Manchester City and Spain's Rodri has had a great season last year for both club and country.

The 28-year-old added a fourth Premier League trophy to his collection, as well as the Super Cup and Club World Cup in his 50 appearances last season.

He won the 2024 European Championship with Spain and was named the player of the tournament.

He was also included in the PFA Team of the Year for a second time in a row.

If Rodri gets your Ballon d'Or vote, give this post a thumbs up

Image source, Getty Images

Rob

Michael

Some strong opinions about Rodri. Let's see what you all think of his credentials of winning the Ballon d'Or...

Cole Palmer scored 25 goals in 45 appearances in his first season at Chelsea, where he was named the club's player of the season and player's player of the season.

The 22-year-old scored for England in the 2024 Euro final against Spain.

He was also named PFA fans' Player of the Year and Young player of the year.

Ooh, Bellingham just about ahead on thumbs ups so far. What about Palmer? Thumbs up if Palmer is your Ballon d'Or winner

Image source, Getty Images

England's Jude Bellingham has had a great debut with Real Madrid, winning the La Liga, Spanish Super Cup, Champions League and Super Cup all in his first year.

The 21-year-old was also part of Gareth Southgate's England squad who reached the 2024 Euros final, losing to Spain.

Bellingham, should he win, could also become one of the youngest Ballon d'Or winners.

Thumbs up if you would like to see Bellingham win, thumbs down if another nominee has your vote

Image source, Getty Images

Simon, Sydney

Agree with Simon? Well, now's your chance to flex your opinions. Clicks at the ready!

• Aitana Bonmati (Spain and Barcelona)
• Barbra Banda (Zambia and Orlando Pride)
• Tarciane (Brazil and Houston Dash)
• Lauren Hemp (England and Manchester City)
• Trinity Rodman (United States and Washington Spirit)
• Ada Hegerberg (Norway and Lyon)
• Manuela Giugliano (Italy and Roma)
• Mallory Swanson (United States and Chicago Red Stars)
• Glodis Viggosdottir (Iceland and Bayern Munich)
• Mariona Caldentey (Spain and Arsenal)
• Lauren James (England and Chelsea)
• Lea Schuller (Germany and Bayern Munich)
• Patricia Guijarro (Spain and Barcelona)
• Gabi Portilho (Brazil and Corinthians)
• Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi and Lyon)
• Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway and Barcelona)
• Lindsey Horan (United States and Lyon)
• Sjoeke Nusken (Germany and Chelsea)
• Yui Hasegawa (Japan and Manchester City)
• Lucy Bronze (England and Chelsea)
• Salma Paralluelo (Spain and Barcelona)
• Giulia Gwinn (Germany and Bayern Munich)
• Khadija Shaw (Jamaica and Manchester City)
• Grace Geyoro (France and Paris St-Germain)
• Alexia Putellas (Spain and Barcelona)
• Sophia Smith (United States and Portland Thorns)
• Ewa Pajor (Poland and Barcelona)
• Alyssa Naeher (United States and Chicago Red Stars)
• Mayra Ramirez (Colombia and Chelsea)
• Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France and Paris St-Germain)

• Jude Bellingham (England and Real Madrid)
• Ruben Dias (Portugal and Manchester City)
• Phil Foden (England and Manchester City)
• Federico Valverde (Uruguay and Real Madrid)
• Emiliano Martinez (Argentina and Aston Villa)
• Erling Haaland (Norway and Manchester City)
• Nico Williams (Spain and Athletic Bilbao)
• Granit Xhaka (Switzerland and Bayer Leverkusen)
• Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine and Roma)
• Toni Kroos (former Germany and Real Madrid)
• Vinicius Jr (Brazil and Real Madrid)
• Dani Olmo (Spain and Barcelona)
• Florian Wirtz (Germany and Bayer Leverkusen)
• Martin Odegaard (Norway and Arsenal)
• Mats Hummels (Germany, free agent)
• Rodri (Spain and Manchester City)
• Harry Kane (England and Bayern Munich)
• Declan Rice (England and Arsenal)
• Vitinha (Portugal and Paris St-Germain)
• Cole Palmer (England and Chelsea)
• Dani Carvajal (Spain and Real Madrid)
• Lamine Yamal (Spain and Barcelona)
• Bukayo Saka (England and Arsenal)
• Hakan Calhanoglu (Turkey and Inter Milan)
• William Saliba (France and Arsenal)
• Kylian Mbappe (France and Real Madrid)
• Lautaro Martinez (Argentina and Inter Milan)
• Ademola Lookman (Nigeria and Atalanta)
• Antonio Rudiger (Germany and Real Madrid)
• Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain and Bayer Leverkusen)

Coming up are the full lists of men's and women's nominees...

We will return with more news from the England camp a little later, but for the time being let's take a look at those lists of Ballon d'Or nominees in more detail...

Image source, Getty Images

Since Kyle Walker's exertions helping England to reach the final at Euro 2024, his club manager, Pep Guardiola, has opted to use 19-year-old Rico Lewis at right-back instead.

Manchester City have gone on to win their opening three matches of the season and Lewis has been called up to Lee Carsley’s squad for England’s fixtures against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.

Newcastle right-back Tino Livramento, 21, has also been given his first senior call-up.

Walker, who will be 36 by the time that the 2026 World Cup arrives, says that Carsley rang him up a couple of hours before his squad was announced.

“I said to him ‘listen, I’m on 91 caps, I want to be involved’,” he described, before adding “I just need to make sure that I’m proving him wrong a little bit in the near future".

The England and City defender talks more in the next edition of his You'll Never Beat Kyle Walker podcast, which is released next week.

Manchester City defender Kyle Walker says he is “obviously disappointed” to have been left out of the England squad for upcoming Nations League fixtures, but also believes it was the “right call” from interim England head coach Lee Carsley, given his lack of minutes sinces the Euros.

Speaking ahead of an upcoming episode of the You’ll Never Beat Kyle Walker podcast, the 34-year-old said that representing his country was “always the highest thing,” but added “I haven’t played any minutes this season, so you have to take it on the chin".

Walker played every minute for England in Germany this summer as the Three Lions finished runners-up at the European Championship and was named in the team of the tournament.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 Live

Sticking with women's football, we mentioned earlier that United States manager and former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes was on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

She was reflecting on the Paris Olympics, where her US side won gold: "I was reminded of how important the US team is to the American public. For them the Olympics is so significant that anything other than a gold medal is seen as a failure.

"To be honest, I've worked my whole career for this opportunity, it's been a dream to coach at the Olympics and for a country that had given me my foundational learning in my 20s.

"I had a blast. France was beautiful, and I don't think I'll ever forget that moment at the final whistle thinking about everyone achieving a gold medal."

Image source, Getty Images

Lloyd, Stoke-on-Trent

We end our round-up of Women's Champions League qualifying with news of a bruising defeat for Cardiff City, who lost 7-0 to Dutch hosts FC Twente.

The Welsh team were playing in the Champions League for a second successive season having won a domestic treble in 2023-24.

But Iain Darbyshire’s side were outclassed by the Dutch champions at the Sportpark Schreurserve in Enschede.

Kayleigh van Dooren struck twice within the first 17 minutes and to Cardiff's credit that was the difference at half-time.

But Twente turned the screw in the second half, with Sophie te Brake, Ann Knol, Amanda Andradóttir and Suus Verdaasdonk all finding the back of the net.

Cardiff will now meet ZFK Ljuboten on Saturday in a third-place match at Sportpark Schreurserve, after the North Macedonia side suffered an even heavier defeat - losing 10-0 to Icelandic side Valur.

Valur and Twente will face each other for a place in the second qualifying round.

Click here to read the full story.

Image source, Pacemaker

Glentoran's second-half comeback fell short as they were edged out 3-2 by Slovenian champions ZNK Mura in their Women's Champions League qualifying tie in Cyprus on Wednesday.

The Irish Women's Premiership holders found themselves a goal down after 14 minutes when Sara Makovec drilled a shot past Glens goalkeeper Ashleigh McKinnon.

Yana Malakhova increased her side's advantage two minutes before the half-hour mark as she took a touch around the keeper and slotted home the second.

Noelle Vilcnik added the third from the penalty spot 10 minutes after half-time.

Mura will now face Cypriot hosts Apollon Limassol on Saturday for a place in the second round of qualifying, following their 3-0 victory over Armenian side Pyunik, while Glentoran and Pyunik will meet in a third-place play-off.

Click here to read the full story.

Piotr, Arsenal fan

Image source, SNS

Saoirse Noonan's hat-trick inspired Celtic as they came from behind to beat KuPS of Finland after extra-time and reach their mini-tournament final at the first stage of Women's Champions League qualifying.

Roosa Ariyo fired the Kansallinen Liiga champions ahead after 18 minutes in Lithuania, but substitute forward Noonan headed the equaliser after the break before slotting two more in added time.

Celtic will face hosts Gintra - who beat Moldovan side Anenii Noi 5-0 in their first qualifying match - at Siauliai Central Stadium in Saturday's final.

As first-time Scottish champions, Celtic headed to Lithuania ranked 74th in Europe, the lowest of the four sides in their mini qualifying tournament - 20 adrift of Gintra, 10 places below KuPS and two behind Anenii Noi.

Click here to read the full story.

Image source, Getty Images

After Wednesday's win, Arsenal will have another match on Saturday for the chance to reach the second round of qualifying.

Arsenal will play Norwegian side Rosenborg - victory in that match would see them join WSL rivals Manchester City in the final stage of qualifying for the group stages, which the Gunners failed to reach last season.

Saturday's game, also at Meadow Park, will kick off at 19:30 BST.

Jonny, London.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport senior women's football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Caitlin Foord scored four goals as Arsenal progressed from their first tie of Women's Champions League qualifying with a comfortable victory over Rangers.

Jonas Eidevall's side were playing their first competitive match of the season at Meadow Park and were rarely challenged by the SWPL leaders.

Having failed to progress from qualifying last season, Arsenal knew there was no room for error and they came out of the blocks quickly.

"I enjoyed it. I had fun. I was extremely excited to get back out there in Arsenal colours," said Foord.

"Having the type of players we have on the ball to put those crosses in like that, I just knew I had to get on the end of them. I'm happy to see a few go in!"

• Click here to read the full story.