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After last year’s trophyless campaign, Pep Guardiola claimed that Manchester City had “recovered many things” and that his team had promised more from them.

Over the past two transfer windows, the City manager has rebuilt his squad, with the departures of many veteran players, including Ederson, Kevin De Bruyne, and Ilkay Gundogan.

Guardiola defended his side against Arsenal on Sunday, conceding a late goal to draw 1-1 and letting go of runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool.

READ MORE: Guardiola and Man City appear to be Champions League opponents.

At a press conference prior to his team’s League Cup third-round encounter with third-tier Huddersfield on Wednesday, he was asked how his team’s tactics against the Gunners had gone.

He declared, “I’m really proud of this fight.” We “recovered a lot of things” from the previous season’s missed activities. Our spirit is incredible.

We don’t want to play the way we did, and we can’t sustain that for the entire season. But I give Arsenal, the opponent, incredible power and credit.

Guardiola emphasized the importance of a point won against a team that was widely anticipated to be Premier League contenders, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners.

The Spaniard finished last season without a major trophy for the first time in eight years, saying, “Especially since (Manchester) United (a 3-0 win), we start to recover many things that have defined our teams for many, many years.

He continued, “We can do better, yes, we do it.” We could make a few decisions, and yes, we do it.

“Yes, we will play a little bit more with the opponent,” the player says. But first, the spirit that we have displayed this week.

And like a father or a mother takes care of their son, we must take care of this kind of thing.

After five matches, City is currently eight points adrift of champions Liverpool.

Under Guardiola, the team has won the League Cup four times.

Aitana Bonmati, a star of Barcelona and Spain, won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time in a row at a ceremony in Paris on Monday.

Mariona Caldentey, Bonmati’s teammate, was eliminated from the Spain side that lost to England in the Women’s Euro 2025 final in July.

The 27-year-old midfielder also lost to Caldentey’s Arsenal in the Women’s Champions League final last season.

Despite missing either of Spain’s first two matches as a result of a viral meningitis outbreak, Bonmati was named Euros player of the tournament.

One of the nominees for the triumphant England European Championship team, Alessia Russo, placed third.

The Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious individual award in both men’s and women’s football, and Bonmati’s three-game winning streak comes after her Barcelona and Spain teammate Alexia Putellas won it twice.

The Théâtre du Châtelet, home to France’s top football players, was lit up by the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony for a glamorous evening at the capital.

Numerous stars won top awards, and some surprises added new meaning to the night.

Celebrating rising talent, veteran accomplishments, and remarkable club excellence across the board, the ceremony highlighted the best of both men’s and women’s football.

Ousmane Dembélé, a member of Paris Saint-Germain, won the Men’s Ballon d’Or for the first time following a stellar 2024/25 campaign.

Lamine Yamal, a native of Barcelona, came second, Vitinha came in third, and he won.

Dembélé helped PSG win their first Champions League title with 35 goals and 14 assists.

Aitana Bonmata of Barcelona won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time in a row.

Lamine Yamal, the best under-21 male player, retains the Men’s Kopa Trophy.

The Women’s Kopa Trophy, which honors emerging female talent from around the world, was given to Vicky López.

As the best goalkeeper in the world, Gianluigi Donnarumma won the Men’s Yachine Trophy.

Hannah Hampton’s outstanding performances for England and Chelsea earned her the Women’s Yachine Trophy.

The top scorer in both club and national competitions was Viktor Gyökeres, who won the Men’s Gerd Müller Trophy.

Ewa Pajor’s prowess in front of goal earned her the Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy.

After both teams won Champions League titles, PSG won the Men’s Club of the Year award and Arsenal won the Women’s Club of the Year for their dominating campaign.

Sarina Wiegman was named the women’s coach of the year, while Luis Enrique won the Johan Cruyff Trophy for the year in the men’s category.

PSG emerged as the night’s biggest winners.

Ousmane Dembélé, the forward of France and Paris Saint-Germain, has been named the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, cementing his place among the great players in the game.

At the Paris Théâtre du Châtelet, the announcement was met with both joy and awe.

READ MORE: Nnadozie ranks fourth in the Super Falcons’ rankings as Hampton wins the Yachine Trophy.

Dembélé’s success is more than just a single award, in the eyes of many.

His move to Paris led to a new level of performance, which led to an unheard-of season of success after a Barcelona career that was plagued by injuries and inconsistent behavior.

Dembélé, 28, took the title from Barcelona and Spain’s Lamine Yamal, who was the trophy’s winner in 2024, replacing Rodri and Manchester City’s midfielder Rodri.

Donnarumma wins the Yachine Trophy

Gianluigi Donnarumma, the best goalkeeper in the world for 2025, was given the prestigious Yachine Trophy.

Four years after winning the prize, the Italian international’s triumph at the glittering Ballon d’Or ceremony represents a remarkable return to his former best, highest position.

His victory puts an end to Emiliano Martnez’ two-year rule and a change of guard among the world’s elite goalkeepers.

At the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards, England’s Hannah Hampton won the Women’s Yashin Trophy while Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie placed fourth.

Hampton, 24, saved two penalties against Spain in the final of England’s Euro 2025 victory.

She also contributed to Chelsea’s unbeaten treble, putting her in charge of the 2024/25 tournament’s top goalkeeper.

At the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Nnadozie performed outstandingly for the Super Falcons.

With a 3-2 victory over Morocco, the former Paris FC goalkeeper was named the tournament’s best goalkeeper.

Also read: Lamine Yamal Wins the 2025 Kopa Trophy

Nnadozie’s efforts helped the Falcons win their 10th WAFCON championship, strengthening her reputation internationally.

After leading the team’s historic campaign, Super Falcons coach Justin Madugu was also nominated for Women’s Team Coach of the Year.

Sonia Bompastor, Renée Slegers, Brazil’s Arthur Elias, and England’s Sarina Wiegman were also shortlisted for the award.

Wiegman, 55, won the award after leading the Lionesses to their second European title in 2022.

Michelle Agyemang, an England striker, was nominated for the Kopa Trophy at the ceremony, but Vicky López, a Barcelona player, won the women’s prize.

Lamine Yamal, the first player to win the Kopa Trophy back-to-back, also made history by holding the trophy for the men.

Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy won the 2021-era Gianluigi Donnarumma second men’s Yashin Trophy.

The Super Falcons were recently honored by President Bola Tinubu for winning the World Football Championship with national honors, cash prizes, and housing.

Lamine Yamal, a winger for Barcelona, will continue to hold onto the Kopa Trophy at the Paris 2025 Ballon d’Or awards on Monday.

The 18-year-old forward becomes the first player to win both men’s youth awards.

The best player under the age of 21 receives the Kopa Trophy, which highlights Yamal’s rise as one of football’s brightest prospects.

Last year, Yamal helped Barcelona win La Liga and the Copa del Rey by scoring 18 goals in 55 games. &nbsp,

The teenager was a key component of Spain’s victory at the European Championship.

In Battle For Ballon d’Or Glory, Dembele and Yamal are also READ.

Following Spain’s dominance throughout the continent in 2024, Yamal received the Kopa Trophy for the first time.

At the ceremony this year, Vicky López, his fellow compatriot, claimed the women’s Kopa Trophy.

The Ballon d’Or men’s rankings were released prior to the main awards, according to the organisers’ release, which ranged from 30 to 11.

Erling Haaland, Vinodislav Jnior, Robert Lewandowski, and Harry Kane were not included in the top ten list.

Fabian Ruiz, Joo Neves, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were among the contenders for the title of Paris Saint-Germain.

Later in the evening, PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé is still firmly tipped to win the title.