Boot race?
Kylian Mbappe is leading the race for the 2024-25 European Golden Boot. However, players like Viktor Gyökeres, Mohamed Salah and a few others are also in race.
The European leagues are up and running and we have already witnessed some great encounters between the top European teams. The hunt to win the European Golden Boot is also taking shape for the 2024-25 season.
Some big names from the Top five European leagues are already in full swing and they are scoring loads of goals to clinch the coveted annual award for the highest goalscorer in Europe. However, some young and talented players have enlisted themselves in the charts as well; even from outside of the top five European leagues.
Sportzpoint brings you all the details about the leading goalscorers in the top five European leagues, details of the UEFA League ranking, and the leading goalscorers competing for the 2024-25 European Golden Boot.
The European Golden Boot Race
Bayern forward Harry Kane won the 2023-24 Golden Boot. (Image Credit | SuperSport))
The Golden Boot is awarded by European Sports Media (ESM) which is a unified association of Football Magazine publications such as Marca, Kicker, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Frankfurter AZ, etc. They took over since 1996-97 season and started a new ranking system based on the position of the league for the respective players.
The UEFA coefficient ranking is considered a measure for weighting points, with the principle being to acknowledge players who score in leagues of higher quality according to rankings, which makes it tougher to find the back of the net.
The number of goals scored in the top five leagues of Europe are counted with a multiplier of two, while those from leagues ranked six to 21 receive a 1.5 multiplier, and goals from all other leagues are counted as one.
This is how the points system works.
⚽️🏆 Players with the Most European Golden Boot Wins:
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi: 6 🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo: 4 🇺🇾 Luis Suarez: 2 🇫🇷 Thierry Henry: 2 🇵🇱 Robert Lewandowski: 2
The Ultimate European Golden Boot Race (Among the top 10 European Leagues according to UEFA coefficient rankings)
Considering the players from the top 10 European leagues in this list, this is what the current race of chasing the 2024-25 European Golden Boot looks like:
Ballon d'Or 2025: UEFA announces date for the ceremony; categories extended
The 69th edition of the Ballon d’Or, football’s most prestigious individual award, is set to take place on Monday, September 22, 2025, at the iconic Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
Aitana Bonamti and Rodri won the Ballon d'Or last season. Image | UEFA
The 69th edition of the Ballon d’Or, football’s most prestigious individual award, is set to take place on Monday, September 22, 2025, at the iconic Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
This celebrated event, presented annually by France Football since 1956, honours the world’s finest football talent for their exceptional performances on the pitch.
A Historic Partnership
For the second consecutive year, UEFA and Groupe Amaury, owners of France Football and L’Équipe, are co-organising the event, bringing together their expertise to elevate the ceremony’s global reach.
This collaboration ensures a night of glamour and recognition for football’s brightest stars.
In a groundbreaking move, the 2025 Ballon d’Or will introduce three new categories dedicated to celebrating the achievements of female players, marking a significant step toward gender equality in football recognition.
The full list of awards for 2025 includes:
Men’s Ballon d’Or and Women’s Ballon d’Or: Honouring the best male and female players.
Men’s Kopa Trophy and Women’s Kopa Trophy: Recognising the best young male and female players.
Men’s Yashin Trophy and Women’s Yashin Trophy: Awarded to the top male and female goalkeepers.
Men’s Gerd Müller Trophy and Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy: Celebrating the leading goal scorers in club and national team competitions.
Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy and Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy: Honouring the best coaches in club and national team football.
Men’s Club of the Year and Women’s Club of the Year: Recognising the top-performing clubs.
Sócrates Award: Presented by L’Équipe and Peace and Sport, this award celebrates a player’s solidarity actions or contributions to societal causes.
The nominees for these prestigious awards will be announced in early August 2025.
US President Donald Trump has made a claim that the FIFA 2026 World Cup could help end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and shut down the war. The Russian national football team has been banned from international competition by FIFA and UEFA since the country's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Trump, during his 2024 campaign, vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine war on the first day back in. But his efforts to broker a deal between the countries have so far stuttered.
Trump was questioned about the possible participation of Russia at next year's World Cup. Speaking alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the meeting, Trump admitted he was unaware that Russia are banned from the 2026 World Cup.
During the meeting at the White House, a reporter asked the president for his stance on the ban, which was part of global sporting sanctions imposed on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Trump said, "I didn't know that, is that right? You want to explain that?"
"That is right," replied Infantino. "They are banned for the time being from playing but we hope that something happens and peace will happen so that Russia can be readmitted."
Trump on Russia-Ukraine war
The United States are hosting the World Cup next year along with Canada and Mexico but Russia are currently banned by both FIFA and UEFA from participating in international competitions due to their invasion of Ukraine.
Trump has now said that reinstating Russia for the tournament could help end the war in Ukraine, feeling that it ‘could be a good incentive’ for Putin.
"That's possible. Hey, could be a good incentive, right?" Trump replied to Infantino.
"We want to get them to stop. We want them to stop. 5,000 people a week are being killed -- it's not even believable. We're going to get that war stopped."
Russia haven't played a competitive fixture since a 2022 World Cup qualifying defeat to Croatia in November 2021. They have played 16 friendlies since then, winning 11 of them.
Inter Milan vs FC Barcelona UEFA Champions League 2024-25 semi-final 2nd leg: Inter knocks out Barcelona by 4-3 in a Champions League classic
Read the highlights of the Inter Milan vs FC Barcelona UEFA Champions League 2024-25 semi-final 2nd leg match as Inter knocked out Barcelona by 4-3 to qualify for the final.
Hello and welcome to another grand evening of UEFA Champions League football. This is Koushik Biswas, with the third final night of the Champions League this season.
Tonight, we will be bringing you LIVE updates, scores, news and free commentary of the Inter Milan vs FC Barcelona UEFA Champions League 2024-25 semi-final 2nd leg match at the San Siro.
Barcelona and Inter played out a 3-3 draw in the first leg in Barcelona last week. Inter Milan are looking to win the Champions League after 15 years, whereas Barcelona are looking for their first one since 2015.
So, both teams have everything to play for, and we can expect nothing but a Champions League classic tonight. Stay tuned and enjoy the coverage.
Do not forget the follow us on Twitter and Instagram for all the updates of the match as well.
LIVE Updates
May 6, 2025, 6:53 PM
Final Score
May 6, 2025, 9:57 PM
Final verdict!
It was a hell of a game. Inter kept on coming back, and so did Barcelona.
But in the end, I feel it was Yann Sommer who made the difference for Inter Milan.
Yamal was just incredible, but Sommer was better.
Inter will head to Munich for the final. Who will they face?
We will get to know that tomorrow!
Until then, good night and thanks for staying with us.
— Pulse Sports Nigeria (@PulseSportsNG) May 6, 2025
May 6, 2025, 9:02 PM
92' | Yellow card
Augsto gets the yellow card for a foul on Yamal.
May 6, 2025, 9:00 PM
91' | First half of extra time starts
Inter start the first half of the extra time.
May 6, 2025, 8:57 PM
We are into extra time!
We will have 30 more minutes of intense battle to see who will go to the final.
May 6, 2025, 8:57 PM
90+5' | Sommer makes the save
Yamal tries to toe poke the ball and Sommer makes the save. He could have get the penalty if he would have gone down
May 6, 2025, 8:55 PM
90+4' | Accceeerrrrrbbiiiiiii | INT 3-3 FCB (6-6)
Top-class finish from 36-year-old Acerbi.
His first European goal was from him. And, what a time to score that goal.
Yellow card for him for taking off his shirt.
Inter Milan 3-3 FC Barcelona (6-6)
May 6, 2025, 8:53 PM
90+3' | Yamal hits the woodwork
Yamal with a powerful shot from the left of the box, hits the woodwork.
May 6, 2025, 8:52 PM
90+1' | Change for Barcelona
In: Lewandowski
Out: Ferran
May 6, 2025, 8:51 PM
5 minutes added
5 minutes added to the final 90 minutes of time.
May 6, 2025, 8:51 PM
What a season for Raphinha
21 - Raphinha has now equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's competition record from 2013-14 of 21 goal involvements in a single UEFA Champions League campaign (13 goals, 8 assists). Ballon. #INTBARpic.twitter.com/fc6Sf6SbZW
"It's difficult to handle him, we will try to limit the ball getting to him but it is impossible. He will be doubled, but we know he is very dangerous. He thinks so quickly, it's unbelievable."
May 6, 2025, 5:06 PM
Flick on missing Kounde and Balde!
"We can't change anything in terms of injuries. I'm not happy about it, but we can't change it. We have players who can play in those [full-back] positions. Balde and Jules [Koundé] are important for us, but we have Gerard [Martín], Héctor [Fort] and Ronald [Araújo], all of whom are capable of playing in that position."
May 6, 2025, 5:01 PM
Do you know?
Inter have gone 972 days without losing a Champions League home game, their last defeat was on September 7, 2022!
The first leg of the semi-final was one of the Champions League classics with a 3-3 result at the Lluís Companys.
Marcus Thuram scored the fastest goal of Champions League semi-final history with a 30-second goal in the game. In the 21st minute, Dumfries then extended the lead for Inter Milan.
But, Barcelona came back three minutes later with a stunning curling goal from Lamine Yamal. In the 38th minute, Ferran Torres scored again for Barcelona to make it 2-2.
However, Inter Milan were ready to strike back in the second half as Dumfries scored his second to hand Inter the lead, again.
But again, Barcelona came back two minutes later with a third goal from Raphinha, which was later confirmed to be an own goal by Inter goalkeeper Sommer.
Inter nearly won the tie if not Dumfries had been found an inch offside before scoring what could have been a well-deserved hat-trick for him.
We have everything to play for in the second leg. But Inter have not lost a home game in the UCL this season. Can Barcelona break that record?
May 6, 2025, 11:06 AM
Inter Milan vs FC Barcelona: Last Meetings
Season
Competition
Venue
Date
Result
24/25
UEFA Champions League
Lluís Companys
31.4.2025
3:3
22/23
UEFA Champions League
Camp Nou
12.10.2022
3:3
22/23
UEFA Champions League
San Siro
04.10.2022
1:0 (Inter)
19/20
UEFA Champions League
San Siro
10.12.2019
1:2 (Barcelona)
19/20
UEFA Champions League
Camp Nou
02.10.2019
2:1 (Barcelona)
18/19
UEFA Champions League
San Siro
06.11.2018
1:1
18/19
UEFA Champions League
Camp Nou
24.10.2018
2:0 (Barcelona)
May 6, 2025, 11:05 AM
Inter Milan vs FC Barcelona Head-to-head stats
In the 13 matches between these two sides, FC Barcelona have dominated the Italian side with a 6 to 2 win ratio. The remaining 5 games have been drawn. A total of 33 goals have been scored in the matches between these two teams.
Team
Wins
Draws
Goals Scored
Barcelona
6
5
20
Inter Milan
2
5
13
May 6, 2025, 11:02 AM
Tonight's Venue | San Siro
May 6, 2025, 11:01 AM
How to watch the match?
Indian football fans can watch the match LIVE on Sony Sports Network TV Channels. They can also stream the match LIVE on Sony LIV App and Website with a paid subscription.
May 6, 2025, 11:00 AM
Match Details
Match: Inter Milan vs FC Barcelona, UEFA Champions League 2024-25, semi-final, 2nd leg
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