Ivory Coast suffer blow as defender Clement Akpa ruled out of 2026 World Cup
Ivory Coast have been dealt a setback ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defender Clement Akpa was ruled out of the tournament through injury.
Harry Kane: I have a shot at Ballon d'Or, especially if England win FIFA World Cup
The England captain enjoyed a prolific campaign at Die Roten, scoring 61 goals in 51 matches across all competitions, as the German side retained the Bundesliga title and secured a domestic cup double. His season included a hat-trick in the DFB-Pokal final against Stuttgart.
Bayern's European run ended at the semi-final stage of the Champions League, where they were beaten by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.
Kane, widely viewed as one of the most complete strikers in world football on current form, is now preparing for a third World Cup appearance.
He hopes to inspire England to glory in North America, with international success potentially placing him in contention for the 2026 Ballon d'Or.
"I'd probably say I'll be up there, for sure," Kane told L'Equipe.
"With the season I've had, with winning the trophies and the numbers I've reached, I think I'll be in that conversation.
"If I win the World Cup on top of that... you would imagine it would be one of the England players.
"When you look at some of the past winners of the Ballon d'Or, for sure it comes down to the big games, the big tournaments, and you add that on top of what I've achieved this year, I think I'll be up there."
Mamelodi Sundowns star Teboho Mokoena faces World Cup test after demanding campaign
Former Orlando Pirates winger Mark Mayambela believes Teboho Mokoena's experience at the highest level of African and international football has prepared him for the demands of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Carlos Queiroz sees positives as Ghana draw with Wales before World Cup
Ghana's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup continued with a frustrating 1-1 draw against Wales in Cardiff on Tuesday night, as new head coach Carlos Queiroz took charge of the Black Stars for the first time.
Media frenzy after Bafana Bafana arrive for 2026 FIFA World Cup host clash
After travel delays, Bafana Bafana finally arrived at their base camp in Pachuca, Mexico, on Tuesday ahead of the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup next week.