Vinicius Junior deserves to win this year's Ballon d'Or, in the opinion of two Brazil greats.

Cafu and Dida were part of the Brazil squad that won the World Cup in 2002.

Vinicius was unable to inspire Brazil to glory at this year's Copa America, missing their quarter-final tie against Uruguay due to suspension, but has been in fine form for Real Madrid over the past 12 months.

And with neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo involved in the voting, there will be a new winner of the Ballon d'Or for the first time since Luka Modric collected the 2018 award.

Vinicius is among the favourites, and Cafu feels the award should go to the Madrid star.

"Yes, he deserves to win it, he’s had a great season," Cafu told Stats Perform at Festival dello Sport in Trento, Italy.

"The numbers he had last season were incredible. He deserves it for what he's done and what he will do in the future."

It was a sentiment echoed by Cafu's former national team-mate Dida.

He told Stats Perform: "Vinicius is a great kid, a great player, a top player. He did very well last year, he scored goals, he gave assists, that's why.

"If he wins, it's because he deserves to win it because he did very well, we hope he manages to win this Ballon d'Or."

Vinicius has directly contributed to 42 goals for Madrid in all competitions since the start of the 2023-24 season, scoring 28 times and laying on 14 assists.

Robert Lewandowski is the only player to have played for a Spanish club across all of that time to have registered more direct goal contributions (49 - 31 goals, 18 assists).

No player in Europe's top five leagues comes close to matching Vinicius for attempted dribbles (366), though the 24-year-old ranks seventh for dribbles completed (141).

Maldon High secured their first-ever spot in the second round of the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup football competition after a dramatic 1-1 draw with Green Pond High on Saturday at the Granville Community Centre. The result marked a significant milestone for Maldon, who will now advance to the second round along with six other teams, leaving only the best third-placed teams to be decided on Monday.

In a thrilling conclusion to their Zone A return game, Garth-Dane Bromwell gave Green Pond the lead in the 85th minute, putting them on course for back-to-back wins and a place in the second round for the first time since 2019. However, Maldon struck late to level the game and secure their historic qualification.

 Defending champions Clarendon College also advanced from Zone H despite a 1-2 loss to Denbigh High, who avenged their earlier defeat and joined Clarendon in the second round. Denbigh’s victory was only their second-ever win over the multiple-time champions, further shaking up the group standings. Central High took the lead in Zone H after a 3-2 win over Lennon High, with Clarendon College now in second and Denbigh following closely in third, all with one game remaining.

 Former champions Frome Technical, Rusea’s High, and St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) also secured their places in the next round. Stevaughn Spence was the star for Frome, netting a hat-trick in their 3-0 win over Anchovy High, which moved them to 23 points in Zone B. Rusea’s joined them in advancing after a narrow 1-0 victory over Green Island High.

 STETHS ended their Zone E campaign on a high note, defeating early qualifiers Munro College 2-1 at the STETHS Sports Complex to claim their spot in the round of 32.

 Meanwhile, Glenmuir High, early qualifiers from Zone I who won their first eight games, stumbled with a second consecutive loss, falling 1-2 to Garvey Maceo High. This marked the first time in more than two seasons that Glenmuir has lost back-to-back matches.

 In Zone D, Manning’s School continued their dominant form, winning their eighth straight game with a resounding 6-0 victory over Grange Hill High. Gregory Phillips led the way with four goals, while Keandre Ellis and Zachry Clarke added one each, completing a dominant performance.

 As the daCosta Cup second round approaches, excitement continues to build, with several powerhouse teams and emerging contenders ready to battle it out for the coveted title.

Messages of condolence continue to pour in following the passing of Heron Dale, former president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), who died on October 9. Dale, who served as JFF president from 1992 to 1994, is being remembered for his significant contributions to Jamaican football and the wider community.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, expressed her sadness at Dale’s passing, highlighting his leadership both in football and in the business community. “Heron Dale, whose firm, H.S. Dale and Company, gained a reputation for high-quality service in Port Antonio, gave equally distinguished service to football in Jamaica as president of the JFF,” Minister Grange said. She also acknowledged Dale's involvement in the Portland Chamber of Commerce, a further testament to his dedication to the development of his community.

Minister Grange extended her condolences to Dale’s family, friends, and associates, saying, “May his soul rest in peace.”

The Jamaica Football Federation also released a statement expressing deep sorrow over Dale's passing. Current JFF President Michael Ricketts noted the former president’s impact on the development of the organization. "Dale was an instrumental figure in shaping the JFF into the thriving organization it is today," Ricketts said. "His unwavering commitment to our sport and its community will be deeply missed. May his soul rest in eternal peace."

The St. Kitts and Nevis Senior Men’s National team, known as the Sugar Boyz, solidified their position at the top of League C in the CONCACAF Nations League with a 3-1 victory over the British Virgin Islands (BVI) on Wednesday, October 9, at Warner Park.

Playing in front of a large home crowd, the Sugar Boyz took control early in the match. In the 25th minute, Malique Roberts opened the scoring with a powerful header, putting the hosts in the lead. Twelve minutes later, the advantage was doubled when Gvaune Amory unleashed a thunderous strike that rippled the back of the net, sending the crowd into a frenzy as the Sugar Boyz went into halftime with a commanding 2-0 lead.

BVI started the second half with renewed determination, pulling a goal back early on. However, despite their efforts, the Sugar Boyz put the game out of reach towards the end of the match, thanks to an own goal from BVI’s Ikyah Williams, sealing a 3-1 victory for the home side.

After the match, assistant coach Austin "Dico" Huggins praised the team for securing all three points but emphasized that there is still room for improvement. “We worked hard on possession, keeping the ball, and not making unnecessary turnovers. We have to be more patient. Today we saw them trying to pass the ball around, but we still need more movement going forward, breaking the lines, and attacking the goal,” Huggins said.

Team captain Julani Archibald echoed the sentiment, happy with the win but acknowledging that the team did not perform to their full potential. “I think we didn't play to the best of our ability. We could have played much better since we were at home. But nonetheless, we got the three points, and that's the most important,” Archibald said.

On the opposing side, BVI’s head coach Christopher Kiwomya and captain Troy Caesar expressed disappointment, feeling that their team could have taken more from the game.

With the victory, the Sugar Boyz remain in prime position to advance from their group. Their final group stage match will be against the Cayman Islands on Tuesday, October 15, at Warner Park. The match kicks off at 3:30 PM, with free admission as part of the SKNFA’s efforts to give back to football fans.

Newtown United Women have reclaimed the title of queens of St. Kitts and Nevis women’s football after they won the Elvis ‘Star’ Brown Women’s league finals recently, defeating defending champions MFCR Old Road United Lady Jets 3-1.

After the match Coach St. Clair Morris of Newtown, explained what it felt like to lead the women back to the title. “The president of Newtown gave me a task to do and he told me I have to win this cup to bring back some recognition to Newtown and the community itself and the club. So we decided to have a plan and so we made sure we got the girls training and training on a regular basis,” Coach Morris said.

“Next season…we're going to try to bring in some younger players. As you can see a number of senior players are going to retire…at least two are going to retire. So what we're going to do for next season, we're going to try to recruit some youngsters and bring them in the team to make the team stronger,” he added.

At the start of the season, Sherima Blake, one of Newtown’s top scorers, made a vow that her team would win the title and reclaim former glory. She was obviously elated with fulfilling that prediction. “I feel very excited. I'm happy. I'm very happy,” she said, grinning from ear to ear. “I scored about 13 goals and I'm very proud but I still didn't get the golden boot. But yeah, I'm proud of myself still.”

This is the first time in five years that Newtown won the Women’s League title, after years of dominance in previous seasons. This title adds to the first ever Women’s League President’s Cup title, which they won earlier this year.

The finalists for the 2024 Keith Gumbs U17 Tier 1 League and the Rams U13 Premier Youth Cup have been decided after thrilling semi-final encounters that delivered drama, heroics, and resilience from the young footballers.

The finals for both competitions will take place at the NBGC Technical Centre in St. Peters. The Keith Gumbs U17 Tier 1 League final is scheduled for Sunday, October 14,  at 6 pm, while the Rams U13 Premier Youth Cup final will be held on Monday at 6 pm. Fans can expect intense competition as these young teams vie for championship glory.

In the Keith Gumbs U17 League semi-finals on Thursday, October 10, Dieppe Bay secured their place in the finals with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Newtown United. Dieppe Bay stormed to a 2-0 lead in the first half, putting Newtown under pressure. Newtown, however, rallied in the second half, pulling a goal back late in the match to make it 2-1. In a dramatic finish, Newtown earned a penalty in the dying moments, but Dieppe Bay's goalkeeper came up with a crucial save to preserve the win and send his team into the finals.

The other semi-final was a dominant display from Village Superstars, who came from 1-0 down against St. Peters FC to secure a 4-1 victory. Jermaine Powell was the hero of the match, scoring all four goals for Village, carrying his team to a commanding win. Village’s captain, Carl Newton, praised the resilience of his teammates and their determination to prove a point. “All weekend, we were focusing on beating them... we encouraged the players to go hard all the time, no matter what,” said Newton. He anticipates a tough battle in Sunday’s finals, describing it as an "intense and aggressive" contest. Newton also hopes his team can replicate their 2020 treble, with Village Superstars’ U15 team having already claimed the Atiba Harris U15 League title, and their U13 side set to compete in the Rams U13 Premier Youth Cup finals on Monday.

In the Rams U13 Premier Youth Cup semi-finals, Conaree Fireball International pulled off a stunning comeback against Saddlers Dream Chasers. Saddlers looked set for victory with a 2-0 lead well into the second half, but Conaree pulled one back and then conceded a third due to a defensive error, making it 3-1. Undeterred, Conaree staged a remarkable recovery, scoring two quick goals to level the match and send it to penalties, where they held their nerve to book their place in the finals.

The other U13 semi-final saw Village Superstars secure a comfortable 3-1 victory over Dieppe Bay, sealing their spot in Monday’s final and giving the club a chance at another youth title this season.

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente said it is "a joy" to coach his team given their immaculate form in recent months.

La Roja beat Denmark 1-0 in the Nations League on Saturday, extending their unbeaten run to 13 games in all competitions.

The European champions last lost in March, when they went down 1-0 to Colombia, who subsequently went on to reach the Copa America final this year.

Spain attempted 25 shots against Denmark, equalling their highest tally in a Nations League game (25 against Ukraine in September 2020), and De la Fuente was quick to hail the quality of his players.

"We're happy, first of all, with the win," he told UEFA's media channels.

"Given how the match developed, we knew it was going to be a very tough game.

"It fit perfectly in the game plan we had. It's a joy to watch these players, regardless of whether they’ve had more or fewer opportunities [to play] before.

"We have an exceptional group of footballers who, when they get their chance, show their full potential.

"It's great for Spanish football. Today, with what we saw, this win becomes even more significant. Playing against Denmark, a fantastic team, and being able to dominate, especially in the second half, control the situation, and dictate the tempo of the game, I think that's something to be very happy about – I certainly am."

Martin Zubimendi, who started in midfield in the absence of injured Rodri, netted the winner against the Danes.

That was the Real Sociedad midfielder's first international goal, but also the first time he has scored from outside of the box in his senior career.

Mauricio Pochettino is eager to build a bond between his United States team and their supporters after he made a winning start to his tenure as head coach.

Pochettino's USA ran out 2-0 winners over Panama in Austin on Saturday.

Yunus Musah and Ricardo Pepi got the goals as the USA claimed a morale-boosting victory in front of a 20,000-strong crowd at Q2 Stadium.

And Pochettino stressed the importance of a strong connection between fans and team as he looks to build toward the 2026 World Cup.

"It was a massive shock for me to see my face behind the goal, like you say and a different picture," said the Argentine, referring to a banner held up by some fans.

"I think I am so happy; very good connection with the fans.

"That's really important to relate this connection, the team with the fans, that is a thing that is really important. Players need to feel the support."

Pochettino's side had fewer shots than Panama (11 to 13) but mustered more expected goals total (1.7xG to 0.89xG), having created the bigger chances.

"I think it's the basis for the first step, to start to grow and be better," said Pochettino, whose side face Mexico next.

"Now we are going to have a few days to recover and see and to analyse and assess all the players and to take the best decision for the team and for the players playing Tuesday, another tough game.

"I think it was a very professional performance and I think we are happy because I think all the goals that we said before the game, I think that we got and I think it's an important victory. And to start that period with the victory always is very helpful.

"[I am] so happy. Happy because I see the staff and the players made a fantastic show."

Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga scored her 19th goal of the National Women's Soccer League season to break the competition's single-season record.

Chawinga, who signed for the Current from the Chinese Women's Super League, scored a stunning long-range strike in the 35th minute of Saturday's clash with Bay FC.

That saw the 26-year-old overtake the previous record of 18 goals in a single NWSL season, which was set by Sam Kerr for Chicago Red Stars in 2019.

Chawinga's 19 goals have come from 24 games, while she has scored every 109 minutes on average, having 103 shots and registering a shot conversion rate of 18.63%.

Kerr remains the outright record holder for NWSL goals, with the Australian having plundered 77, 13 more than next-best Lynn Williams (64).

Chawinga's record-breaking goal was enough to seal a 1-0 win for the Current over Bay FC, leaving Kansas City third in the NWSL standings.

The Columbus Crew ended their home regular-season campaign on a high note by thrashing the New England Revolution 4-0.

Reigning MLS Cup champions Columbus had already sealed their playoff spot and a regular-season club-record tally of points prior to Saturday's fixture at Lower.com Field.

Yet Wilfried Nancy's team did not let up as Alexandru Matan's hat-trick propelled them to an emphatic victory over a New England side that must lick their wounds after a dismal season.

DeJuan Jones got the ball rolling with a sublime curler in the fourth minute, with Matan subsequently taking centre-stage.

The Romanian drilled home a low finish in the 14th minute, before doubling his tally from close range in the 64th.

Matan should have scored a third when he was put through one-on-one with Aljaz Ivacic, only to fire straight at the goalkeeper, but the hat-trick strike did arrive when he capitalised on a similar chance soon after.

While New England's only target in their final game of the season is to try and move above Nashville SC at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the Crew will aim to keep up the momentum heading into the postseason when they visit the New York Red Bulls.

Data Debrief: Free-scoring Crew in fine form

The Crew have now won four of their last seven MLS games, and have scored in each of their last six, netting 17 times in total (an average of 2.8 per game).

They have also kept it tight at the back this season, with Saturday's clean sheet marking their 12th shutout of the campaign, a tally bettered only by the Seattle Sounders (13).

New England, meanwhile, have failed to score in 10 of their 33 games in 2024. Only Nashville (11) have failed to score more often in the MLS this season.

Mauricio Pochettino's stint as United States boss got off to a winning start as the Stars and Stripes overcame Panama 2-0.

Saturday's friendly in Austin represented a reunion with Panama for USA, who had lost to the central American team in this year's Copa America.

That defeat ultimately proved crucial in paving the way for a group-stage exit, which led to Gregg Berhalter's dismissal and, eventually, Pochettino's arrival.

Pochettino had to wait until the 49th minute in Austin to see his team score their first goal, with Yunus Musah tucking in his first USA goal from Christian Pulisic's delivery.

Matt Turner pulled off some impressive stops to keep USA ahead, while Puma Rodriguez and Jose Fajardo both saw good chances pass them by.

Deep in second-half stoppage time, USA substitute Pepi settled the contest, sweeping home after a fine pass from Haji Wright.

Data Debrief: Pochettino gets the ball rolling

Pochettino is renowned for front-foot, attacking football, and there was plenty of evidence of the shackles coming off in the first half, with seven different USA players involved in at least one shot, either by having an attempt themselves or creating a chance.

USA finished with 1.7 expected goals (xG) from their 11 shots, and even though Panama had more attempts (13), the visitors only mustered 0.89 xG, showing Pochettino's side limited their opponents in terms of clear-cut opportunities.

Goalscorer Musah became the second player in USA history to play over 3,000 minutes before turning 22, while Pepi once again proved decisive from the bench. He has scored six goals as a substitute in his international career, equalling Pulisic for second-most in team history, behind Eddie Johnson (seven).

Mexico are next up for USA, so Pochettino needs to be ready for an altogether different test.

Roberto Martinez took Cristiano Ronaldo off just after the hour mark against Poland but assured he was only managing the 39-year-old's minutes.

Ronaldo was on target for Portugal in their 3-1 win over Poland, doubling their tally after Bernardo Silva's opener.

Piotr Zielinski provided the Selecao with a late scare, but Jan Bednarek's own goal ensured Portugal kept their 100% record, and they are the only team to win all three games so far in League A.

The Portugal captain was replaced by Diogo Jota, who had a hand in their third goal, in the 63rd minute, having had three shots and accumulating 1.43 expected goals (xG).

And Martinez insisted Ronaldo would have a part to play against Scotland as he praised the team's resilience to get the win over the line.

"It's part of managing players when you have two games in 72 hours. Diogo Jota came on very well. Cristiano is perfect," Martinez said.

"The first half was very good. We controlled the game, created opportunities, had very good synchronisation as a team, defended Poland's strengths very well and scored great goals.

"I'm happy with the new players who came in, it seems they have several international caps.

"Conceding a goal was a difficult moment, and it was great to see the reaction and score another goal. Overall, a very good performance.

"The challenge is two away games. 72 hours, recovering well. The players showed all their commitment during training and work at the Football City."

Martinez was also impressed by debutant Renato Veiga, who started alongside Ruben Dias at centre-back.

The Chelsea defender made seven clearances, the most of any player on the team, and helped limit Robert Lewandowski to just two shots, neither of which were on target.

"He has a very special profile. In his first training session, he showed that he gained maturity during the September training camp," Martinez added.

"He is an aggressive player, with great communication skills, who can defend large spaces, play in the air, against a Poland side that is very strong in set pieces.

"It was a fantastic debut. With a striker like Lewandowski, I think it is a debut that shows Renato's potential and how he is working at the moment."

Lee Carsley revealed he did not formally apply to become the next England manager and wants "no regrets" over his time as interim boss.

Gareth Southgate left his position as England manager following their Euro 2024 final defeat in July, with the Football Association (FA) turning to Carsley for the Nations League fixtures.

He has won two of his three games so far, following up back-to-back wins over the Republic of Ireland and Finland with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Greece at Wembley on Thursday.

With the return trip against Finland in Helsinki next up for the Three Lions, Carsley admitted prior to the game that he did not apply for the job during the application process earlier this year.

"No, I didn't apply for it," he told talkSPORT. "Because hopefully… I have been doing the U21s, and I am really happy with my job.

"I am an employee of the FA, and I was asked to take the senior team, which is a privilege. It was the proudest moment of my career.

"I am in a really fortunate position in that I am on the inside and I can see how much potential this team's got. It is one of the best jobs in world football.

"There aren’t many jobs where you’ve got a chance of winning. I believe the coach that comes in has got a really good chance of winning, and we deserve the best one that's out there."

Carsley was aiming to become the first England manager to win his first three competitive matches in charge since Fabio Capello in 2008, before Greece claimed their first-ever win over the Three Lions.

The 50-year-old selected an experimental line-up against Greece, fielding five attacking players, but no recognised striker, leaving the side unbalanced,

Harry Kane missed that game with a knock but is expected to return for the trip to Helsinki, having scored twice when they met them in September.

There was widespread criticism of the team after the full-time whistle, but Carsley says he did not want to play it safe during his time as interim boss.

"I think the reaction [to the loss against Greece] is fair enough. You have to respect people's opinions. We didn't perform as well as we can on the night, and I would expect a reaction [against Finland]," Carsley said in his press conference.

"I think it's something that I'll look back on in maybe two or three months and, you know, be better for it.

"I wanted to give this job my best shot for the three camps that we spoke about. I didn't want to have any regrets.

"It's important we do try something different at times. I think I'll be a better coach for that."

Mohamed Salah will return to Liverpool earlier than expected, along with Virgil van Dijk, after he was released from international duty by Egypt on Saturday. 

The 32-year-old was on the scoresheet as Egypt defeated Mauritania 2-0 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Friday, and was also expected to feature in the return fixture on Tuesday. 

However, in a boost for the Reds, who face fourth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League on October 20, Salah will head back to Merseyside having played just once for his country.

"The technical staff of Egypt's senior football team led by manager Hossam Hassan held a meeting with Mohamed Salah, the captain of the Pharaohs," the Egyptian FA said in a statement. 

"It was agreed during the meeting to rest the player from the upcoming match."

Bernardo Silva and Cristiano Ronaldo's first-half goals ensured Portugal maintained their perfect Nations League record with a 3-1 victory over Poland.

The pair had put the visitors in control before Piotr Zielinski provided Poland with some late hope, only for Jan Bednarek's own goal to put the result beyond them.

The Selecao started brightly, with Ronaldo striking the underside of the bar before Bruno Fernandes saw a whipped effort palmed away from the top corner.

Silva found the opening 26 minutes in though – Fernandes nodded the ball down to the Manchester City man, who met it sweetly first time on the volley.

Rafael Leao raced in behind to hit a low shot across goal only to hit the far post shortly after, but Ronaldo was on hand to stretch out a leg and turn it home.

With 12 minutes of normal time remaining, Zielinski played a one-two with an off-balance Kacper Urbanski, before rifling a powerful effort past Diogo Costa.

But that proved nothing more than a consolation as Bednarek tried to stop Diogo Jota from reaching Nuno Mendes' cross, only to inadvertently turn it into his own net. 

Data Debrief: No stopping Portugal

Portugal have made a brilliant start to the latest Nations League campaign, and are so far the only team in League A with a 100% record after three games.

Ronaldo has now scored in all three of their matches so far, getting his goal in this game with his only shot on target (three shots overall), as he generated 1.43 expected goals (xG).

However, Fernandes also played his part, having more shots than anyone else on the field (five). He has also now contributed to goals in his last three Nations League appearances (one goal, two assists).