Real Madrid secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Girona on their home ground, taking a significant step toward overtaking Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table. With Barcelona dropping points after a draw, Real, having played one game fewer, now finds itself within striking distance of the league summit. The match highlighted the long-awaited synergy between Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham, a pairing that had faced scrutiny in recent weeks. Former French and Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit had even remarked that Mbappé lacked camaraderie within the squad and that Bellingham appeared to avoid him on the field. Against Girona, however, Bellingham proved his value once again, opening the scoring in the 36th minute. The midfielder, who struggled with a goal drought earlier this season, has now found the back of the net in five consecutive league matches. Following his first goal of the season on November 11 against Osasuna, he has since scored in matches against Leganés, Getafe, Athletic Bilbao, and Girona. In addition to his goal, Bellingham provided a crucial assist for Arda Güler’s 55th-minute strike. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, wary of potential injuries, substituted Bellingham in the 60th minute as a precautionary measure. With Mbappé and Bellingham now firing in tandem, Real Madrid’s ambitions for domestic dominance look stronger than ever.

Lionel Messi has claimed the MLS Player of the Year title in his first full season in Major League Soccer (MLS). The league announced yesterday through a statement that Messi has been awarded the “Landon Donovan Most Valuable Player” award for his exceptional performance throughout the season. Playing for Inter Miami, Messi led his team to win the Supporters’ Shield and demonstrated remarkable skill and leadership on the field.  However, the Argentine captain could not play the entire season due to various injuries, including leg pain, muscle strain, and an ankle injury sustained during the Copa América final. He also missed several matches due to his commitments with the Argentine national team. Messi’s achievement is not only a milestone for Inter Miami but also a significant boost for the league as a whole. His presence on the field has drawn global attention to Major League Soccer, helping the league attract a new audience and further solidifying Messi’s legendary status in football.

FIFA, the world's governing football body, released a report Saturday on Saudi Arabia's bid to host the 2034 World Cup. Saudi Arabia is the only nation seeking to host the tournament in 2034, and one whose de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is chummy with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.   FIFA's report gave Saudi Arabia high marks, while assessing the kingdom's bid as presenting "low" environmental and "medium" human rights risks. Late last year, Saudi Arabia submitted its bid to host the 2034 tournament (which was only open to Asia and Oceania nations) — while Morocco, Spain and Portugal submitted a joint bid for 2030, with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay also each slated to host one game during the centenary edition of the tournament. The fate of Saudi Arabia's bid, as well as that of the 2030 hosts, will be known on December 11, when a virtual meeting of FIFA's 211 national football associations takes place. Saudi bid presents 'strong all-round proposition' The Saudi bid, according to FIFA, "presents a very strong all-round proposition, reflected in the results of the technical evaluation, which assesses the proposed infrastructure (both sporting and general) as well as its commercial potential."  FIFA highlighted the "substantial hospitality footprint proposed" by Saudi Arabian organizers as another potential revenue stream. Despite past evidence, the FIFA report voiced hope the tournament could prompt a turnaround in Saudi Arabia's repressive society, "in terms of human rights, the undertaking involved in implementing the various measures... particularly in certain areas, could involve significant effort and time." "It is important to note that the bid involves significant opportunities for positive human rights impact," continued FIFA, "There is good potential that the tournament could serve as a catalyst for some of the ongoing and future reforms and contribute to positive human rights outcomes for people in Saudi Arabia and the region that go beyond the scope of the tournament itself." Saudi Arabia has worked hard to shake negative headlines about its human rights abuses and even its state-sanctioned killing of political rivals, for instance, by investing massive amounts of oil cash into sporting events like Formula One races, tennis tournaments and even a new, professional golf league — in a phenomenon known as "sportswashing." Despite those investments and much international attention, Saudi society has yet to experience the arrival of a new era of human rights and liberalization. Amnesty International denounces FIFA report as 'astonishing whitewash' Human rights organization Amnesty International blasted Saturday's report releasing a statement denouncing it as an "astonishing whitewash."  "FIFA's evaluation of Saudi Arabia's World Cup is an astonishing whitewash of the country's atrocious human rights record," Amnesty's head of labor rights and sport Steve Cockburn said. "The sports body has decided to ignore the clear evidence of worker exploitation, legalized discrimination and severe repression, and press ahead with a predetermined decision." "At every stage of the process," continued the statement, "FIFA has ensured that nothing would stand in the way of Saudi Arabia hosting the 2034 World Cup and it has effectively discarded its human rights policies to achieve this end." Rights groups have regularly highlighted Saudi Arabia's myriad abuses, including mass executionsand allegations of torture, pointing out that free expression, too, is severely restricted — with some people receiving lengthy jail terms over critical social media posts.

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to shine with exceptional form, scoring back-to-back braces in consecutive matches to secure wins for his team. The Portuguese star’s brilliance helped Al-Nassr secure a 2-0 victory against Damac in their latest Saudi Pro League encounter. Previously, Ronaldo had scored twice against Al-Gharafa in an AFC Champions League match. On Friday, November 29, Al-Nassr faced Damac at King Saud University's Al-Awwal Park. Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 17th minute after Abdelkader Bedrane committed a foul inside the box, earning a yellow card. The Portuguese star converted the penalty without mistake, giving the home team a 1-0 lead before halftime. In the second half, Damac pushed hard for an equalizer but was reduced to 10 men in the 56th minute. Al-Nassr doubled their lead in the 79th minute when Ronaldo scored from close range after receiving a teammate's pass. Ronaldo was named the man of the match for his brace, making it three consecutive matches where he has earned the honor. The 39-year-old now boasts 915 career goals, with 42 goals in 50 matches this year. Al-Nassr currently sits third in the Saudi Pro League standings with 25 points from 12 matches. Al-Ittihad leads the table with 30 points, followed by Al-Hilal with 28 points from the same number of games.

Barcelona’s Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal continues to break records. At just 17 years old, he already holds milestones like being the youngest player to score in La Liga and debut in El Clásico and the Champions League. Now, he has added another feather to his cap by becoming the youngest-ever winner of the prestigious ‘Golden Boy’ award. The Golden Boy award, presented by Italian newspaper Tuttosport, recognizes the best footballer under the age of 21 playing in Europe’s top leagues. On Wednesday, November 27, Yamal was announced as the 2024 winner. After making the shortlist in 2023, Yamal’s stellar performances throughout the year earned him the top honor in 2024 at just 17 years and four months. Out of a total of 500 points allocated by Tuttosport’s jury, Yamal secured an impressive 488. Expressing his delight, Yamal said, “Winning this award is a tremendous honor—a dream come true. I’m very happy. My thanks go to Tuttosport and the judges, as well as my teammates and coaches at Barcelona and the Spanish national team. I’m thrilled and eager for more success in the future.” The Golden Boy award was introduced by Tuttosport in 2003. Past winners include football legends like Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland. Yamal now becomes the fourth Barcelona player to win this award, joining an elite list that includes Lionel Messi, Gavi, and Pedri.

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to defy expectations with his exceptional form, steadily approaching the remarkable milestone of 1,000 career goals. Though he recently mentioned focusing more on the present than future achievements, his relentless momentum suggests he’s on track to reach this feat sooner rather than later. In his last three games, Ronaldo has netted five goals, showcasing his consistency across various competitions. During the international break, he scored twice against Poland in the Nations League. Back with Al Nassr, he found the net in their recent match against Al Qadsiah, and followed it up with a crucial brace in Al Nassr’s 3-1 win over Al Gharafa in the AFC Champions League. His goals, scored in the 46th and 64th minutes, came from inside the box—a header and a well-placed finish—bringing his career total to an impressive 913 goals. This season, Ronaldo has accumulated 13 goals and 3 assists in 17 matches for Al Nassr. He has also reached 40 goals for 2024, surpassing 550 combined goals and assists since turning 30. After the match, Ronaldo reflected, “My main focus is always the team's success. Goals come naturally when the team performs well. I dedicate this win to the fans, the club, and my teammates.”  

Following a rocky start to the season, Real Madrid has reignited their La Liga championship hopes with a dominant 3–0 win over Leganés. The victory reduces their deficit to Barcelona to just four points, and with a game in hand, they could narrow it further to one, firmly reestablishing themselves in the title race. Manager Carlo Ancelotti’s strategic adjustments played a crucial role. For the first time in recent matches, Kylian Mbappé operated on the wing, while Vinícius Jr. assumed a central attacking position. The shift paid dividends: Mbappé broke his five-match scoring drought, and Vinícius orchestrated the attack with flair, creating opportunities throughout the game. Goals from Mbappé, Jude Bellingham—his second in as many games—and Fede Valverde underscored the team’s renewed form. Ancelotti commended the squad's adaptability, noting Mbappé’s renewed vigor on the flank and Vinícius’ creativity in the middle. “The team showed focus and cohesion,” said Ancelotti. “Both players are improving steadily, and their partnership is strengthening.” With tactical versatility and standout performances, Real Madrid is showcasing their resilience. As the La Liga season intensifies, the title race is wide open, and Los Blancos remain a formidable contender for the crown.