Real Madrid and Chelsea face the prospect of leaving unvaccinated players at home for the away legs of their upcoming Champions League last-16 matchups due to a law change in France.
France’s parliament passed a law Sunday that mandated proof of vaccination or a recent COVID-19 recovery to enter sports venues and other public places in the country. The new ruling is set to come into effect Monday.
Real Madrid travel to Paris Saint-Germain on Feb. 15 for the first leg of their last-16 clash. Chelsea take on Lille in the same round of the competition, with the game in France scheduled for March 16.
“UEFA is liaising with the relevant stakeholders across Europe ahead of the resumption of UEFA’s club competitions in February,” UEFA told ESPN’s James Olley in a statement on Thursday.
UEFA said clubs would have to adhere to the rules in each country. However, European football’s governing body revealed it’s exploring the possibility of exemptions for players competing in the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League.
“Each team will in principle be required to comply with the applicable rules in the country where the match takes place,” UEFA added, “but the specific competition Annexes – still under elaboration – which contain special rules due to COVID-19 applicable to the knockout phase, may provide further guidance in this regard.”
UEFA’s guidelines indicate there’s a chance both legs of the round-of-16 ties will be played in a neutral country, Olley reports.
Paris Saint-Germain have hashed out a plan that could see Kylian Mbappe delay his seemingly inevitable departure.
With less than six months on his contract remaining, it’s understood the Ligue 1 leaders have held positive discussions with Mbappe over a short-term deal, according to Julien Laurens of ESPN.
However, Real Madrid have been heavily linked to the French forward, reportedly submitting a €200-million offer last summer that was rejected by PSG.
Despite the pushback, Los Blancos president Florentino Perez intends to launch another pursuit this summer for Mbappe, who can be signed on a free transfer if he doesn’t sign a new PSG contract.
But it appears Real Madrid may have to wait, as Laurens reports the 23-year-old is more open to the idea of staying in the French capital than ever after elevating his play and becoming a difference-maker in a squad bursting with world-class players.
PSG’s reported interest in French icon Zinedine Zidane is another factor that could convince Mbappe to stay. PSG reportedly contacted the former Real Madrid manager – who is understood to be one of Mbappe’s idols – about his availability in the event manager Mauricio Pochettino leaves at the end of the season.
Real Madrid will get a closer look at the coveted forward when they host PSG in the first leg of the round of 16 in the Champions League next month.
World football’s top players and managers of 2021 were recognized at The Best FIFA Football Awards show Monday. Below, theScore runs down the winners of the various trophies.
Best Men’s Player
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich, Poland national team)
He may have missed out on the Ballon d’Or in contentious fashion, but Lewandowski owns FIFA’s top individual accolade. The Bayern Munich striker captured The Best FIFA Men’s Player award for the second successive year, beating out Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah. The prolific Lewandowski broke multiple Bundesliga scoring records in 2021, eclipsing the legendary Gerd Muller for goals in both a single campaign and a calendar year.
Best Women’s Player
Alexia Putellas (Barcelona, Spain national team)
Putellas has now won every imaginable accolade. She’s UEFA’s women’s midfielder of the year and player of the year, the reigning women’s Ballon d’Or winner, and now, the Best FIFA Women’s Player. It’s richly deserved, too. The 27-year-old recorded 27 goals and 19 assists for Barcelona in 2020-21, leading them to the women’s La Liga and Champions League titles. Putellas’ most impressive feat came in September when she completed a hat-trick in just four minutes.
Puskas Award winner
Erik Lamela – Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal (March 14, 2021)
Erik Lamela wins the 2021 Puskas Award! ?pic.twitter.com/jcBrM0enXz
— GOAL (@goal) January 17, 2022
Lamela stunned the world with an outrageous rabona in the north London derby – his second such feat for Tottenham Hotspur. Already named the goal of the season in the Premier League, the Argentine’s spontaneous strike has now rightly received global recognition.
Best Men’s Coach
Thomas Tuchel (Chelsea)
Tuchel masterminded a complete turnaround at Chelsea, taking the Blues from 10th in the Premier League to the summit of European football within five months of his appointment last January. The German tactician won plaudits for the way he organized Chelsea, and his defense-first tactics paid dividends in the Champions League final as the west London side beat Manchester City to claim its second European Cup.
Best Women’s Coach
Emma Hayes (Chelsea)
A sweep of the coaching prizes for Chelsea. Hayes was speechless Monday when she was named this year’s winner. The longtime Chelsea coach shouldn’t have been, though, after leading her side to a domestic treble in 2020-21. In capturing the Women’s Super League, FA Cup, and League Cup crowns, the 45-year-old tactician became the first Chelsea manager to win all three domestic titles in the same season.
Best Men’s Goalkeeper
Edouard Mendy (Chelsea, Senegal national team)
Mendy has been vital to Chelsea’s success since joining the club in 2020, solidifying what had been a problematic position for the Blues. The Senegalese shot-stopper backstopped Chelsea to the Champions League title in 2021 and finished the calendar year with more clean sheets (29) than goals conceded (27). After his shocking omission from the Ballon d’Or shortlist, the 29-year-old’s spectacular season has finally garnered the respect it deserves.
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Masashi Hara / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Christiane Endler (Lyon, Chile national team)
After finishing second in each of the last two years – to Sari van Veenendaal in 2019 and Sarah Bouhaddi in 2020 – Endler finally landed the award on her third try. The Chilean netminder backstopped Paris Saint-Germain to the Division 1 Feminine title last season, posting 19 clean sheets while allowing just four goals over the entire campaign.
Men’s FIFA FIFPro World11
Gianluigi Donnarumma; David Alaba, Leonardo Bonucci, Ruben Dias; N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Kevin De Bruyne; Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi
? THIS is the 2021 Men’s FIFA FIFPRO #World11
By the players, for the players.@FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/i0dYe7KUwI
— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) January 17, 2022
Women’s FIFA FIFPro World11
Christiane Endler; Lucy Bronze, Wendie Renard, Millie Bright, Magdalena Eriksson; Estefania Banini, Carli Lloyd, Barbara Bonansea; Vivianne Miedema, Marta, Alex Morgan
? THIS is the 2021 Women’s FIFA FIFPRO #World11
By the players, for the players.@FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/710e5SqqOK
— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) January 17, 2022
FIFA Fair Play Award
Denmark national team, medics, and coaching staff
This was never in doubt. The Danish national team, medics, and coaching staff were collectively bestowed the Fair Play Award in recognition of their heroic, life-saving efforts when Christian Eriksen went into cardiac arrest at Euro 2020. Everyone involved – from captain Simon Kjaer to team doctor Morten Boesen – helped resuscitate the star midfielder, avoiding a potentially devastating outcome after Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s opening match at the tournament.
With the January transfer window open, players on expiring contracts are able to negotiate with any club. There has arguably never been a more loaded crop of impending free agents, with some of football’s biggest names entering the final six months of their respective deals. “Free” may be a misnomer – agent fees and signing bonuses have never been so grand – but the absence of a transfer fee makes these 30 stars hugely desirable. Below, we rank the best players who will be out of contract this summer.
Note: Lorenzo Insigne has reportedly signed a contract with Toronto FC.
Club: Manchester United | Age: 29 | Position: Attacking midfielder
Lingard proved in his loan spell at West Ham United he’s still more than capable of contributing at the top level. Manchester United clearly have no intention of utilizing him, but another club – maybe the Hammers – surely will.
29. Hugo Lloris ??
Club: Tottenham Hotspur | Age: 35 | Position: Goalkeeper
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte wants the club captain to remain in north London and recently said the veteran netminder “loves” Spurs. Is that fondness enough for him to sign a new deal?
28. Andrea Belotti ??
Quality Sport Images / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Club: Torino | Age: 28 | Position: Striker
Somehow, Belotti is still at Torino despite rumors about a potential transfer swirling for years. The Italian striker will soon be free to decide his own future, and that likely won’t involve a return to the Granata.
27. Cesar Azpilicueta ??
Club: Chelsea | Age: 32 | Position: Full-back
It’s a little strange considering he’s the captain, but talk over Azpilicueta’s status has been muted. A return to Spain could be in the cards, especially if other high-profile defenders renew their deals with Chelsea.
26. James Tarkowski ?gbeng
Club: Burnley | Age: 29 | Position: Center-back
Tarkowski’s presence at the heart of Burnley’s defense has been a given for some time – he’s started over 30 matches in each of the last four seasons – but that union is in its final stages, with Newcastle United a likely destination.
Witsel has been a midfield mainstay since arriving at Borussia Dortmund in 2018, but an Achilles rupture last year was a turning point. The Belgian veteran has struggled since his return and is unlikely to be retained.
24. Sardar Azmoun ??
Club: Zenit St. Petersburg | Age: 27 | Position: Forward
Azmoun has never made a senior appearance for a club outside of Russia. That’s about to change. The Iranian international, a consistent scorer for Zenit, is the subject of interest from England and France.
23. Divock Origi ??
Club: Liverpool | Age: 26 | Position: Forward
Can Origi, now entering the prime years of his career, be a bonafide scoring option if given consistent minutes? He’s delivered big goals for Liverpool, but his ability to extrapolate that will decide whether a top club makes a move.
22. Luka Modric ??
Quality Sport Images / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Club: Real Madrid | Age: 36 | Position: Midfielder
Modric isn’t the all-conquering midfield force of his Ballon d’Or days, but he continues to be relied upon by Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid. Another one-year contract extension seems the likeliest endgame for the Croatian icon.
21. Ivan Perisic ??
Club: Inter Milan | Age: 32 | Position: Winger/wing-back
Perisic has been a key contributor for the Serie A leaders this season. There’s a mutual desire to ink a new contract, but time’s running out. The prospect of one final payday elsewhere could push the Croatian toward the exit.
20. Jesus Corona ??
Club: FC Porto | Age: 28 | Position: Right-back/wide midfielder/forward
There’s a reason “Tecatito“ has made over 200 appearances for Porto – the Mexican’s adaptability is exemplary. That kind of positional versatility is attractive to any club, especially when there’s no transfer fee involved.
19. Alessio Romagnoli ??
Alessandro Sabattini / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Club: AC Milan | Age: 26 | Position: Center-back
Depending on who you believe, AC Milan captain Romagnoli is either close to a contract renewal, looking for a fresh start elsewhere in the summer, or being used as bait in a potential January swap. Isn’t the transfer window great?
18. Andre Onana ??
Club: Ajax | Age: 25 | Position: Goalkeeper
Having served a ninth-month doping ban that threatened to derail his hugely promising career, Onana is back and looking for a fresh start. All signs suggest the Cameroonian shot-stopper is on the verge of joining Inter.
Cuadrado’s reinvention as a flying full-back has added longevity to his career, and Juventus are working to keep the Colombian. A contract extension is believed to be close, but things can change quickly in the window.
16. Alexandre Lacazette ??
Stuart MacFarlane / Arsenal FC / Getty
Club: Arsenal | Age: 30 | Position: Striker
Similar to other players in his age bracket, Lacazette is looking for one more long-term contract. Arsenal appear unwilling to meet that demand, though things could change if the disgruntled Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang departs.
Ginter announced last week he won’t renew his deal with Gladbach, adding he’s “decided to follow another path” in his career. It certainly sounds like the German international has already mapped out his next move.
Kamara has been linked with a handful of Premier League clubs in recent weeks. Everybody from Manchester United to nouveau riche Newcastle are in the running for the young, versatile Frenchman.
13. Andreas Christensen ??
Soccrates Images / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Club: Chelsea | Age: 25 | Position: Center-back
Teammate Antonio Rudiger is the center-back getting more Bosman love, but at three years his junior, Christensen presents a rare opportunity for a club looking to sign a potential defensive anchor on a free transfer.
It’s going to be a busy summer for Borussia Monchengladbach. In addition to Ginter, the club looks destined to lose Zakaria, the burgeoning Swiss international who is rapidly developing into a dominant all-around midfielder.
11. Noussair Mazraoui ??
Club: Ajax | Age: 24 | Position: Right-back
An exceptional dribbler who provides verve from his (nominally) defensive position, Mazraoui would be a key attacking cog at any club. With Mino Raiola as his agent, negotiations – either with Ajax or elsewhere – will be public.
10. Angel Di Maria ??
FRANCK FIFE / AFP / Getty
Club: Paris Saint-Germain | Age: 33 | Position: Winger
Di Maria’s expiring deal includes an option to extend for an additional year if both the club and player are in agreement. The Argentine has said his family is “very happy” in Paris – naturally – which suggests the option will be triggered.
9. Ousmane Dembele ??
Club: Barcelona | Age: 24 | Position: Winger
Barcelona manager Xavi wants Dembele to re-sign on reduced terms to help the debt-ridden club register new players. It’s not the Frenchman’s job to bail the club out of this mess, though, so that seems like a tough sell.
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic ??
Club: AC Milan | Age: 40 | Position: Striker
The ageless wonder. Injuries are starting to hamper the veteran, but when he’s on the pitch, he finds the net; Ibrahimovic has delivered 0.89 goals per 90 minutes this season, third-best in Serie A. No wonder Milan want to keep him.
7. Marcelo Brozovic ??
Marco Canoniero / LightRocket / Getty
Club: Inter Milan | Age: 29 | Position: Midfielder
Inter are working hard to convince their velvety Croatian that he should renew, but they can’t wait around forever while he makes a decision. Brozovic, who dictates the tempo in midfield, would be a significant loss if he departs.
Defenders don’t come more imposing than Sule, but he’s no lead-footed brute; the German is consistently clocked as one of the club’s fastest players each year. That enticing combination has suitors ready to pounce.
5. Franck Kessie ??
Club: AC Milan | Age: 25 | Position: Midfielder
Paolo Maldini has a lot on his plate right now. AC Milan have been prominently featured on this list, and that’s before taking into account the situation with Kessie, who has been a cornerstone of the club’s recent revival.
4. Paulo Dybala ??
Nicolò Campo / LightRocket / Getty
Club: Juventus | Age: 28 | Position: Forward
A bureaucratic issue involving Dybala’s agent is apparently the only thing holding up an official announcement of his extension with Juve. Until he puts pen to paper, though, fans of the Old Lady will harbor some nerves.
3. Paul Pogba ??
Club: Manchester United | Age: 28 | Position: Midfielder
It’s easy to forget since he’s been out with injury for two months, but Pogba was on an absolute tear earlier this season, reminding detractors of his game-breaking skill and creativity. When he’s at his best, few can match it.
2. Antonio Rudiger ??
Club: Chelsea | Age: 28 | Position: Center-back
Everyone with the financial means wants a piece of Rudiger. Contract negotiations with Chelsea are at an impasse, and that has Real Madrid, among several others, on high alert.
1. Kylian Mbappe ??
Eurasia Sport Images / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Club: Paris Saint-Germain | Age: 23 | Position: Forward
There has never been a more desirable free agent in football history than Mbappe. Not even Lionel Messi. If the summer’s crown jewel leaves PSG – as is widely expected – it would alter the sport’s landscape for the next decade.
