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Premier League Young Players of the Year

Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi and Burnley’s Dwight McNeil should have been on the PFA’s shortlist for young player of the year. Composite: Danehouse/Getty Images; PA; CameraSport via Getty Images
Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi and Burnley’s Dwight McNeil should have been on the PFA’s shortlist for young player of the year. Composite: Danehouse/Getty Images; PA; CameraSport via Getty Images
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Premier League Young Players of the Year

Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi and Burnley’s Dwight McNeil should have been on the PFA’s shortlist for young player of the year. Composite: Danehouse/Getty Images; PA; CameraSport via Getty Images
Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi and Burnley’s Dwight McNeil should have been on the PFA’s shortlist for young player of the year. Composite: Danehouse/Getty Images; PA; CameraSport via Getty Images

When the nominees for the PFA awards were announced last week, the debate about what constitutes a young player in today’s game was reignited. The general consensus is that Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva – both of whom merit their places in the overall player of the year shortlist – are, at 24, a little too old to qualify for the junior award as well. Silva turned 24 two days before Manchester City’s campaign began and Sterling will be 25 before the year is out. So, rather than including players who were 23 or under on the first day of the season, we have picked six candidates who were 21 or under at the start of the campaign.

6. Ben Chilwell, Leicester City

The Leicester full-back is currently Gareth Southgate’s first choice on the left of his back four for good reason. He has been a near ever-present for his club this season, making important contributions at both ends of the pitch.

Chilwell, who turned 22 in December, has won the most aerial duels of any full-back in the league (104) at a solid 59.4% success rate given he isn’t the tallest. He has also put his pace and energy to good use in attack. Only three defenders have created more chances in the division (41) and only two have completed more dribbles (43). His four assists helped Leicester win points they would not have done otherwise against Cardiff, Liverpool and West Ham.

5. Dwight McNeil, Burnley

The impact teenager McNeil has had on a Burnley side severely lacking in pace and creativity since the turn of the year has been abundantly clear. The former Manchester United youth player made his first appearance of the season against his former club back in September, but only really established himself in the side in December.

Since then the 19-year-old has been the star of the show for Sean Dyche’s side, having had a hand in eight goals (three goals, five assists) in 18 league appearances. Eight of the team’s 11 wins this season have come in McNeil’s 17 starts and their goal difference has jumped from -22 without the winger to +4 when he has played.

4. James Maddison, Leicester

The second of three Leicester players on this shortlist – all of whom missed out on the PFA shortlist – Maddison has made the step up to the top flight with impressive ease. The 22-year-old playmaker has played in a variety of midfield roles this season and has never looked out of place.

His ability at set pieces – both in shooting and delivering into the box – has been a plain to see, helping him pick up seven goals and six assists. Maddison has created more chances than any other player in the Premier League (94) and only Atalanta midfielder Alejandro Gómez has created more in Europe’s top five leagues.

3. Wilfred Ndidi, Leicester

Nigeria international Ndidi is a remarkably mature presence in the Leicester midfield given he only turned 22 in December. The ballwinner has adapted to English football seamlessly since his arrival from Genk in 2017 and has been a mainstay for the Foxes ever since.

His job in the team is to regain and recycle possession, and he performs it brilliantly. He has won more tackles than any other player (131) in the league so far this season – a feat he also achieved last season. Having also won more aerial duels than any other midfielder (126), the Nigerian deserves more recognition.

2. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool

The only player here who also made the PFA shortlist, Alexander-Arnold has stepped up and become an important player for a title-chasing team – and all at the age of 20. Not only is he part of the best defence in the division – Liverpool have conceded just 20 goals in 35 league games – but he has also offered his team an attacking threat.

He has racked up eight assists in the league – a tally that goes up to 10 when Champions League games are factored in – proving just how important the full-backs are in Jürgen Klopp’s system (the only Liverpool player with more assists this season is Andrew Robertson, their other full-back). Alexander-Arnold is a true superstar in the making.

1. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Crystal Palace

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is surely Alexander-Arnold’s future competitor for the right-back role in the England side. Having emerged in the Crystal Palace first team at the tail end of last season, Wan-Bissaka has been a revelation this season and is unsurprisingly attracting interest from the country’s richest clubs.

The 21-year-old has won 120 tackles this season – third in the league behind Ndidi and Idrissa Gueye – and he has only been dribbled past nine times all campaign. A master of the sliding tackle, the Palace star has the pace to bail him out of trouble if needed but the timing of his challenges is frankly freakish for a player of his age. Having made the third most interceptions in the league (78) and second most dribbles of all defenders (54), Wan-Bissaka should not only be on the PFA shortlist but he should be a genuine contender to win the award outright.

The Guardian Sport

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‘Don’t Jump in Them’: Olympic Athletes’ Medals Break During Celebrations

Gold medalists team USA celebrate during the medal ceremony after the Team Event Free Skating of the Figure Skating competitions at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, in Milan, Italy, 08 February 2026. (EPA)
Gold medalists team USA celebrate during the medal ceremony after the Team Event Free Skating of the Figure Skating competitions at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, in Milan, Italy, 08 February 2026. (EPA)
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‘Don’t Jump in Them’: Olympic Athletes’ Medals Break During Celebrations

Gold medalists team USA celebrate during the medal ceremony after the Team Event Free Skating of the Figure Skating competitions at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, in Milan, Italy, 08 February 2026. (EPA)
Gold medalists team USA celebrate during the medal ceremony after the Team Event Free Skating of the Figure Skating competitions at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, in Milan, Italy, 08 February 2026. (EPA)

Handle with care. That's the message from gold medalist Breezy Johnson at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics after she and other athletes found their medals broke within hours.

Olympic organizers are investigating with "maximum attention" after a spate of medals have fallen off their ribbons during celebrations on the opening weekend of the Games.

"Don’t jump in them. I was jumping in excitement, and it broke," women's downhill ski gold medalist Johnson said after her win Sunday. "I’m sure somebody will fix it. It’s not crazy broken, but a little broken."

TV footage broadcast in Germany captured the moment biathlete Justus Strelow realized the mixed relay bronze he'd won Sunday had fallen off the ribbon around his neck and clattered to the floor as he danced along to a song with teammates.

His German teammates cheered as Strelow tried without success to reattach the medal before realizing a smaller piece, seemingly the clasp, had broken off and was still on the floor.

US figure skater Alysa Liu posted a clip on social media of her team event gold medal, detached from its official ribbon.

"My medal don’t need the ribbon," Liu wrote early Monday.

Andrea Francisi, the chief games operations officer for the Milan Cortina organizing committee, said it was working on a solution.

"We are aware of the situation, we have seen the images. Obviously we are trying to understand in detail if there is a problem," Francisi said Monday.

"But obviously we are paying maximum attention to this matter, as the medal is the dream of the athletes, so we want that obviously in the moment they are given it that everything is absolutely perfect, because we really consider it to be the most important moment. So we are working on it."

It isn't the first time the quality of Olympic medals has come under scrutiny.

Following the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, some medals had to be replaced after athletes complained they were starting to tarnish or corrode, giving them a mottled look likened to crocodile skin.

Sports

African Players in Europe: Ouattara Fires Another Winner for Bees

Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Brentford - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - February 7, 2026 Brentford's Dango Ouattara celebrates scoring their third goal with Brentford's Rico Henry. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Brentford - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - February 7, 2026 Brentford's Dango Ouattara celebrates scoring their third goal with Brentford's Rico Henry. (Reuters)
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African Players in Europe: Ouattara Fires Another Winner for Bees

Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Brentford - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - February 7, 2026 Brentford's Dango Ouattara celebrates scoring their third goal with Brentford's Rico Henry. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Brentford - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - February 7, 2026 Brentford's Dango Ouattara celebrates scoring their third goal with Brentford's Rico Henry. (Reuters)

Burkina Faso striker Dango Ouattara was the Brentford match-winner for the second straight weekend when they triumphed 3-2 at Newcastle United.

The 23-year-old struck in the 85th minute of a seesaw Premier League struggle in northeast England. The Bees trailed and led before securing three points to go seventh in the table.

Last weekend, Ouattara dented the title hopes of third-placed Aston Villa by scoring the only goal at Villa Park.

AFP Sport highlights African headline-makers in the major European leagues:

ENGLAND

DANGO OUATTARA (Brentford)

With the match at Newcastle locked at 2-2, the Burkinabe sealed victory for the visitors at St James' Park by driving a left-footed shot past Magpies goalkeeper Nick Pope to give the Bees a first win on Tyneside since 1934. Ouattara also provided the cross that led to Vitaly Janelt's headed equalizer after Brentford had fallen 1-0 behind.

BRYAN MBEUMO (Manchester Utd)

The Cameroon forward helped the Red Devils extend their perfect record under caretaker manager Michael Carrick to four games by scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 win over Tottenham after Spurs had been reduced to 10 men by captain Cristian Romero's red card.

ISMAILA SARR (Crystal Palace)

The Eagles ended their 12-match winless run with a 1-0 victory at bitter rivals Brighton thanks to Senegal international Sarr's 61st-minute goal when played in by substitute Evann Guessand, the Ivory Coast forward making an immediate impact on his Palace debut after joining on loan from Aston Villa during the January transfer window.

ITALY

LAMECK BANDA (Lecce)

Banda scored direct from a 90th-minute free-kick outside the area to give lowly Leece a precious 2-1 Serie A victory at home against mid-table Udinese. It was the third league goal this season for the 25-year-old Zambia winger. Leece lie 17th, one place and three points above the relegation zone.

GERMANY

SERHOU GUIRASSY (Borussia Dortmund)

Guirassy produced a moment of quality just when Dortmund needed it against Wolfsburg. Felix Nmecha's silky exchange with Fabio Silva allowed the Guinean to sweep in an 87th-minute winner for his ninth Bundesliga goal of the season. The 29-year-old has scored or assisted in four of his last five games.

RANSFORD KOENIGSDOERFFER (Hamburg)

A first-half thunderbolt from Ghana striker Koenigsdoerffer put Hamburg on track for a 2-0 victory at Heidenheim. It was their first away win of the season. Nigerian winger Philip Otele, making his Hamburg debut, split the defense with a clever pass to Koenigsdoerffer, who hit a shot low and hard to open the scoring in first-half stoppage time.

FRANCE

ISSA SOUMARE (Le Havre)

An opportunist goal by Soumare on 54 minutes gave Le Havre a 2-1 home win over Strasbourg in Ligue 1. The Senegalese received the ball just inside the area and stroked it into the far corner of the net as he fell.

Sports

Olympic Town Warms up as Climate Change Puts Winter Games on Thin Ice

Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics - Alpine Skiing - Men's Team Combined Downhill - Stelvio Ski Centre, Bormio, Italy - February 09, 2026. Alexis Monney of Switzerland in action during the Men's Team Combined Downhill. (Reuters)
Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics - Alpine Skiing - Men's Team Combined Downhill - Stelvio Ski Centre, Bormio, Italy - February 09, 2026. Alexis Monney of Switzerland in action during the Men's Team Combined Downhill. (Reuters)
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Olympic Town Warms up as Climate Change Puts Winter Games on Thin Ice

Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics - Alpine Skiing - Men's Team Combined Downhill - Stelvio Ski Centre, Bormio, Italy - February 09, 2026. Alexis Monney of Switzerland in action during the Men's Team Combined Downhill. (Reuters)
Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics - Alpine Skiing - Men's Team Combined Downhill - Stelvio Ski Centre, Bormio, Italy - February 09, 2026. Alexis Monney of Switzerland in action during the Men's Team Combined Downhill. (Reuters)

Olympic fans came to Cortina with heavy winter coats and gloves. Those coats were unzipped Sunday and gloves pocketed as snow melted from rooftops — signs of a warming world.

“I definitely thought we’d be wearing all the layers,” said Jay Tucker, who came from Virginia to cheer on Team USA and bought hand warmers and heated socks in preparation. “I don’t even have gloves on.”

The timing of winter, the amount of snowfall and temperatures are all less reliable and less predictable because Earth is warming at a record rate, said Shel Winkley, a Climate Central meteorologist. This poses a growing and significant challenge for organizers of winter sports; The International Olympic Committee said last week it could move up the start date for future Winter Games to January from February because of rising temperatures.

While the beginning of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina truly had a wintry feel, as the town was blanketed in heavy snow, the temperature reached about 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.5 degrees Celsius) Sunday afternoon. It felt hotter in the sun.

This type of February “warmth” for Cortina is made at least three times more likely due to climate change, Winkley said. In the 70 years since Cortina first held the Winter Games, February temperatures there have climbed 6.4 degrees Fahrenheit (3.6 degrees Celsius), he added.

For the Milan Cortina Games, there's an added layer of complexity. It’s the most spread-out Winter Games in history, so Olympic venues are in localities with very different weather conditions. Bormio and Livigno, for example, are less than an hour apart by car, but they are separated by a high mountain pass that can divide the two places climatically.

The organizing committee is working closely with four regional and provincial public weather agencies. It has positioned weather sensors at strategic points for the competitions, including close to the ski jumping ramps, along the Alpine skiing tracks and at the biathlon shooting range.

Where automatic stations cannot collect everything of interest, the committee has observers — “scientists of the snow”— from the agencies ready to collect data, according to Matteo Pasotti, a weather specialist for the organizing committee.

The hope? Clear skies, light winds and low temperatures on race days to ensure good visibility and preserve the snow layer.

The reality: “It’s actually pretty warm out. We expected it to be a lot colder,” said Karli Poliziani, an American who lives in Milan. Poliziani was in Cortina with her father, who considered going out Sunday in just a sweatshirt.

And forecasts indicate that more days with above-average temperatures lie ahead for the Olympic competitions, Pasotti said.

Weather plays a critical role in the smooth running and safety of winter sports competitions, according to Filippo Bazzanella, head of sport services and planning for the organizing committee. High temperatures can impact the snow layer on Alpine skiing courses and visibility is essential. Humidity and high temperatures can affect the quality of the ice at indoor arenas and sliding centers, too.

Visibility and wind are the two factors most likely to cause changes to the competition schedule, Bazzanella added. Wind can be a safety issue or a fairness one, such as in the biathlon where slight variations can disrupt the athletes' precise shooting.

American alpine skier Jackie Wiles said many races this year have been challenging because of the weather.

“I feel like we’re pretty good about keeping our heads in the game because a lot of people are going to get taken out by that immediately,” she said at a team press conference last week. “Having that mindset of: it’s going to be what it’s going to be, and we still have to go out there and fight like hell regardless.”