Football
Ousmane Dembélé wins FIFA The Best award for 2025
French star Ousmane Dembélé was crowned winner of the FIFA The Best award for 2025 during the official ceremony held this evening in the Qatari capital, Doha.
Dembélé’s win capped an exceptional season with Paris Saint-Germain, as he added the FIFA The Best award to the Ballon d’Or he received last September. He led his team to a series of historic titles, most notably securing the UEFA Champions League trophy for the first time in the club’s history, outperforming a distinguished shortlist of the world’s top players.
The ceremony also saw Luis Enrique, head coach of Paris Saint-Germain, awarded Best Men’s Coach for 2025 after guiding the team to a historic quintuple during the season.
The FIFA The Best awards are presented annually to the top male and female players and coaches in world football, based on performances and achievements from January to December 2025, regardless of competition or nationality.
In the women’s categories, Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí of Barcelona won the Best Women’s Player award for 2025, while England’s Sarina Wiegman was named Best Women’s Coach for the same year.
Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City (ex Paris Saint-Germain) received the Best Goalkeeper award for 2025.
In other individual honours, Argentina’s Santiago Montiel of Independiente won the Puskás Award for Best Goal of 2025, while Mexico’s Lizbeth Ovalle of Orlando Pride claimed the Marta Award for Best Goal in women’s football for 2025.
The FIFA World 11 for 2025 included Gianluigi Donnarumma as goalkeeper; Achraf Hakimi, Virgil van Dijk, Nuno Mendes and William Pacho in defence; Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Vitinha and Pedri in midfield; and Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembéléin attack.
STORY BY WAM
Football
Turkish football club distributes Iftar meals in Gaza
Turkish football club MKE Ankaragücü organized iftar distributions in Gaza, delivering meals to 1,500 children as part of its Ramadan campaign to support those in need.
MKE Ankaragucu, a Turkish football club which is currently playing in the TFF 2. Lig, has organized iftar distributions in Gaza as part of its ongoing campaign to help people in need in the Palestinian enclave.
In an official statement on its social media channels, MKE Ankaragucu reiterated its commitment to reminding children facing hardship in Palestine and elsewhere that they are not forgotten during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, while calling for greater support and participation.
The announcement included video footage documenting the distribution of iftar packages to 1,500 children in Gaza.
Turkish football clubs have shown widespread tribune solidarity during matches, with fans displaying banners, Palestinian flags, and messages of support.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced that the Gaza ceasefire has more than doubled monthly food aid compared to before the truce, with coordinated efforts continuing under improved access as of late February 2026.
Amid harsh winter and displacement, one million people are receiving full assistance packages that include food parcels, hot Ramadan iftar meals, fresh bread, and cash transfers.
A News
Football
Will Cristiano Ronaldo reach 1,000 goals at 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Cristiano Ronaldo netted a brace as Al Nassr swept Al Hazem 4-0, a result that sent the Saudi club to the top of the Pro League table. The performance also pushed the 41-year-old’s personal tally to 964 career goals — just 36 away from the iconic 1,000-goal mark.
That night also brought another historic moment as Ronaldo became the first player in history to score 500 goals after the age of 30. To appreciate just how extraordinary that is, fewer than 30 players across the entire history of professional football have scored 500 goals in their careers.
Naturally, the question on everyone’s lips is when will the Portuguese superstar reach the four figures. And the most romantic possibility would be at this summer’s World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For Ronaldo, the tournament carries extra weight. By stepping onto the pitch, he will become the first player ever to appear in six World Cups, a milestone he’ll share with Argentine star Lionel Messi, though Ronaldo was already a centrepiece of Portugal’s 2006 campaign while Messi was still finding his feet at the senior level.
The prospect of goal No 1,000 arriving on the World Cup stage is the stuff of footballing fairy tales — and Ronaldo himself has acknowledged it during a recent interview. “You’ve been watching too many movies — that would be way too perfect,” he said, before adding: “Goals are always good to score. I want to play in this next World Cup; otherwise, I wouldn’t be here. But one step at a time. If those numbers did come true, I’d end my career on a high.”
From a practical standpoint, the math makes the World Cup milestone difficult. Between now and the tournament, Al Nassr are expected to play roughly 20 official matches, excluding friendlies and potential squad rotation. If Portugal make a deep run, Ronaldo could feature in up to seven or eight World Cup matches — giving him approximately 25 to 30 games before and during the tournament, assuming no injuries.
Impressive form
To reach 1,000 goals before or during the World Cup, Ronaldo would need to average at least one goal per game — possibly more. That requirement exceeds his current scoring rate of roughly 0.74 goals per match, according to ESPN stats.
His recent form is impressive but it also tempers expectations. Across his last 20 matches, he has scored 15 goals, but that doesn’t match the kind of explosive run required to close a 36-goal gap in such a short span.
Historically, Ronaldo has scored just eight goals across five World Cup tournaments, which further highlights the challenge. For the milestone to happen on football’s biggest stage, he would need an extraordinary run of form.
A more realistic projection lies in his typical yearly output. Ronaldo has averaged around 40 goals per calendar year throughout his career. Based on that trend, the most logical window for goal No. 1,000 appears to be late 2026 or early 2027 — rather than at the World Cup itself.
GN
Football
Cristiano Ronaldo wishes fans ‘Ramadan Kareem’
Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo wished his fans Ramadan Kareem on Tuesday.
The UAE confirmed the official start date of Ramadan will begin on February 18.
Recently, Ronaldo marked his first match since turning 41 in the best possible way, scoring in Al Nassr’s 2-0 win over Al Fateh on Saturday at the Prince Abdullah Bin Jalawi Stadium.
The victory keeps Al Nassr firmly in the Saudi Pro League title race. They are now just one point behind leaders Al Hilal after game week 21.
Making his return to the starting eleven after missing three matches amid a dispute with club management, Ronaldo wasted little time reminding everyone of his value.
In the 18th minute, Sadio Mane delivered a sharp cross into the box and Ronaldo met it first time, guiding the ball into the bottom right corner. It was a calm and clinical finish, the kind that has defined his career for more than two decades.
Al Nassr controlled most of the game after taking the lead. They sealed the win in the 78th minute when Ayman Yahya struck a fine second goal to secure all three points for the visitors.
Al Nassr will aim to extend their winning streak when they face Al Hazem on February 21. With Ronaldo back among the goals and fully focused on football again, the Riyadh giants remain the biggest challenge to Al Hilal in the race for the Saudi Pro League crown.
GN
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