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Zlatan Ibrahimovic Names ‘the Best Player in the World’ Right Now

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Plenty of names were thrown into the conversation about who is the best player in the world heading into the 2026 World Cup, with several of the usual stars catching the eye and forcing their way into discussions.

Performances from the usual suspects in the group stage from players like Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Vinicius Junior have the debate among pundits as alive as ever over who is truly setting the tournament apart.

One man who certainly isn’t shying away from giving his verdict is former Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and he has been left in no doubt after watching a teenager over the course of the last few years.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Believes Lamine Yamal is the Best

Lamine Yamal celebrates for Spain Heiko Becker Via Reuters

That player is Lamine Yamal, who wasted little time announcing himself on the biggest stage. The Barcelona winger needed just 10 minutes to open the scoring in Spain’s 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia, becoming the eighth-youngest player to score at a World Cup.

Having already dealt with fitness concerns heading into the tournament and only managing 19 minutes in Spain’s 0-0 draw with Cape Verde, Yamal’s 45-minute display against the Saudis was enough to convince Ibrahimovic that he’s watching the best player on the planet.

“I believe he’s the best player in the world; he’s a special player for special moments.”


A picture of Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi both in Barcelona kit with Barcelona theme


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Why Zlatan Rates Lamine Yamal So Highly

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ibrahimovic, never shy about sharing strong opinions, be that as a player or a pundit, explained exactly what sets Yamal apart from his rivals in this conversation, right before his opener in his first World Cup start.

“If they can get him on the ball, he challenges every time he gets the ball, it doesn’t matter if he has one, two, three in front of him, he will challenge, he will create, and that is what Spain needs. That’s what they missed in the first game.”

It’s not the first time the Swede has gone out of his way to praise the teenager, either. Before the tournament, Ibrahimovic had already flagged Yamal as the player he was most desperate to watch.


Zlatan Ibrahimovic


Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s 2026 World Cup Power Rankings – England Star Above Ronaldo

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has ranked the best players at the 2026 World Cup based on performances, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo feature.

With backing like that from one of football’s best-ever strikers, the rest of the world may need to start catching up to Zlatan’s verdict.

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Tonali Pledges To Join Tottenham If Newcastle Deal Agreed

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Sandro Tonali wants to ‘honour his word’ and sign for Tottenham Hotspur this summer, according to reports in Italy.

Spurs have been heavily linked with a move for the Italian midfielder this summer, with the Lilywhites seeing an initial bid of £75million rejected by Newcastle United. The Lilywhites are even understood to have made a bizarre second bid for the Magpies midfielder, which was no higher than their initial bid. It was obviously rejected once more.

GIVEMESPORT understands that Tottenham plan on going back to Newcastle with another bid, with the Magpies looking for a total package of £100million to sanction a deal.

Tonali gets huge pay increase at Tottenham

Sandro Tonali via Reuters

According to Sky Sports Italy, Tonali has already “said yes” to Spurs with personal terms agreed for the 26-year-old to make the move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer. Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla claims that Tonali will increase his Newcastle salary, which was for £8million-a-year to between £12million and £13million in N17.

The north Londoners need to come to an agreement with Newcastle over the fee and how it will be paid. GIVEMESPORT understands Spurs are willing to stretch to £85million with potential add-ons on top of that, which could convince Newcastle to sell.

Tottenham face plenty of competition for Tonali’s services, with Manchester City understood to be very interested in the player. City have been working on a deal to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116million, with add-ons taking that figure past the £125million British transfer record Liverpool paid Newcastle for Alexander Isak last summer.

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But City are keen to sign Tonali as well. Manchester United and Arsenal have also been named as interested parties, but Tonali has reportedly given his word to countryman Roberto De Zerbi that he will sign for Spurs this summer.

Speaking on his Caffe di Marzio podcast, Italian football journalist Gianluca di Marzio said that Tonali is “determined to honour his word to Roberto De Zerbi” that he will sign for Tottenham.

​​​​​​​Spurs in talks for a number of big-name signings

Roberto De Zerbi on the sideliens during his first match as Tottenham boss

Tottenham’s owners are keen to back De Zerbi in the transfer market this summer, with four new signings already through the door. Three have arrived on free transfers – Martin Dubravka, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi – with Jan Paul van Hecke signed in a £52million deal.

GIVEMESPORT understands that Spurs want to make a ‘statement signing’ this summer and they are in talks, not only with Tonali, for upto £100million, but with West Ham over a move to sign Mateus Fernandes too. The Hammers star would cost upwards of £80million, meaning both players would break Spurs’ club transfer record were they to sign.


Roberto De Zerbi


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‘I Was Hailed Wimbledon’s Most Beautiful Debutant

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Wimbledon is set to start on the 29th of June 2026 for 13 days of tennis action on the fabled grass courts.

Iga Swiatek is the current women’s singles champion, with the famous accolade constituting her 25th WTA Tour win. The Polish player is earning a lot of recognition on the court for her achievements, but is also receiving attention for another reason, which many female tennis players have to contend with: her beauty.

In the history of women’s tennis, there have been many females who have been considered, not only talented tennis players, but also great beauties.

Beauty in Women’s Tennis Isn’t Uncommon

Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova was no stranger to this, with her blonde hair, green eyes, and athletic legs receiving many admiring glances. Anna Kournikova was the same, with her appearance making her one of the best known tennis players worldwide.

At the peak of her fame, Kournikova’s name became one of the most common search strings on Google Search due to fans searching for images of her, and she was named on People’s 50 Most Beautiful People in 1998.

Despite never winning a singles title, the Russian became a household name and cemented her celebrity status by marrying Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias and appearing in one of his music videos.

It was Wimbledon where a cheeky spectator asked the German tennis player Steffi Graf to marry him in the middle of her semi-final match with Kimiko Date. The proposal and Graf’s iconic response asking how much money he had has lived long in the sport’s memory, but it wouldn’t have happened without Graf’s beauty and undeniable skill on the court. Graf won 22 Major women’s singles titles and is the only player, male or female, to have won each major singles tournament at least four times to make a quadruple career Grand Slam.

Steffi Graf

However, last year’s Wimbledon introduced a new beauty to the scene; Canadian tennis player and model, Carson Branstine, who was making her debut.

Carson Branstine the Latest Tennis Beauty


Renata Zarazua


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The heat in Australia caused serious problems for some tennis stars in 2026, none more so than Renata Zarazua.

She impressed in qualifying by defeating former US Open champion and her childhood friend Bianca Andreescu to earn her spot in her first Grand Slam main draw.

The 25-year-old was named Wimbledon’s ‘most beautiful debutant’ at the time and came up against the world number one Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka is also considered to be attractive, but the Belarusian admitted that her first impression of Branstine was that she was ‘so beautiful’ and ‘super pretty’, labelling her before their match as ‘the beautiful girl.’

Carson Branstine Geoff Burke via Reuters

Branstine lost 6-1 in the opening set before fighting back spiritedly in the second, falling by a respectable 7-5 scoreline in the second to exit the tournament.

However, beauty doesn’t always pay the bills, and Branstine has described her financial troubles as a lower-ranked WTA player.

Carson Branstine’s Financial Struggles

While she was transitioning from college tennis to the professional ranks, she worked as an Uber Eats delivery driver to earn some money to combat her expensive ambitions in tennis.

Speaking to Telegraf.rs, the American-born player said: “When you play ITF tournaments and finance your own life as a young athlete, everything is very expensive. I live in Southern California, and just filling up the tank was seriously draining my bill.”

Carson Branstine Geoff Burke via Reuters

Her struggles hit home just before a tournament, as she revealed: “I remember one morning, a couple of weeks before I played my first WTA final in Cancun, I looked at my account balance and only had $26 (£19). I thought about how I’m going to finance myself for the tournament now.”

This was without the support of her parents, and Branstine decided something needed to be done.

“I cried. I called my friends, but I wasn’t allowed to call my parents, they would be very angry. I just said to myself, ‘Don’t think too much. Do it.’ And so, after training, I drove around Los Angeles and delivered dinners to people.”

Modelling Has Helped Her Tennis Career

Her fortunes have since changed as she now has financial support from her modelling career, signing with an agency and working with fashion, fitness, and skincare brands. She also received around £66,000 for featuring at Wimbledon in 2025, but she continues to model and genuinely enjoys it.


Jaqueline Cristian


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It was an awkward moment, or so it seemed, for Jaqueline Cristian.

She said: “I love being in front of the camera during a shoot. It’s fun, I love fashion. It’s been one of the reasons I’ve been able to pay for some of my trips.

“I didn’t want to ask my parents for anything. I wanted everything to come from me and from my tennis.”

She does, however, accept that in both modelling and tennis she has been noticed for the way she looks and that there are pitfalls to this, saying: “I wasn’t signed by these agencies because of my tennis, it was for my look. Modelling and tennis are weirdly similar, you’re an object a lot, and people sometimes forget you’re a person too.”

Fans hoping to see Branstine grace the courts in London this year will be sorely disappointed, as she picked up an injury at the Australian Open which has ruled her out, but she won’t be resting on her laurels and will come back stronger to fulfill her tennis dreams again, so she shouldn’t be forgotten about.

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Romano Shares Fresh Update On Mateus Fernandes Transfer

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Mateus Fernandes does not have a preference which club he joins this summer, as Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur go head-to-head for his signature.

That is according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who explained on his latest YouTube video that both clubs are in verbal communication with West Ham over a deal to sign the 21-year-old this summer.

United are keen to sign a second midfielder, having already agreed a £38million to sign Ederson from Atalanta. Meanwhile Spurs are looking to make a statement signing for Roberto De Zerbi, with midfield next on the agenda after making three defender signings and a goalkeeper move already.

West Ham hoping for a bidding war

West Ham United Midfielder Mateus Fernandes in Premier League Action via Reuters

Fernandes is looking for a move away from the London Stadium following West Ham’s relegation to the Championship last season, which coincidentally came as a result of Spurs winning on the final day of the season to save their bacon.

There are differing reports each day when it comes to Fernandes’ future, and it is the Hammers who will be relishing the rumours, given they will hope to drive up the price for the Portuguese player with two teams keen on signing him.

West Ham want at least £80million to sell this summer – double what they paid Southampton for him just last year – and talks are ongoing with both clubs. And Fernandes is likely to end up at the club who pays the most.

Romano said: “I see many reports, one day he’s close to United, one day he’s close to Tottenham. The reality of this story is that Mateus Fernandes is prepared to go to Man United or Tottenham. The player is open to both moves.

“He doesn’t want to stay at West Ham, obviously, he doesn’t want to play in the Championship next season, it’s almost impossible, but he’s ready to go to Man Utd, Tottenham, the player is not creating an issue on this.

​​​​​​​Both clubs in verbal talks for Fernandes transfer

Michael Carrick Manchester United manager (2026) via Reuters

“The point is to reach an agreement with West Ham and now, trust me, behind the scenes, we are not seeing many reports on an official bid sent, official proposal sent, but Man Utd and Tottenham are driving the process with the player’s camp and with West Ham by attacking every single day.

“One day Tottenham is bidding, one day Manchester United is bidding, but it’s all about verbal proposals. I told you the player will go to the club able to reach an agreement with West Ham on finance, and so who is paying the best money to West Ham is going to get the deal done. It’s about reaching an agreement with West Ham.

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“The player is ready to accept both projects. It now depends on the club, so who can agree terms with West Ham will get the player, and it’s about the money, because they start at £85million, could be more if these clubs keep fighting for the same player, and also payment tariffs are also important for West Ham, so it’s not just about the fee, it’s also about the timing to pay this money.”


Roberto De Zerbi clapping the Tottenham fans


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