Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

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Manchester City midfielder Rodri made the headlines yesterday with his comments about players potential taking strike action over the amount of games they are being asked to play.

It rather obscured his answer about being nominated - and becoming one of the favourites for the Ballon D'Or.

Rodri won the Premier League with City last season and then Euro 2024 with Spain. He also scored City's winner in the 2023 Champions League final so there is no reason why he shouldn't be in the frame.

However, the winners nearly always tend to be attacking players or, in Luka Modric's case, creative midfielders.

The last player out of that mould to win it was Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro in 2006. For a player similar to Rodri, you would have to go back to Germany's Matthias Sammer in 1996.

"It would be a dream, of course, because I never thought I could arrive to this stage," said Rodri.

"I know I play a different role from most players that are nominated for these trophies but it also shows that football can be beautiful in different views, it can be beautiful playing as a midfielder or scoring goals or being a defender.

"We know how football works. There are a lot of people that appreciates the role of a midfielder so let’s see what happens."

Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr is the favourite, with Rodri next on the list and Jude Bellingham regarded as the third most likely winner.

Rob Stamp

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Roberto Baggio had paid tribute to his former teammate: "Goodbye my dear friend, you have surprised me again. The magic nights of Italia 90 we experienced together will always remain imprinted in my heart. Brothers of Italy forever."

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former England and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart on the comments made by City midfielder Rodri and Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker criticising the busy football schedule:

"At the moment, I have no doubt it [the schedule] looks daunting. That’s high-end football and that’s the qualities that are required to be in those squads.

"There’s no right answer because you need to tell the truth and you need to look after your body but then you also need to be realistic because someone else is chomping at the bit to get in your place. Football is played globally, people wanting to be professionals and be at that level.

"It’s a rock and a hard place in terms of trying to manage it. That's why the governing bodies, the people in the hierarchy, people at the game even people like myself now will have to look into this and say 'What is right? How can we protect?' We all want to watch great games of football, we all want that chaos last night but we don’t want people getting hurt for the sake of it.

"From what I know and what I've experienced, people are trying to look at people's welfare, it's not just the money-men at the top or TV channels saying 'we don't care, get on that pitch and entertain us'. There is plenty more going on in the background."

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former England and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart on Alisson Becker and Rodri, who voiced concerns around the current football schedule during their respective news conferences:

"The guys are just speaking from their hearts. Two players there that are going to speak honestly. They’re not rash guys, they’re not guys who sensationalise everything. I’m sure they just answered questions.

"Rodri in particular was asked whether they're close to going on strike now I don't think in the forefront of his mind was thinking 'oh my god you know what we are up to, that is actually the plan'. He is just saying that at some point, they’re going to have to stand up for themselves because it is a lot of football and when you’re in the game and you’re so focused on winning and doing your best every day, the format doesn’t really allow for that.

"But like anything in football, football changes and evolves all the time, the clubs find ways, the coaches find ways, the squads will change and get stronger, it will just mean you will have to invest deeper into your 24/25 man squad."

Richard, Manchester

BBC Radio 5 Live

More from Professional Footballers' Association Chief Executive Maheta Molango on a potential players' strike:

“We want to give priority to our domestic competitions. This is the bread and butter of our players. I don’t think the issue is here domestically.

"The problem is more international competition, especially the national team competition for example. Or this new format of Club World Cup which is happening in the summer, so I don’t think the focus is forcibly on domestic competitions.”

“We need to now define what this [strike] may look like.”

BBC Radio 5 Live

Professional Footballers' Association Chief Executive Maheta Molango on whether they will have a ballot on a potential players' strike over the busy football schedule: “The first step was to file a legal claim, which we have. We filed a claim against Fifa, alongside the French Union, the Italian Union, and Fifpro [the International Federation of Professional Footballers].

"That was the first step that we took. We discussed that with the players. Because ultimately we’re here to present their voice. We would not have taken that step if it wasn’t because the players said they wanted us to do so. And I think we’d see how discussions progressed.But if the players feel that we need to take further action – then I think we will.”

Southampton

Southampton boss Russell Martin on the Rodri comments regarding potential player strikes:

"It’s relentless [the schedule for high-end footballers] and they don’t really have much of a life outside of football so I suggest it’s probably not very healthy which is why a lot get to the end and there’s big stats on people struggling.

"There’ll be loads of people who’ll be thinking just get on with it, you play football for a living – but it’s really tough to play at the intensity they play at for the amount they’re being asked to.”

Southampton

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Following their victory over Everton in the League Cup, Southampton manager Russell Martin was asked about the Rodri comments regarding potential player strikes due to the amount of games they’re being made to play:

"I think the new Club World Cup thing which has been introduced in June is ridiculous – I think at some point, when I went to the Premier League manager’s meeting and looked at the schedule, and what they expect from some players, and still want to keep the level of performance and level of entertainment really high, they have to be really, really careful – I think something’s going to give at some point, I think that will be that the quality will be diluted at the top level.

"The top players, you’ll see less of them because of injuries so yeah, I think he [Rodri] has a very good point and I think it needs to be looked at, the welfare of them guys playing internationals and the Champions League."

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Former Liverpool and Newcastle striker Andy Carroll, 35, has signed for French fourth-tier side Bordeaux.

Carroll, who has been capped nine times for England, played for Amiens last season in France's second-tier where he scored four goals in 28 league games.

If you're just joining us, we have been bringing you reaction to the death of Italian icon Toto Schillaci, aged 59. We've also brought you reaction from last night's Champions League and EFL Cup games.

• Italy's World Cup icon Schillaci dies aged 59
• When 'Toto' Schillaci's stare was the star
• 'Unbelievable we lose to Forest if we can play like this'
• 'The guy is a genius' – Emery helps Aston Villa's dreams come true

We will continue bringing you tributes to the Italy legend, plus build-up to tonight's Champions League and EFL Cup fixtures. But first, some news from the French fourth tier...

Matt Russell

Real Madrid have paid tribute to Toto Schillaci, who has passed away at the age of 59. The tribute is translated from Spanish: "Real Madrid CF, its President and its Board of Directors deeply regret the death of Salvatore 'Totò' Schillaci, one of the great legends of Italian football, top scorer and best player at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

"Real Madrid would like to express its condolences and affection to his family, his teammates and loved ones, to all the clubs he was a part of, to Italian football and to all its fans.

"Schillaci has passed away at the age of 59. May he rest in peace."

The result may have been a positive on for Bayern Munich but they made their feelings about the new Champions League format known.

The new format sees clubs play more first stage games with the group elements ditched this season.

Bayern fans held up signs that said: "Too many games", "Too much workload", "Too many events",, "Too much complexity", "Too much injustice", "Too much financial imbalance", "Back to the the roots, undo new CL - Format".

Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany talked about coaching after his side's record 9-2 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb.

"It's a very simple job, I love working with the players. I try to improve them and I try to improve the team," he said.

"I'm born in the northern quarter of Brussels. My dad was a refugee - came to Belgium from Congo.

"What were my chances of ever setting foot even n the Premier League? Winning something as a player, playing for the national team. The odds and chances of that to happen are zero, zero, what per cent.

"Now I'm a coach - do you stop yourself believing because of what others say?"

Watch his reaction below:

Image source, Getty Images

"I keep all the balls after hat-tricks. The lads might be sick of signing them, but keep them coming."

Four-goal Harry Kane enjoyed another record-breaking night for Bayern Munich as they became the first team to score nine goals in a Champions League game.

The 31-year-old England captain's performance in the 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb means he reached the following landmarks...

• Top English scorer in Champions League or European Cup history with 33 goals in 45 games, passing Wayne Rooney's old mark of 30
• First English player to score four goals in a Champions League game
• First English player to score a hat-trick or more for a non-English team in the Champions League
• First player to score a hat-trick of penalties in a Champions League or European Cup match
• Scored his 50th, 51st, 52nd and 53rd Bayern Munich goals - in his 50th appearance for the club
• Netted the 24th hat-trick of his career, the fifth time he has scored back-to-back trebles (or quadruples)
• Scored his ninth goals in five games this season for Bayern - as well as two in two for England

Read the full piece.

Stu: I was lucky to be a kid growing up (& playing footie) in Italy during Italia 90. Screams of "Schillaci" would accompany any of our own shots vaguely near goal - the chorus of playgrounds across the country. RIP Toto

Shahzad: Schillaci, makes me always think of Italia 90, Pavarotti, Gascoigne, Schillaciiiiiiiiii RIP

An Italian manager has been sacked this morning with Roma's Daniele De Rossi departing but the Serie A could see another out the door.

AC Milan manager Paulo Fonseca, who was appointed boss in June, has overseen the club to 10th in the Italian league so far this season with one win, two draw and a loss.

The defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League last night may have added to the pressure to start seeing results.

The club play their rivals Inter Milan this Sunday.

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AC Milan manager Paulo Fonseca told Sky Sports Italia: “I told the players, you cannot make those mistakes in this kind of game,” Fonseca bemoaned.

“At the same time, I have to admit Liverpool are more of a team right now than we are, we need to keep working to have not 20 good minutes, but 70, 80, 90 minutes playing our football.

“After we conceded the second goal, the team stopped playing, and it becomes difficult after that.