Porto’s Gonzalez Hands MVP Award to Ball Boy Who Started Winning Goal Move

 FC Porto's Brazilian forward #11 Pepe celebrates scoring his team's second goal the Portuguese league football match between FC Porto and SC Braga, at the Dragao stadium in Porto on October 6, 2024. (AFP)
FC Porto's Brazilian forward #11 Pepe celebrates scoring his team's second goal the Portuguese league football match between FC Porto and SC Braga, at the Dragao stadium in Porto on October 6, 2024. (AFP)
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Porto’s Gonzalez Hands MVP Award to Ball Boy Who Started Winning Goal Move

 FC Porto's Brazilian forward #11 Pepe celebrates scoring his team's second goal the Portuguese league football match between FC Porto and SC Braga, at the Dragao stadium in Porto on October 6, 2024. (AFP)
FC Porto's Brazilian forward #11 Pepe celebrates scoring his team's second goal the Portuguese league football match between FC Porto and SC Braga, at the Dragao stadium in Porto on October 6, 2024. (AFP)

Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez, who assisted in the winning goal during Sunday's 2-1 home win over Braga in the Portuguese league, gave his MVP award to the ball boy whose quick supply started the move that led to the goal.

The ball boy's quick throw to Martim Fernandes helped the defender find Gonzalez with a prompt throw-in. Gonzalez played a one-two with forward Pepe before sending it through to the box, with Pepe's right-footed shot going past the keeper near the far post.

The 59th-minute goal restored the hosts' lead, ensuring second-placed Porto's seventh win in eight league matches as they trail defending champions Sporting by three points.

Gonzalez handed the ball boy his MVP award after the match.

"We got another three points today thanks to him too. He'll get the tribute he deserves," Porto head coach Vitor Bruno told reporters.

"These boys are very important. It's also necessary for those who are on the sidelines and don't directly interact with the game to realize how they can help, even from the sidelines."

Porto, who held Manchester United 3-3 in the Europa League last week, will visit Sintrense in a Portuguese Cup match on Oct. 20.



Onana to Miss Belgium Matches Due to Hamstring Injury

Football - Champions League - Aston Villa v Bayern Munich - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - October 2, 2024 Aston Villa's Amadou Onana celebrates after the match. (Reuters)
Football - Champions League - Aston Villa v Bayern Munich - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - October 2, 2024 Aston Villa's Amadou Onana celebrates after the match. (Reuters)
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Onana to Miss Belgium Matches Due to Hamstring Injury

Football - Champions League - Aston Villa v Bayern Munich - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - October 2, 2024 Aston Villa's Amadou Onana celebrates after the match. (Reuters)
Football - Champions League - Aston Villa v Bayern Munich - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - October 2, 2024 Aston Villa's Amadou Onana celebrates after the match. (Reuters)

Belgium defensive midfielder Amadou Onana will miss this month's Nations League matches due to a hamstring injury, the national team said on Monday.

VfL Wolfsburg midfielder Aster Vranckx has been called up to replace Onana for the games against Italy and France on Oct. 10 and 14, the team posted on X.

Onana, 23, missed Aston Villa's goalless draw with Manchester United on Sunday after picking up the injury during their 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Belgium, who beat Israel and lost to France in their first two group matches, will also be without captain Kevin De Bruyne, who was injured playing for Manchester City last month.