BALLON D’OR were forced into an awkward moment as Real Madrid failed to collect their award.

The Spanish giants were named Club of the Year after winning LaLiga and the Champions League.

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But not a single club representative was present as Real Madrid boycotted the awards ceremony.

Real Madrid appear to have boycotted the show following reports Vinicius Jr would not be scooping the top prize.

The winger was amongst the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or following an impressive campaign in which he scored 24 goals and registered 11 assists.

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Flanker Tom Curry says his body is now “head and shoulders” better than it was during England’s summer tour.

The 26-year-old underwent hip surgery in February and was a surprise call-up to England’s tour of Japan and New Zealand after playing just one game for Sale Sharks following his return from injury.

Curry, who featured off the bench in all three Tests, had described the hip damage as like a “car crash” and said the fear of possibly having to retire from rugby made him “curl up into a ball and cry”.

“I am flying and feel like I have learnt a lot about my body from the summer tour to now,” Curry told BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly before Saturday’s opening autumn international against New Zealand.

“It feels head and shoulders like what it was like before and I feel I am genuinely getting better now as a player.

“Getting back for the summer tour was testing, but I have now been able to get back physically.”

The 53-cap Curry praised the “amazing” work of England head coach Steve Borthwick and Sale staff in managing him back to full fitness, with the flanker only playing his first full game since the injury this month.

Having been an England regular at the past two Rugby World Cups, Curry featured in the unfamiliar role of replacement in the victory over Japan and back-to-back defeats by New Zealand, playing 29, 30 and 31 minutes across the three games.

“With that sort of injury, you had to get obsessive,” the Sale Shark added.

“I’ll speak now on behalf of my 80-year-old grandad, but your hip does almost affect your life, if you have a bad one it does take your focus on your thinking.

“This wasn’t an injury from anything physical in rugby, it was just wear and tear. I have been looking at biomechanics more than anything in terms of how I can move better.

“It is not about lifting the heaviest weights or lifting the quickest, it is just about being more in touch with your body – it sounds a very deep thought.”

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 246.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those reader consensus picks will be part of the main card staff predictions we release ahead of UFC Fight Night 246 (ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Make your picks below.

Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Ivana Petrovic

Records: Horth (6-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Petrovic (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Past five: Horth 4-1, Petrovic 4-1
Division: Women’s flyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.28.24): Horth -205, Petrovic +170

SuperSurvey.com

Chad Anheliger vs. Cody Gibson

Records: Anheliger (13-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC), Gibson (20-10 MMA, 2-5 UFC)
Past five: Anheliger 3-2, Gibson 2-3
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.28.24): Anheliger +145, Gibson -175

Super Survey

Garrett Armfield vs. Serhiy Sidey

Records: Armfield (10-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC), Sidey (10-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Past five: Armfield 3-2, Sidey 4-1
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.28.24): Armfield +130, Sidey -155

Super Survey

Rodrigo Nascimento vs. Alexandr Romanov

Records: Nascimento (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC), Romanov (17-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC)
Past five: Nascimento 3-2, Romanov 2-3
Division: Heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.28.24): Nascimento -130, Romanov +110

SuperSurvey

Jack Shore vs. Youssef Zalal

Records: Shore (17-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), Zalal (15-5-1 MMA, 5-3-1 UFC)
Past five: Shore 3-2, Zalal 5-0
Division: Featherweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.28.24): Shore +200, Zalal -245

SuperSurvey

Victor Henry vs. Charles Jourdain

Records: Henry (24-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Jourdain (15-8-1 MMA, 6-7-1 UFC)
Past five: Henry 4-1, Jourdain 2-3
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.28.24): Henry -110, Jourdain -110

Supersurvey

Ariane da Silva vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius

Records: da Silva (17-9 MMA, 6-6 UFC), Jasudavicius (11-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC)
Past five: da Silva 2-3, Jasudavicius 4-1
Division: Women’s flyweight
Rankings: Jasudavicius honorable mention
Odds (as of 10.28.24): da Silva +170, Jasudavicius -205

Super Survey Maker

Pedro Munhoz vs. Aiemann Zahabi

Records: Munhoz (20-9 MMA, 10-9 UFC), Zahabi (11-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC)
Past five: Munhoz 1-4, Zahabi 4-1
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.28.24): Munhoz -125, Zahabi +105

Super Survey

Trevin Giles vs. Mike Malott

Records: Giles (16-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC), Malott (10-2-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC)
Past five: Giles 2-3, Malott 4-1
Division: Welterweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.28.24): Giles +215, Malott -265

Super Survey Maker

Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus

Records: Barriault (16-8 MMA, 5-7 UFC), Stoltzfus (15-6 MMA, 2-5 UFC)
Past five: Barriault 2-3, Stoltzfus 2-3
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.28.24): Barriault -205, Stoltzfus +170

SuperSurvey

Caio Machado vs. Brendson Ribeiro

Records: Machado (8-3-1 MMA, 0-2 UFC), Ribeiro (15-7 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Past five: Machado 3-2, Ribeiro 3-2
Division: Light heavyweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 10.28.24): Machado -160, Ribeiro +135

Super Survey

Jhonata Diniz vs. Derrick Lewis

Records: Diniz (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Lewis (28-12 MMA, 19-10 UFC)
Past five: Diniz 5-0, Lewis 2-3
Division: Heavyweight
Rankings: Lewis No. 11
Odds (as of 10.28.24): Diniz -160, Lewis +135

SuperSurvey

Erin Blanchfield vs. Rose Namajunas

Records: Blanchfield (12-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC), Namajunas (13-6 MMA, 11-5 UFC)
Past five: Blanchfield 4-1, Namajunas 2-3
Division: Women’s flyweight
Rankings: Blanchfield No. 4, Namajunas No. 9
Odds (as of 10.28.24): Blanchfield -125, Namajunas +105

Supersurvey

Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi

Records: Moreno (21-8-2 MMA, 9-5-2 UFC), Albazi (17-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC)
Past five: Moreno 2-3, Albazi 5-0
Division: Flyweight
Rankings: Albazi No. 3, Moreno No. 5
Odds (as of 10.28.24): Moreno -160, Albazi +135

SuperSurvey

UFC Fight Night 246 fight card (as of Oct. 28, 1 p.m. ET)

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

• Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi
• Erin Blanchfield vs. Rose Namajunas
• Jhonata Diniz vs. Derrick Lewis
• Caio Machado vs. Brendson Ribeiro
• Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
• Trevin Giles vs. Mike Malott

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET)

• Pedro Munhoz vs. Aiemann Zahabi
• Ariane da Silva vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
• Victor Henry vs. Charles Jourdain
• Jack Shore vs. Youssef Zalal
• Rodrigo Nascimento vs. Alexandr Romanov
• Garrett Armfield vs. Serhiy Sidey
• Chad Anheliger vs. Cody Gibson
• Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Ivana Petrovic

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.

Ruud van Nistelrooy

The Red Devils legend, 48, is no stranger to the pressures of Old Trafford.

Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals in 219 games for Man Utd and helped them to the 2002-03 Premier League title.

The striker also starred for another monster club, Real Madrid, as a player before going into coaching.

The 70-cap ex-Holland international managed PSV’s youth team before landing the senior job for the 2022-23 season.

Van Nistelrooy landed a coaching job under Ten Hag earlier this year and is said to have done a superb job working with the clubs strikers behind the scenes.

And now he will have the chance to show what he can do in a live ‘interview’ of sorts.

How long the club will give him is another matter.

Gareth Southgate

The former England boss, 54, has long been linked with the Man Utd job.

The former Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough defender has gone on to enjoy great success as a manager – albeit without getting his hands on a major trophy.

Southgate managed Middlesbrough between 2006 and 2009 before taking on the England Under-21s job between 2013 and 2016.

The 57-cap former Three Lions international then took the senior national job, replacing Roy Hodgson.

Southgate brought the nation together as he led England to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, as well as the final of Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.

However, he left his role in the summer following the defeat to Spain and was replaced by Lee Carsley on an interim basis.

Thomas Tuchel – another boss long linked with the Old Trafford job – will take over the reins in 2025.

Southgate has been out of club management for 15 years and a portion of England fans were frustrated by what they deemed a defensive style.

However, his ability to largely galvanise the fan-base and deal with the pressure of one of the biggest jobs in sport with real class would be a huge asset for United.

Edin Terzic

Earlier this month, SunSport revealed Edin Terzic is the shock name on United’s list to replace Ten Hag.

German Terzic took Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final last season before surprisingly quitting.

He has many admirers at Old Trafford and it would he a smart but unexpected move to go for him if they sack under-fire Ten Hag.

Terzic, 41, did his coaching badges in England, where he was friends with fellow United target Graham Potter, and then worked as Slaven Bilic’s No 2 at West Ham.

He rose to the top in Germany during two spells at Dortmund before he walked away in June.

Graham Potter

The English boss, 49, has been out of work since being axed by Chelsea in April 2023.

Potter excited fans with his attacking approach at Brighton before he was poached by the Blues.

However, he failed to lift Chelsea out of their funk and was given his marching orders.

Potter’s fans include Manchester City mastermind Pep Guardiola.

And there’s no doubt the ex-OstersundS FK and Swansea boss would get United playing on the front foot, something Old Trafford fans have long craved.

Kieran McKenna

Cruelly denied a playing career due to injury, the former Tottenham youth prospect has excelled as a coach.

McKenna, 38, worked as Under-18s coach at both Spurs and Man Utd before landing the top job at Ipswich Town.

The young boss incredibly guided the Tractor Boys to back-to-back promotions, guiding them from League One back to the Premier League, ending the club’s 22-year absence.

McKenna was quickly added to a host of clubs’ wish-lists, including Man Utd, according to reports.

But Ipswich reacted swiftly to offer him a new, long-term contract.

However, his side are yet to win any of their opening nine Premier League games, with four wins and five defeats.

McKenna has Ipswich playing exciting, expansive football – something Man Utd fans crave.

The big question now is whether McKenna opts to jump ship or stay loyal.

Ruben Amorim, Xavi and Thomas Frank are also three names very much believed to be in the running.

Ilia Topuria and Khamzat Chimaev both accomplished something that had never been done before at UFC 308 as the rising stars capped off a wild pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi. Now that the dust has settled, what comes next for both guys?

On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss what could for Topuria after he became the first man ever to knock out Max Holloway in the main event to retain the UFC featherweight title. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Holloway, Chimaev — after being the first UFC fighter to submit Robert Whittaker in the co-main event — Magomed Ankalaev following his decision win over Aleksandar Rakic, Lerone Murphy after earning a hard fought decision against Dan Ige, Shara Magomedov following his wild knockout win over Armen Petrosyan, and more.

Watch the UFC 308 edition of On To the Next One in the video above. Audio-only versions of the podcast can be found below, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and wherever you find your favorite podcasts.