On Thursday, FIFA unveiled the list of nominees for The Best 2024 awards, which celebrate the world’s top football talent across both men's and women's categories. The 2024 shortlist for the Men’s Footballer of the Year features some of the biggest names in football, with Lionel Messi making the cut, while Cristiano Ronaldo has notably been excluded from the main award.

Lionel Messi, who has already claimed The Best FIFA Men’s Footballer award three times (the most by any player), remains a strong contender this year, thanks to his exceptional performances with both Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. His achievements include leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup, followed by a stellar debut season in the MLS with Inter Miami, where he continues to defy expectations.

Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a groundbreaking partnership with the human performance company WHOOP, becoming the brand’s official global ambassador and investor. This partnership is one of the most significant moves of Ronaldo’s career beyond football, adding to his growing portfolio of investments.

It also places him alongside sports icons like Patrick Mahomes, Michael Phelps, Eli Manning, and Rory McIlroy, who are also WHOOP ambassador-investors.

WHOOP, a company valued at nearly $4 billion, is known for its wearable health and fitness device that provides detailed feedback on recovery, sleep, training, and overall health. The device is designed to help individuals optimize their performance and achieve their fitness goals through actionable data.

Cristiano Ronaldo could be set for an unexpected return to Manchester United, according to former teammate Louis Saha. Despite a controversial exit in 2023, Ronaldo would reportedly embrace the chance to return if offered, especially with the arrival of Ruben Amorim as a potential manager.

Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United in January 2023 left a sour taste, as he publicly criticized then-manager Erik ten Hag and the club's facilities in a high-profile interview with Piers Morgan. These comments and his disciplinary issues led to his eventual departure, with Ronaldo joining Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. However, despite his exit on less-than-ideal terms, Ronaldo’s connection with the club’s fans and players has remained strong. According to Saha, the 39-year-old would jump at the opportunity to return to Old Trafford if the chance arises.

A rare opportunity has arisen for football fans to own a piece of Real Madrid history as 24 lockers from the Santiago Bernabeu are being auctioned off this month. These lockers, which were used by iconic players such as David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, and Zinedine Zidane, were part of the stadium’s old dressing rooms, now removed due to the stadium’s massive renovations.

The auction is taking place at Sotheby’s in London, with bidding open until November 26. Prices for the lockers start at £10,000 each, and a portion of the proceeds will go to Real Madrid's charitable foundation. The lockers represent a significant piece of football memorabilia, especially for fans who followed the club during its "Galacticos" era.

Piotr Zielinski has responded to criticism after being photographed with Cristiano Ronaldo following Poland's 5-1 loss to Portugal in the Nations League. The match in Porto saw Poland suffer a heavy defeat, with Ronaldo scoring twice, alongside goals from Bruno Fernandes and Pedro Neto.

Despite the lopsided result, Zielinski and teammate Nicola Zalewski were spotted taking photos with the Portuguese superstar after the final whistle, which sparked outrage in the Polish media.

Gary Neville has reflected on his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo following the infamous pitchside snub before Manchester United’s match against West Ham in October 2022.

During the pre-match build-up, Ronaldo greeted former teammates Louis Saha and Jamie Redknapp but ignored Neville completely, which raised eyebrows. The incident stemmed from a series of tensions between Ronaldo and the club, particularly after the Portuguese star stormed down the tunnel during United's 2-0 win over Tottenham, having been left on the bench by manager Erik ten Hag.

Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that he "no longer cares" about being the best player in the world, instead shifting his focus to supporting his team. The 39-year-old superstar, who joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in January 2023 after leaving Manchester United, emphasized his commitment to his teammates following his recent performance in the AFC Champions League.

On Monday, Ronaldo scored in Al-Nassr's 2-1 victory against Al-Rayyan, marking yet another milestone in his illustrious career. However, the former Real Madrid and Juventus star downplayed his individual achievements. "It is not important anymore whether I am the best or not, I no longer care about that," said Ronaldo after the match. "It is good for a player to score goals, but for me, it is better for the team to win."

Former Manchester United coach Benni McCarthy believes that Erik ten Hag "wasted a great opportunity" with Cristiano Ronaldo during his time at the club. McCarthy, who was part of Ten Hag’s coaching staff for two years before departing in a summer shake-up following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's arrival as co-owner, has shed light on when "the problems started" between the Dutch manager and Ronaldo.

McCarthy had the chance to work with Ronaldo briefly before the Portuguese star’s exit in November 2022. The legendary forward had his contract terminated following a highly publicized fallout with Ten Hag, which included a controversial interview with Piers Morgan where Ronaldo criticized the manager and the club.

Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the world's highest-paid athletes, certainly knows how to pamper his loved ones. Earning more than £3.4 million a week at Al Nassr, the football superstar has no shortage of funds to splash out on extravagant gifts for his partner, Georgina Rodriguez.

With his substantial income coming from his contract in the Saudi Pro League and a slew of lucrative endorsement deals, it’s no surprise that Ronaldo can afford to shower Rodriguez with luxuries most people can only dream of. In 2022 alone, Ronaldo reportedly added $260 million (£194 million) to his wealth, cementing his status as one of the wealthiest sports figures.

Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that signing Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus in 2021 was a mistake, admitting that the club brought him back primarily to prevent him from joining Manchester City.

The move was initially seen as a fairytale return for Ronaldo, who left United for Real Madrid in 2009 in an £80 million transfer.