&lt;p&gt;With just two games left, the NFC North is still up for grabs, and the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/detroit-lions&quot;&gt;Detroit Lions&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; are still dreaming of a playoff berth. Securing a win against the &lt;strong&gt;Minnesota Vikings&lt;/strong&gt; on &lt;strong&gt;Christmas Day&lt;/strong&gt; will be crucial, making the presence of &lt;strong&gt;Amon-Ra St. Brown&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;David Montgomery&lt;/strong&gt; on offense potentially key to their success.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;According to the &lt;em&gt;official NFL website&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;both players were listed as questionable&lt;/strong&gt; for the game at US Bank Stadium. However, according to the latest report from Ian Rapoport on X,&lt;strong&gt; all indications are that both St. Brown and &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/david-montgomery&quot;&gt;Montgomery&lt;/a&gt; are expected to play.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;It’s undoubtedly a huge boost for &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jared-goff&quot;&gt;Jared Goff&lt;/a&gt; to have both players on the field, especially since a win is the only result that matters to keep Lions’ hopes alive for a Wild Card spot.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;What injuries are affecting St. Brown and Montgomery?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;St. Brown is dealing with knee irritation&lt;/strong&gt; that limited his practice participation throughout the week, while &lt;strong&gt;Montgomery was a late addition to the injury report due to an illness.&lt;/strong&gt; Although both stars are technically game-time decisions, recent reports suggest they are likely to play through their respective issues to help the Lions in this crucial divisional clash.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_551305_David-Montgomery-running-back-of-the-Detroit-Lions_47f604eb.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;David Montgomery, running back of the Detroit Lions&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-249779&quot; sizes=&quot;(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;David Montgomery, running back of the Detroit Lions&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;The impact of both players on the offense&lt;/h2&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nfl/nfl-on-christmas-2025-which-quarterbacks-are-starting-today&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Amon-Ra St. Brown and David Montgomery have been the offensive engines for the Lions this season, consistently delivering elite production. &lt;strong&gt;St. Brown&lt;/strong&gt; has established himself as a premier target with &lt;strong&gt;98 receptions for 1,194 yards and 11 touchdowns, maintaining an impressive 12.2 average per catch.&lt;/strong&gt; Meanwhile, &lt;strong&gt;Montgomery&lt;/strong&gt; has been a force on the ground, &lt;strong&gt;racking up 649 yards and 8 touchdowns on 140 carries, averaging a solid 4.6 yards per attempt.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_551305_Amon-Ra-St.-Brown_d9ba0ea0.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14)&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-285147&quot; sizes=&quot;(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;The playoff dream&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;With a current record of eight wins and seven losses, the Detroit Lions are still in the hunt for a playoff spot in the NFC North. Ahead of their matchup against the Vikings, the &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.nfl.com/standings/playoff-picture&quot;&gt;official NFL website&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt; lists &lt;strong&gt;their chances of securing a Wild Card at 6%, but a win could boost that to 9%.&lt;/strong&gt; Is it enough? No. But the dream remains alive.&lt;/p&gt;

Are Amon-Ra St. Brown and David Montgomery playing for the Lions in Christmas Day game vs. Vikings?

Are Amon-Ra St. Brown and David Montgomery playing for the Lions in Christmas Day game vs. Vikings? - Bolavip US

miniaturas

&lt;p&gt;Week 17 of the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nfl&quot;&gt;NFL&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; is not only one of the most decisive slates of the season, with several teams fighting for their postseason hopes, but it also delivers the traditional &lt;strong&gt;Christmas&lt;/strong&gt; showdowns. Three games, six quarterbacks, a mix of new faces and established stars will take the field in a must-watch holiday showcase.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The slate kicks off at Northwest Stadium, where the &lt;strong&gt;Washington Commanders will host the Dallas Cowboys&lt;/strong&gt; in a head-to-head NFC East showdown. With both teams already eliminated from playoff contention, &lt;strong&gt;America’s Team will be led by veteran quarterback &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/dak-prescott&quot;&gt;Dak Prescott&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, while the &lt;strong&gt;Commanders will turn to Josh Johnson&lt;/strong&gt; under center following the absences of Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Next up, the spotlight shifts to the NFC North. The Minnesota Vikings will host the Detroit Lions, who are still dreaming of a playoff berth. The &lt;strong&gt;home team will lean on Max Brosmer&lt;/strong&gt; as its primary signal-caller, while &lt;strong&gt;Dan Campbell will once again put his trust in &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jared-goff&quot;&gt;Jared Goff&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; to lead Detroit in pursuit of a crucial victory.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The main stage of &lt;strong&gt;TNF will be set at Arrowhead Stadium&lt;/strong&gt;, where the &lt;strong&gt;Kansas City Chiefs will host the AFC’s current No. 1 seed, the Denver Broncos&lt;/strong&gt;. Andy Reid will be forced to fill the void left by &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/patrick-mahomes&quot;&gt;Patrick Mahomes&lt;/a&gt; and Gardner Minshew, &lt;strong&gt;turning to Chris Oladokun under center,&lt;/strong&gt; while the &lt;strong&gt;visitors will look to Bo Nix as their leading figure on the night.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_551261_dak-prescott-9_1e5b2844.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Dak Prescott Dallas Cowboys&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-546044&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Three starters sidelined by injury&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;This year’s NFL Christmas slate &lt;strong&gt;has lost a significant amount of star power&lt;/strong&gt; due to a string of unfortunate quarterback injuries. The &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kansas-city-chiefs&quot;&gt;Kansas City Chiefs&lt;/a&gt; will be without Patrick Mahomes, who &lt;strong&gt;suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee&lt;/strong&gt; during a Week 15 matchup against the Chargers; the injury required surgery and has sidelined the three-time MVP for the remainder of the year. &lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nfl/whos-performing-with-snoop-dogg-in-the-halftime-show-of-the-vikings-vs-lions-2025-nfl-christmas-game&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Similarly, the Washington &lt;strong&gt;Commanders have officially shut down &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jayden-daniels&quot;&gt;Jayden Daniels&lt;/a&gt; for the season&lt;/strong&gt; after he reaggravated a dislocated elbow that had plagued him since mid-season. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Lastly, the Minnesota Vikings’&lt;strong&gt; &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jj-mccarthy&quot;&gt;J.J. McCarthy&lt;/a&gt; was ruled out specifically for the holiday game&lt;/strong&gt; after imaging revealed a hairline fracture in his right throwing hand, an injury sustained when he struck a defender’s helmet in a previous game. These absences mean all three Christmas matchups will feature backup signal-callers, shifting the focus from elite quarterback duels to a test of roster depth.&lt;/p&gt;

NFL on Christmas 2025: Which quarterbacks are starting today?

NFL on Christmas 2025: Which quarterbacks are starting today? - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Christmas Day in the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nfl&quot;&gt;NFL&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; isn’t only about kickoff times and playoff stakes. Before the first snap, stadiums pause for a tradition that sets the tone, as music and football meet under holiday lights and a national spotlight, steeped in ceremony.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;With multiple games on the slate, &lt;strong&gt;the league treats the anthem as part of the show&lt;/strong&gt;. Performers are chosen to match the moment, blending symbolism and the unique weight that comes with singing before millions watching worldwide.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;As the 2025 season reaches its festive showcase, anticipation builds around who will take the microphone. The answers reveal how the NFL curates its biggest days, balancing spectacle and the stories behind each voice on stage.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;SZN4 to perform the national anthem at Cowboys vs. Commanders&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/dallas-cowboys&quot;&gt;Dallas Cowboys&lt;/a&gt;’ Christmas Day clash against the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/washington-commanders&quot;&gt;Washington Commanders&lt;/a&gt; will begin with a fresh voice. &lt;strong&gt;SZN4&lt;/strong&gt;, the vocal group that emerged from Netflix’s Building the Band, &lt;strong&gt;has been selected to perform the national anthem&lt;/strong&gt; ahead of the holiday matchup.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_551272_SZN4_7085359d.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-551276&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;SZN4 arrives as Universal Pictures presents the “HIM” Premiere in 2025 (Source: Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Universal Pictures)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The announcement was made through social media, accompanied by a short video that highlighted the group’s rapid rise. What began as an experimental formation on a streaming competition has now led to a live performance before &lt;strong&gt;one of the most watched regular-season games&lt;/strong&gt;, streamed globally on Netflix.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;“&lt;em&gt;We’re back on Netflix. We’re so honored to be a part of the biggest event of the year. See you on Christmas Day&lt;/em&gt;”, the group wrote, capturing the significance of the moment. For them, the anthem performance is more than a gig, it’s a &lt;strong&gt;full-circle milestone on the platform that launched their career.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Scheduled for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff, Cowboys vs. Commanders will open the NFL’s Christmas slate, positioning &lt;strong&gt;SZN4 as the first musical act viewers encounter&lt;/strong&gt; as the day’s coverage begins. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Although they finished as runners-up, the quartet — &lt;strong&gt;Aaliyah Rose, Cameron Goode&lt;/strong&gt;,&lt;strong&gt; Donzell Taggart &lt;/strong&gt;and&lt;strong&gt; Katie Roeder&lt;/strong&gt; — built momentum beyond the series. Their return to Netflix, this time as part of an NFL broadcast, reflects how quickly that exposure translated into real-world opportunities.&lt;/p&gt;

Who are singing the national anthems before the 2025 NFL Christmas games?

Who are singing the national anthems before the 2025 NFL Christmas games? - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Christmas Day football&lt;/strong&gt; has evolved into a prime-time spectacle, where the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nfl&quot;&gt;NFL&lt;/a&gt; now blends high-stakes matchups with headline-grabbing entertainment. In 2025, that fusion reaches a new level with &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nfl/whos-performing-with-snoop-dogg-in-the-halftime-show-of-the-vikings-vs-lions-2025-nfl-christmas-game&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Snoop Dogg&lt;/strong&gt; taking center stage at halftime&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;As &lt;strong&gt;Netflix&lt;/strong&gt; continues to reshape how fans experience holiday games, the spotlight isn’t only on the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/minnesota-vikings&quot;&gt;Vikings&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; and&lt;strong&gt; &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/detroit-lions&quot;&gt;Lions&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;. Big productions, global audiences and major artists raise an inevitable question about what goes on behind the scenes.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Halftime shows &lt;/strong&gt;have long walked a line between exposure and compensation. With the rapper’s name attached to one of the &lt;strong&gt;NFL’s most visible stages&lt;/strong&gt; of the season, attention turns to how these performances are valued.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Is Snoop Dogg being paid for the Vikings vs. Lions halftime performance?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;When news broke that &lt;strong&gt;Snoop Dogg&lt;/strong&gt; would headline the halftime performance of the Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings Christmas Day game, part of &lt;strong&gt;Netflix’s NFL Christmas Gameday&lt;/strong&gt;, fans wondered not just who would be on stage but whether the legendary rapper was earning a payday for it.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_551022_Snoop-Dogg-4_09c7ba92.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-551023&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Snoop Dogg in 2025 (Source: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Snoop’s Holiday Halftime Party&lt;/strong&gt;, set for December 25 and streaming live on Netflix, promises festive hits and a lineup of exciting guests, including Lainey Wilson and the voices behind KPop Demon Hunters.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Historically, however, big-stage &lt;strong&gt;NFL halftime performances&lt;/strong&gt;, including the most famous ones at the Super Bowl, &lt;strong&gt;don’t come with a traditional performance fee from the league itself&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/super-bowl&quot;&gt;Super Bowl&lt;/a&gt; acts like Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce and others have historically performed without direct payment from the NFL, with costs covered instead by the league’s production budget and travel expenses.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;While Netflix’s Christmas Gameday is a newer spectacle unconnected to the traditional Super Bowl model, &lt;strong&gt;there’s no official confirmation that Snoop’s deal includes a direct paycheck&lt;/strong&gt;. Even in major music-sport collaborations, artists often treat the platform as a &lt;strong&gt;promotional stage&lt;/strong&gt; rather than a direct income source.&lt;/p&gt;

Is Snoop Dogg getting paid for performing at halftime show of the Vikings vs Lions 2025 NFL game on Christmas?

Is Snoop Dogg getting paid for performing at halftime show of the Vikings vs Lions 2025 NFL game on Christmas? - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nfl&quot;&gt;NFL&lt;/a&gt;’s Christmas Day&lt;/strong&gt; slate has quickly become more than just football, and in 2025, Netflix&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;is doubling down on that formula. What started as a bold streaming experiment is now shaping into a full-scale holiday event, blending marquee matchups with global music stars.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/minnesota-vikings&quot;&gt;Minnesota Vikings&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; vs. &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/detroit-lions&quot;&gt;Detroit Lions&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; clash in Minneapolis will be no exception. This year’s late-afternoon showdown between NFC North rivals carries playoff implications, but it also comes with a halftime show designed for a worldwide audience.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;At the center of it all is &lt;strong&gt;Snoop Dogg&lt;/strong&gt;, who will headline the halftime performance during the game. The West Coast legend brings star power, crossover appeal and a sense of spectacle that fits perfectly with &lt;strong&gt;Netflix’s vision for its Christmas showcase&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Snoop Dogg confirmed as headliner and special guests expected&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Snoop Dogg will take the stage during halftime&lt;/strong&gt; of the Vikings vs. Lions game on December 25, live from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The performance, branded as &lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Snoop’s Holiday Halftime Party&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, is expected to blend his most recognizable hits with a festive twist, tailored for a global holiday audience.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_550982_Snoop-Dogg_66be3f21.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-550992&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;(Source: Netflix and Minnesota Vikings)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Snoop himself leaned into the scale of the moment, saying: “&lt;em&gt;NFL, Netflix and your uncle Snoop on Christmas Day? We’re servin’ up music, love and good vibes for the whole world to enjoy. That’s the kind of holiday magic Santa can’t fit in a bag&lt;/em&gt;”.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Given his long history of collaborations across hip-hop, pop and funk, anticipation is already building around who might appear alongside him during the show. There’s no doubt this year’s show will surprise once again, as the guest performers have already been confirmed.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;One of them is &lt;strong&gt;country singer Lainey Wilson&lt;/strong&gt;, with some of today’s most talked-about acts set to join later, including &lt;strong&gt;HUNTR/X (EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami)&lt;/strong&gt;, the group behind Netflix’s &lt;em&gt;K-Pop Demon Hunters&lt;/em&gt;. &lt;strong&gt;More surprise guests are expected&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Netflix turns Christmas Day into a global NFL spectacle&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The Lions–Vikings game will air at 4:30 pm ET as part of Netflix’s 2025 NFL Christmas Gameday, following an earlier matchup between the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/dallas-cowboys&quot;&gt;Cowboys&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/washington-commanders&quot;&gt;Commanders&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;strong&gt;Both games will stream live on the platform&lt;/strong&gt;, with traditional CBS broadcasts available in local markets.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Netflix executives have made it clear that the halftime show is a key pillar of the event. &lt;strong&gt;Bela Bajaria&lt;/strong&gt;, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, highlighted the crossover appeal of pairing the NFL with a cultural icon like Snoop Dogg, calling it &lt;strong&gt;a defining moment for the holiday slate&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The announcement was reinforced by a promotional video narrated by funk legend &lt;strong&gt;George Clinton&lt;/strong&gt;, underscoring the music-forward identity Netflix wants to build around Christmas Day football.&lt;/p&gt;

Who’s performing with Snoop Dogg in the halftime show of the Vikings vs Lions 2025 NFL Christmas game?

Who's performing with Snoop Dogg in the halftime show of the Vikings vs Lions 2025 NFL Christmas game? - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-phillies&quot;&gt;Philadelphia Phillies&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; continue to operate under the assumption that retaining &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jt-realmuto&quot;&gt;J.T. Realmuto&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; is the preferred outcome, but confidence has not translated into closure. Despite extending an offer weeks ago, &lt;strong&gt;the organization has yet to receive a response from its longtime catcher&lt;/strong&gt;, opening the door to alternative planning.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Realmuto’s importance goes well beyond his offensive production&lt;/strong&gt;. He remains central to how the Phillies manage their pitching staff, game preparation, and clubhouse leadership. Still, silence from his camp has forced the front office to prepare for a scenario that once felt unlikely. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;As the market develops, Philadelphia is now balancing patience with pragmatism, aware that viable catching options are scarce — and increasingly mindful that a &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb/phillies-must-make-key-decision-regarding-jt-realmutos-contract-standoff&quot;&gt;looming decision on JT Realmuto’s contract standoff&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; may force the Phillies to start evaluating other alternatives.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;How would the Phillies replace JT Realmuto if he leaves?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;According to &lt;em&gt;NBC Sports Philadelphia&lt;/em&gt; insider Cole Weintraub, the Phillies’ contingency plan would not involve free agency. &lt;em&gt;“&lt;strong&gt;Any contingency plan would more likely come via trade than from a thin free-agent catching class,&lt;/strong&gt;”&lt;/em&gt; Weintraub wrote, emphasizing how limited the open market is at the position.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_551256_realmuto-jt_3c92db2c.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-551257&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&amp;nbsp;J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies runs to third base. Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Realmuto remains the top catcher available, which helps explain why his market has been stronger than expected. Even in a down offensive year—&lt;strong&gt;.257/.315/.384 with 12 home runs and a .700 OPS&lt;/strong&gt;—his overall value continues to outpace alternatives.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/mlb-rumors-ny-yankees-appear-unlikely-to-pursue-tatsuya-imai-amid-cody-bellinger-uncertainty&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;Realmuto still holds the leverage&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Philadelphia originally acquired Realmuto in a 2019 trade with the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-marlins&quot;&gt;Miami Marlins&lt;/a&gt;, and he has been the club’s everyday catcher ever since. That continuity, combined with his leadership, gives him significant leverage in negotiations.&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_poll&quot; id=&quot;694d3a36e2d53b59fb2f06de&quot; data-title=&quot;How should the Phillies handle a potential J.T. Realmuto departure?&quot; data-options=&quot;4&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Whether the Phillies ultimately meet &lt;strong&gt;Realmuto’s price or pivot toward a trade remains unresolved. &lt;/strong&gt;What is clear is that time, rather than urgency, is shaping this standoff—and the next move could define the roster’s foundation for years to come.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        

MLB Rumors: Phillies could activate contingency plan as J.T. Realmuto’s future remains uncertain

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MLB Rumors: Phillies could activate contingency plan as J.T. Realmuto's future remains uncertain - Bolavip US

Phillies could activate contingency plan as J.T. Realmuto's future remains uncertain

destacadas

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-yankees&quot;&gt;New York Yankees&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; continue to take a measured approach this offseason, and one potential avenue now appears to be closing. Despite recent speculation, the organization is not expected to pursue Japanese right-hander &lt;strong&gt;Tatsuya Imai&lt;/strong&gt;. With uncertainty still surrounding &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cody-bellinger&quot;&gt;Cody Bellinger&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;’s future in the Bronx, New York appears reluctant to make additional high-commitment moves.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;With several starters facing delayed returns in 2026, the &lt;strong&gt;Yankees were loosely connected to Imai in recent weeks as a possible reinforcement&lt;/strong&gt;. His power arm and availability on the international market made him a natural fit for speculation, especially given the club’s historical ties to Japanese pitchers.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;However, internal sentiment suggests &lt;strong&gt;New York may be comfortable standing pat rather than making a significant move&lt;/strong&gt;, even as questions persist about the rotation’s short-term stability.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Are the Yankees truly out on Tatsuya Imai?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;That speculation cooled considerably Tuesday night when &lt;em&gt;YES Netwo&lt;/em&gt;r&lt;em&gt;k&lt;/em&gt; insider &lt;em&gt;Jack Curry &lt;/em&gt;addressed the rumors directly. Speaking on a Hot Stove segment, Curry made it clear the connection never materialized. &lt;em&gt;“&lt;strong&gt;The Yankees’ connection to Tatsuya Imai does not exist,&lt;/strong&gt;”&lt;/em&gt; Curry said, dismissing reports that had linked the two sides.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_551250_Tatsuya-Imai-pitching_d5ba7912.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Tatsuya Imai pitching&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-539297&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Tatsuya Imai pitches in the Japanese league. Via MLB.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;According to Curry, the Yankees are prepared to open the season with &lt;strong&gt;Ryan Yarbrough&lt;/strong&gt; penciled in as the No. 5 starter if needed. That stance reflects confidence in internal options rather than a desire to chase another high-priced arm on the market.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/mlb-rumors-ny-yankees-join-ny-mets-in-battle-for-former-phillies-player-as-plan-b-to-cody-bellinger&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;Rotation questions remain, but urgency does not&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The Yankees are expected to begin the 2026 season without several key starters. &lt;strong&gt;Gerrit Cole&lt;/strong&gt; continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery, &lt;strong&gt;Carlos Rodon&lt;/strong&gt; may not return until late April or May, and &lt;strong&gt;Clarke Schmidt&lt;/strong&gt; is likely to miss most of the season following his own elbow surgery.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Even so, the projected rotation—including &lt;strong&gt;Max Fried&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;Luis Gil&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;Cam Schlittler&lt;/strong&gt;, and &lt;strong&gt;Will Warren&lt;/strong&gt;—has reduced pressure to pursue external reinforcements like Imai. The Yankees appear willing to absorb early-season uncertainty rather than commit resources prematurely.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;How Bellinger factors into New York’s patience&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;With &lt;strong&gt;Bellinger’s status s&lt;/strong&gt;till unresolved, the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb/yankees-rumors-team-reportedly-develops-backup-strategy-if-cody-bellinger-opts-out-of-signing-for-next-season&quot;&gt;Yankees are keeping backup options open across the roster&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;. Any major pitching addition could be influenced by how that situation plays out, reinforcing why the club has resisted aggressive moves elsewhere.&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_poll&quot; id=&quot;694d2f14e2d53b59fb2f06db&quot; data-title=&quot;Should the Yankees have pursued Tatsuya Imai to stabilize the rotation?&quot; data-options=&quot;4&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;For now, &lt;strong&gt;stepping back from Imai aligns with a strategy built on flexibility&lt;/strong&gt;. Whether that patience extends beyond the winter will depend largely on how the Bellinger talks conclude—and how the rotation holds up once the season begins.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        

MLB Rumors: NY Yankees appear unlikely to pursue Tatsuya Imai amid Cody Bellinger uncertainty

Clayton Kershaw fires back at critics, compares Dodgers’ dominance to NY Yankees’ dynasty

MLB Rumors: Red Sox consider 8-time All-Star if Alex Bregman doesn’t return

MLB Rumors: NY Yankees appear unlikely to pursue Tatsuya Imai amid Cody Bellinger uncertainty - Bolavip US

NY Yankees appear unlikely to pursue Imai amid Bellinger uncertainty

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-yankees&quot;&gt;New York Yankees&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; have yet to make a splash in the &lt;strong&gt;MLB&lt;/strong&gt; offseason. Coming off a somewhat disappointing campaign, many expected the Pinstripes to go all in ahead of the 2026 season. However, that hasn’t been the case. Now, a report suggests New York might be after a temporary patch rather than a long-term solution to aid the lack of bona fide starting pitchers on the active lineup.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;With &lt;strong&gt;Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, and Carlos Rodon out&lt;/strong&gt; to start the 2026 &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb&quot;&gt;MLB&lt;/a&gt; season, Max Fried is being left out to dry by the Yankees’ front office. That could all change as there is still time for New York to shakeup its roster and bullpen. Still, most signs suggest the Bronx Bombers are focusing on other positions at the moment. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Obviously, re-signing Cody Bellinger holds priority, with &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb/yankees-rumors-team-reportedly-develops-backup-strategy-if-cody-bellinger-opts-out-of-signing-for-next-season&quot;&gt;rumors hinting the Yankees have developed a strategy if he doesn’t re-sign&lt;/a&gt;. Still, surrounding Fried with another star pitcher could prove to be just as paramount. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;On that note, a report indicates the Yankees &lt;strong&gt;could be after former &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kansas-city-royals&quot;&gt;Kansas City Royals&lt;/a&gt; pitcher Michael Lorenzen,&lt;/strong&gt; looking for him to fill the position before Cole, Schmidt, and Rodon return to the mound at Yankee Stadium. Lorenzen is currently unsigned for the 2026 MLB campaign.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251224_BUS_551210_michael-lorenzen_4460e8f0.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-551212&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Michael Lorenzen in action for the KC Royals&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Lorenzen could help out Yankees&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“The New York Yankees are in the position of &lt;strong&gt;needing a bridge starter&lt;/strong&gt;, essentially, until Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt and Carlos Rodon can recover from injuries. Lorenzen isn’t the sexiest option, but &lt;strong&gt;he has the pedigree to warrant consideration&lt;/strong&gt;,”&lt;/em&gt; as stated by&lt;em&gt; FanSided’&lt;/em&gt;s Christopher Kline. &lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/mlb-rumors-ny-yankees-join-ny-mets-in-battle-for-former-phillies-player-as-plan-b-to-cody-bellinger&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;“&lt;em&gt;Better yet: He’s an experienced reliever and can transition to the bullpen as needed. New York can figure out which role suits him best at this stage.”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;


        


&lt;h2&gt;Lorenzen’s numbers in 2025&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;What started off smoothly turned out to be a rocky year as Lorenzen struggled to end the season. As a result, the 33-year-old pitcher—&lt;strong&gt;named to the All-Star Game in 2023&lt;/strong&gt;—posted a 7-11 record. Moreover, he registered a 4.64 ERA, 127 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.33 over 141 innings pitched.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Cole’s uncertain production in 2026&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The Yankees are set to face much uncertainty by the time Opening Day 2026 comes around in the spring. &lt;strong&gt;Cole is recovering from Tommy John surgery&lt;/strong&gt; on his right elbow. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;According to a report from &lt;em&gt;CBS News&lt;/em&gt; back in October 2024, about 35% of active MLB pitchers had undergone the procedure—in which a partially or fully torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) on the medial side of the elbow is &lt;strong&gt;replaced with a tendon. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Regardless, it’s still a risky surgery that casts doubt on a pitcher’s production in the seasons following the medical intervention. With that in mind, &lt;strong&gt;it might be wise for New York to acquire pitching help&lt;/strong&gt; in case Cole—35—regresses next season.&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_poll&quot; id=&quot;694c6cbbe2d53b59fb2f06d9&quot; data-title=&quot;Who will be the Yankees&apos; best pitcher next season?&quot; data-options=&quot;5&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

NY Yankees resort to temporary All-Star hire to aid glaring need in MLB

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MLB drama: NY Yankees resorting to temporary All-Star hire to aid injury-riddled position - Bolavip US

NY Yankees resorting to temporary All-Star hire to fill key position

MLB drama: NY Yankees resorting to temporary All-Star hire to aid injury-riddled position

&lt;p&gt;Only a quick look at the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/boston-red-sox&quot;&gt;Boston Red Sox&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; tells the story: they are buyers in the &lt;strong&gt;MLB &lt;/strong&gt;offseason. However, they could be looking to sell before being able to spend accordingly—more specifically on &lt;strong&gt;Alex Bregman&lt;/strong&gt;. On that note, Boston might have slid a name in negotiations with other organizations.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The Red Sox are &lt;strong&gt;leaving no stone unturned&lt;/strong&gt; in their attempt to retain &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/alex-bregman&quot;&gt;Bregman&lt;/a&gt;. After the star third baseman opted out of the final two seasons of his three-year, $120 million deal, Boston has been tasked with a mission: stopping him from signing elsewhere.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;That’s easier said than done, and the Red Sox know it. With that in mind, Boston has reportedly begun shopping young pitcher &lt;strong&gt;Brayan Bello&lt;/strong&gt;. Bello’s contract guarantees that &lt;strong&gt;he must be paid $50.5 million over the next four &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb&quot;&gt;MLB&lt;/a&gt; seasons&lt;/strong&gt;. In more ways than one, shipping him away could get the Red Sox out of the pickle they are currently in.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“On another front, a rival executive said Monday &lt;strong&gt;the Red Sox have ‘quietly shopped’ right-hander Brayan Bello&lt;/strong&gt;, a characterization a person briefed on Boston’s conversations disputed. That person, however, said Bello’s name often surfaces when teams ask about the Red Sox’s young pitching&lt;/em&gt;,” as reported by &lt;em&gt;The Athletic’s&lt;/em&gt; Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251224_BUS_551145_alex-bregman-1-3_7a46efdc.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Alex Bregman greeting fans&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-549078&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Alex Bregman at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Bello’s stats&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Although Bello’s numbers don’t pop out of the stat sheet, he did put up a strong production during the 2026 MLB campaign. &lt;strong&gt;In his fourth year in the league&lt;/strong&gt;, Bello recorded 11 wins and 9 losses, a 3.35 ERA, 124 strikeouts, and a 1.24 WHIP.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/mlb-rumors-red-sox-consider-8-time-all-star-if-alex-bregman-doesnt-return&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Though he registered the best ERA of his career, it’s still a work in progress, as he has averaged a 4.09 mark since entering the league. The Red Sox acknowledge the rising potential, but &lt;strong&gt;they see it as a negotiating chip rather than a cornerstone&lt;/strong&gt; for the future.&lt;/p&gt;

Red Sox’s youngster owed $50 million emerges as trade candidate amidst Alex Bregman’s uncertain MLB future

Red Sox’s youngster owed $50 million emerges as trade candidate amidst Alex Bregman’s uncertain MLB future - Bolavip US

Red Sox’s youngster owed $50 million emerges as trade candidate

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-mets&quot;&gt;New York Mets&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; are one of the teams making the biggest moves this &lt;strong&gt;MLB&lt;/strong&gt; offseason, slowly beginning to rebuild following the departure of their star player, &lt;strong&gt;Pete Alonso&lt;/strong&gt;. In recent hours, the arrival of a new addition for &lt;strong&gt;Carlos Mendoza&lt;/strong&gt; was confirmed ahead of the upcoming season.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;According to Jon Heyman, &lt;strong&gt;the latest acquisition joining the Big Apple comes with a name: Mike Baumann&lt;/strong&gt;. Most recently in the MLB with the Miami Marlins, the 30-year-old pitcher joins the Mets to help, in some way, elevate the team’s level.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Baumann &lt;strong&gt;made his debut in 2021, wearing the Baltimore Orioles’ colors&lt;/strong&gt;. Since then, his short but whirlwind career has seen him suit up for the Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels, and even the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Baumann’s numbers last season&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;After a solid 2023 campaign where he posted a 3.76 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP over 64.2 innings,&lt;strong&gt; Mike Baumann struggled to maintain his consistency during the 2024 season.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251224_BUS_551163_mike-baumann_cccfe463.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Mike Baumann&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-551174&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt; Mike Baumann #55.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;His &lt;strong&gt;overall ERA rose to 5.55 with a 1.49 WHIP, as he allowed a career-high 59 hits and 36 earned runs&lt;/strong&gt; while bouncing between five different franchises. Despite the statistical dip, Baumann still displayed flashes of his potential, particularly during his early-season stint with the Baltimore Orioles, where he maintained a much more effective 3.44 ERA before being designated for assignment.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/mlb-rumors-ny-yankees-join-ny-mets-in-battle-for-former-phillies-player-as-plan-b-to-cody-bellinger&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;Filling the void left by Alonso&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Following &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/pete-alonso&quot;&gt;Pete Alonso&lt;/a&gt;’s departure to the Baltimore Orioles on a five-year, $155 million deal, the &lt;strong&gt;New York Mets are shifting toward a “sum-of-the-parts” strategy to remain competitive. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;To fill the massive void at first base, the team signed veteran Jorge Polanco to a two-year, $40 million contract and acquired Marcus Semien via trade to bolster the middle infield. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;While the front office is leaning on internal growth from young players like Mark Vientos and Brett Baty, the club remains active in the market for additional power, reportedly eyeing stars like Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker to protect Juan Soto in the lineup.&lt;/p&gt;

NY Mets News: Carlos Mendoza adds former Orioles player to his roster following Pete Alonso’s departure

NY Mets News: Carlos Mendoza adds former Orioles player to his roster following Pete Alonso’s departure - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Boxing Day&lt;/strong&gt; in England is more than just a date marked in red on the calendar. For decades, December 26 has been synonymous with non-stop soccer: packed stadiums, crowded pubs, and a full day of &lt;strong&gt;Premier League&lt;/strong&gt; action that became one of the most recognizable cultural hallmarks of British sport. In 2025, however, only one match will take place, featuring &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/manchester-united&quot;&gt;Manchester United&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; against &lt;strong&gt;Newcastle United&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;2025/26 season represents a significant exception&lt;/strong&gt;. The Premier League did not schedule a full round of matches for Boxing Day. Instead, just a single game is set for Friday, December 26: &lt;strong&gt;Manchester United vs &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/newcastle&quot;&gt;Newcastle United&lt;/a&gt; at Old Trafford&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The rest of matchday 18 was &lt;strong&gt;rescheduled for Saturday, December 27, and Sunday, December 28&lt;/strong&gt;, temporarily breaking a tradition that had endured for over a century.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Why did the Premier League make this decision?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The main reason is not soccer-related but contractual and structural. &lt;strong&gt;The Premier League and its broadcasting partners agreed on a calendar requiring 33 league weekends&lt;/strong&gt;, leaving only five midweek dates throughout the season. This structure directly reflects broadcast rights sales and the strategic distribution of matches in key viewing slots.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped&quot;&gt;
&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; data-id=&quot;512367&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251224_BUS_551192_Joelinton_17b8aec7.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Joelinton&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-512367&quot; sizes=&quot;(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Joelinton of Newcastle United&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;In 2025, December 26 falls on a Friday, a day considered part of a &lt;strong&gt;“standard weekend”&lt;/strong&gt; in television contracts, rather than a holiday with multiple broadcast windows. &lt;strong&gt;To meet the 33-weekend requirement, the league moved most matches to Saturday and Sunday&lt;/strong&gt;, reserving only one game for Friday.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/soccer/argentine-defender-turns-down-south-american-giants-to-join-lionel-messi-at-inter-miami-report&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

        

        


&lt;p&gt;Additional &lt;strong&gt;pressure comes from the expansion of European competitions&lt;/strong&gt;—Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League—and the reconfiguration of domestic cups, including FA Cup weekends with exclusive scheduling. &lt;strong&gt;The English calendar is tighter than ever&lt;/strong&gt;, and the Premier League prioritized full weekends, more valuable for television, over a full midweek matchday.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;What is the Boxing Day tradition?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The tradition dates back to the late 19th century, when professional soccer began to establish itself as a popular spectacle. The day after Christmas, historically associated with short travels, family gatherings, and collective consumption, found its perfect companion in &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/soccer&quot;&gt;soccer&lt;/a&gt;. Over time, Boxing Day evolved from a social custom into a global showcase: &lt;strong&gt;while much of the world went quiet for the holidays, England lit up its stadiums&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;For years, matchdays featuring ten games in one day were an essential part of England’s soccer identity. The ritual&lt;strong&gt; closed the calendar year in style, with heated rivalries&lt;/strong&gt;, unpredictable results, and record-breaking audiences.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;origin of “Boxing Day” goes back to the Middle Ages&lt;/strong&gt;. On the day after Christmas, &lt;strong&gt;the noble classes would give boxes or baskets of food and fruit to their servants&lt;/strong&gt;. This holiday is celebrated in English-speaking European countries and is also known as the “Second Day of Christmas.”&lt;/p&gt;

Why is Manchester United vs Newcastle the only match on the 2025 Premier League Boxing Day?

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Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo placed behind Luis Diaz in prestigious 2025 ranking

Why is Manchester United vs Newcastle the only match on the 2025 Premier League Boxing Day? - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;2025 has been a year of change and breakthroughs for &lt;strong&gt;Luis Diaz&lt;/strong&gt;. His departure from Liverpool was driven by a desire for a salary increase that reflected his performances on the pitch. His first half-season with Bayern Munich has put him ahead of names like &lt;strong&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lionel-messi&quot;&gt;Lionel Messi&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; in The Guardian’s year-end ranking.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Increasingly, even legends considered among the best players in history appear lower on these lists, showing that time affects all careers. Luis Diaz’s consistent performances have elevated him, according to one of the most prestigious &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/soccer&quot;&gt;soccer&lt;/a&gt; media outlets, &lt;strong&gt;which publishes an annual ranking of the 100 best players based on votes from journalists&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The Colombian is positioned &lt;strong&gt;at number 31&lt;/strong&gt;, surpassing &lt;strong&gt;Messi at 34&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo at 51&lt;/strong&gt;, reflecting the relative impact of their seasons. The analysis leaves little room for debate.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“What a year this has been for Diaz, with his highest finish yet a reflection of a year in which he &lt;strong&gt;won the Premier League with Liverpool and has already taken huge steps towards&lt;/strong&gt; following up with a Bundesliga title at Bayern Munich. &lt;strong&gt;The Colombian was an underrated huge part of Arne Slot’s incredible debut campaign&lt;/strong&gt; and perhaps has been underestimated generally; Liverpool didn’t want to pay a 28-year-old top-level wages to extend his contract and many in Germany doubted Bayern’s wisdom in pushing the boat out for a forward pushing 30,” &lt;/em&gt;said analyst Andy Brassell in The Guardian.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped&quot;&gt;
&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; data-id=&quot;542137&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251224_BUS_551160_Luis-Diaz-looks-on_6d2a4c9f.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Luis Diaz looks on&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-542137&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Luis Diaz of FC Bayern München reacts.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Luis Diaz’s impact at Bayern Munich&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;It has been a spectacular semester for &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/luis-diaz&quot;&gt;Diaz&lt;/a&gt; since joining the Bundesliga giant. His &lt;strong&gt;13 goals and 7 assists in 22 official matches&lt;/strong&gt; across all competitions justify the accolades he has received.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/soccer/inter-miami-reportedly-want-to-pair-lionel-messi-and-rodrigo-de-paul-with-another-argentina-international&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

        

        


&lt;p&gt;Diaz’s contributions place him ahead of players like Messi in the United States and &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cristiano-ronaldo&quot;&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo&lt;/a&gt; in Saudi Arabia, who remain prominent but are not outperforming him in collective impact. &lt;strong&gt;He is the highest-ranked Colombian in this prestigious international ranking.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The current form of the German powerhouse is inseparable from Diaz’s impact. The team lost points in only three official matches this semester. In the Bundesliga, &lt;strong&gt;they collected 41 points out of 45 possible&lt;/strong&gt;, the best start in the club’s history &lt;strong&gt;since the league adopted the 18-team&lt;/strong&gt;, three-points-per-win format.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Only Arsenal in the Champions League&lt;strong&gt; has managed to take points from the in-form European team&lt;/strong&gt;, which, with Díaz’s goals and assists to teammates like Harry Kane, has achieved the best start in the history of the five major European leagues since records began.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;South Americans surpassing Diaz&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;In The Guardian ranking, Diaz is ahead of other notable South Americans, including &lt;strong&gt;Moises Caicedo (32), Alexis Mac Allister (35), Federico Valverde (37)&lt;/strong&gt;, Jamal Musiala (43), and Kevin De Bruyne (73). Among South Americans, he ranks as the fifth most influential, behind only &lt;strong&gt;Raphinha, Lautaro Martínez, Vinicius Junior, and Julian Alvarez&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

Luis Díaz surpasses Messi and Ronaldo in The Guardian’s 2025 player rankings

Argentine defender turns down South American giants to join Lionel Messi at Inter Miami — Report

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo placed behind Luis Diaz in prestigious 2025 ranking - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cameroon&quot;&gt;Cameroon&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;will square off against&lt;strong&gt; Gabon &lt;/strong&gt;in the Matchday 1 of the&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/africa-cup-of-nations&quot;&gt;2025 Africa Cup of Nations&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;group stage. Here’s all the key information, including the match date, kickoff time, and streaming options for fans in the United States.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p class=&quot;has-text-align-center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.fubo.tv/stream/live/preview/bein-sports/?title=Watch+the+Africa+Cup+of+Nations+Online+with+fuboTV&amp;amp;irad=638202&amp;amp;irmp=3119684&quot; rel=&quot;sponsored nofollow&quot;&gt;[Watch Cameroon vs Gabon online in the US on Fubo]&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Two familiar rivals get a chance to bounce back as &lt;strong&gt;Gabon &lt;/strong&gt;and &lt;strong&gt;Cameroon &lt;/strong&gt;square off after both narrowly missing Intercontinental Qualifier spots. &lt;strong&gt;Gabon &lt;/strong&gt;fell in the semifinals to &lt;strong&gt;Nigeria &lt;/strong&gt;and will look to maximize what could be one of &lt;strong&gt;Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang&lt;/strong&gt;’s final runs at the international level.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Meanwhile, &lt;strong&gt;Cameroon &lt;/strong&gt;enters eager to respond after a shock loss to &lt;strong&gt;DR Congo&lt;/strong&gt;. With the &lt;em&gt;Indomitable Lions&lt;/em&gt; led by the attacking spark of &lt;strong&gt;Bryan Mbeumo&lt;/strong&gt;, this matchup offers both sides a prime opportunity to open their AFCON campaign with a statement result.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;When will the Cameroon vs Gabon match be played?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Cameroon &lt;/strong&gt;take on&lt;strong&gt; Gabon &lt;/strong&gt;for the Matchday 1 of the&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;2025/2026&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;Africa Cup of Nations &lt;/strong&gt;group stagethis&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;Wednesday, December 24&lt;/strong&gt;. The action is set to kick off at&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;3:00 PM (ET)&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251224_BUS_550650_Pierre-Aubameyang-of-Gabon_53c3f22a.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Pierre Aubameyang&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-525613&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Pierre Aubameyang of Gabon – Michael Steele/Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Cameroon vs Gabon: Time by State in the USA&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ET:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;3:00 PM&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;CT:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;2:00 PM&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;MT:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;1:00 PM&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;PT:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;12:00 PM&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;How to watch Cameroon vs Gabon in the USA&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Catch this&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;2025 Africa Cup of Nations&lt;/strong&gt; clash between&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;Cameroon &lt;/strong&gt;and&lt;strong&gt; Gabon &lt;/strong&gt;live in the USA, streaming on&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.fubo.tv/stream/live/preview/bein-sports/?title=Watch+the+Africa+Cup+of+Nations+Online+with+fuboTV&amp;amp;irad=638202&amp;amp;irmp=3119684&quot; rel=&quot;sponsored nofollow&quot;&gt;Fubo&lt;/a&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;Other options: Fanatiz USA, beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español and beIN SPORTS Connect.&lt;/p&gt;

Where to watch Cameroon vs Gabon live in the USA: 2025 Africa Cup of Nations

Where to watch Cameroon vs Gabon live in the USA: 2025 Africa Cup of Nations - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/al%20nassr&quot;&gt;Al Nassr&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; delivered a commanding performance against &lt;strong&gt;Al Zawraa&lt;/strong&gt; in the group stage finale of the &lt;strong&gt;AFC Champions League Two&lt;/strong&gt;, with &lt;strong&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo&lt;/strong&gt; providing crucial assists. The match ended 5-1, with Al Nassr controlling possession from start to finish and creating multiple scoring opportunities. Al Zawraa struggled to respond, unable to find a consistent rhythm against a highly organized Al Nassr. The victory secured a perfect record for Al Nassr in Group D.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The first half saw Al Nassr open the scoring through Kingsley Coman, following sharp combinations with Angelo Gabriel and Joao Felix. &lt;strong&gt;Wesley and Cristiano Ronaldo also made key contributions, helping extend the lead to 4-0&lt;/strong&gt; before halftime. Al Zawraa managed a goal through Ibrahim Gbadamosi, reducing the deficit slightly, but it was not enough to shift momentum.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;In the second half, both teams made several substitutions, yet Al Nassr maintained dominance. &lt;strong&gt;Kingsley Coman completed his brace after a clever setup from Joao Felix&lt;/strong&gt;, while Al Zawraa could not capitalize on their chances. The match ended 5-1, showcasing Al Nassr’s tactical depth and attacking quality. &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cristiano-ronaldo&quot;&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo&lt;/a&gt;’s involvement in the buildup highlighted his impact in the team’s continental campaign.&lt;/p&gt;

Al Nassr and Al Zawraa clash in the AFC Champions League Two

Welcome to our live blog of the AFC Champions League Two group stage finale.
Al Nassr face Al Zawraa today in a decisive matchup, with knockout stage implications still in play. Al Nassr arrive having already secured qualification and first place in the group, while Al Zawraa need a result to advance.
Stay with us for key information and minute-by-minute updates as both teams square off in this continental showdown.

Start time!

Al Nassr vs Al Zawraa will get underway at 11:00 AM ET (PT:8:00 AM)

Today's venue

King Saud University Stadium, commercially known as Al-Awwal Park, hosts today’s AFC Champions League Two match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The stadium, which serves as Al Nassr’s home ground, has been operated by Saudi Media Company since September 2020 and features a seating capacity of 25,000, providing the stage for this decisive group finale.
Here's how it looks:
<figure class="image"><img class="size-full wp-image-550822" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251224_BUS_550752_al-nassr-stadium_f25abce2.webp&width=1920&height=1080" alt="A general view inside the stadium Al-Awwal Park." width="1920" height="1080"><figcaption> A general view inside the stadium Al-Awwal Park.</figcaption></figure>

Is Cristiano Ronaldo playing today?

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/is-cristiano-ronaldo-playing-today-for-al-nassr-vs-al-zawraa-in-2025-afc-champions-league-two-matchday-6">Everything points to Cristiano Ronaldo being involved in today’s match</a>, as he has been named in the squad and is expected to be part of the starting lineup for Al Nassr against Al Zawraa. The Portuguese star is set to return after weeks of strategic rotation designed to manage fatigue, with head coach Jorge Jesus stating clearly, “Cristiano Ronaldo will be there for the game against Al Zawraa,” leaving no doubt about his availability for this group stage finale.

Al Nassr confirmed lineup!

Al Nassr have officially confirmed their starting lineup for today’s match against Al Zawraa, with Cristiano Ronaldo included in the XI and wearing the captain’s armband.
Confirmed lineup: Bento Krepski; Sultan Al-Ghannam, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Ali Lajami Saad, Abdullah Al-Khaibari; Marcelo Brozovic and Angelo Gabriel; Kingsley Coman, Wesley Teixeira, Joao Felix, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Al Zawraa confirmed lineup! 

Al Zawraa have confirmed their starting XI for today’s match against Al Nassr: Jalal Hassan; Kadhim Raad Mohammed, Bajad M., Akam Hashem, H. Falah; Nasib, Hassan, Karar Nabel, Nizar Mahmoud Al-Rashdan; Mahdi Al-Humaidan, Ibrahim Tomiwa.
&nbsp;

Recent head-to-head results

<ul>
<li>October 1, 2025 – AFC Champions League Two: Al Zawraa 0–2 Al Nassr</li>
<li>April 23, 2019 – AFC Champions League: Al Zawraa 1–2 Al Nassr</li>
<li>April 8, 2019 – AFC Champions League: Al Nassr 4–1 Al Zawraa</li>
</ul>
Al Nassr have won all three recent meetings in continental competition.

Teams on the field ahead of kickoff

The teams are already on the pitch completing the final pre-match formalities, with kickoff just minutes away at Al-Awwal Park.

0' - Game is underway! (0-0)

The match is officially underway at Al-Awwal Park, with Al Nassr and Al Zawraa getting the final group stage clash rolling in Riyadh.

2' - Early fouls set the tone (0-0)

Just one minute into the match and two fouls have already been called. Al Zawraa committed the first infringement on Angelo of Al Nassr, before Angelo responded moments later with a foul of his own on Hasan as the tempo quickly picked up.

7' - Al Nassr control possession early (0-0)

Al Nassr are controlling possession in the opening minutes and continue searching for space to create damage in the final third. However, the first shot of the match belongs to Al Zawraa, as Mahdi recovered the ball and played a deep pass down the left flank to Al-Humaidan, whose effort sailed well over the crossbar.

10' - Cristiano Ronaldo tests his range (0-0)

Cristiano Ronaldo takes a long-range effort from outside the penalty area for his first warning of the match, but the shot rises well over the crossbar.

13' GOOOOOAL OF AL NASSR (1-0)

Al Nassr strike first after a brilliant team move. A sharp passing sequence ends with an unstoppable one-two between Angelo Gabriel and Kingsley Coman, freeing Coman inside the box, where he finishes calmly to give Al Nassr the early lead.
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">🚨🚨| GOAL: KINGSLEY COMAN PUTS AL NASSR AHEAD!! Al Nassr 1-0 Al Zawraa<a href="https://t.co/dkFlJzrIFt">pic.twitter.com/dkFlJzrIFt</a>— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) <a href="https://twitter.com/centregoals/status/2003861780670673402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2025</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

19' GOOOOAL FOR AL NASSR!! (2-0)

Al Nassr double their advantage after a sequence of relentless pressure. Wesley produced a spectacular run down the flank and delivered a cross toward Cristiano Ronaldo, but Al Zawraa’s defense cleared the danger at the last moment. The resulting corner, taken by Brozovic, fell back to Wesley at the edge of the area, and he unleashed a powerful, unstoppable strike to make it 2-0.
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">🚨🚨| GOAL: WESLEY DOUBLES THE LEAD!!! Al Nassr 2-0 Al Zawraa<a href="https://t.co/bne55aGyZH">pic.twitter.com/bne55aGyZH</a>— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) <a href="https://twitter.com/centregoals/status/2003863385503678743?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2025</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

26' - Al Nassr push for a third (2-0)

Al Nassr are looking to take full advantage of the momentum and the blow dealt to Al Zawraa as they hunt for a third goal. Al Nassr continue to exploit the right flank, with Wesley emerging as the most dangerous and unbalancing player on the pitch in an outstanding performance so far.

29' - GOOOOAL FOR AL NASSR! (3-0)

After sustained pressure in search of a third goal, Al Nassr capitalize on a corner kick. Joao Felix forced the set piece with a deflected shot, then delivered the corner himself, where Abdulelah Al Amri rose to finish and extend the lead.

36' - Al Nassr survive Al Zawraa’s best chance (3-0)

Al Nassr are let off the hook after Al Zawraa create their clearest opportunity of the match. Hasan produced a strong individual move and forced the goalkeeper into a sharp save, deflecting the ball out for a corner kick that ultimately came to nothing.

42' - Al Zawraa push before halftime (3-0)

Al Zawraa are looking to pull one back in the closing minutes of the first half to stay in the match. All Zawraa are trying to hold possession, but a lack of precision in the final third continues to stall their attacks.

44' - GOOOOOAL OF AL NASSR (4-0)

Al Nassr strike again with a moment of pure quality. Wesley burst down the flank and cut the ball back into the middle, where Cristiano Ronaldo produced a sublime chipped assist over the defense. Joao Felix timed his run perfectly and finished with a delicate chip of his own, extending the lead in emphatic fashion.
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">🚨🚨| GOAL: JOAO FELIX MAKES IT FOUR WITH AN ASSIST FROM CRISTIANO RONALDO!! Al Nassr 4-0 Al Zawraa<a href="https://t.co/nE1lVEsnsS">pic.twitter.com/nE1lVEsnsS</a>— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) <a href="https://twitter.com/centregoals/status/2003869622706356546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2025</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

45' - Halftime at Al-Awwal Park (4-0)

The first half comes to an end in Riyadh with Al Nassr firmly in control. Al Nassr head into the break with a commanding four-goal advantage after a dominant opening 45 minutes.

45' - Substitutions for Al Zawraa (4-0)

Al Zawraa make changes before the start of the second half as Hasan Abdulkareem and Karar Nabel leave the match, with Qasim Majid and Hayder Abdulkareem coming on in an attempt to shift the momentum.

45' - Second half is underway (4-0)

The second half gets underway at Al-Awwal Park, with changes for both sides. Al Nassr have also made a substitution, as Cristiano Ronaldo exits the match and Mohammed Marran comes on to lead the attack.

50' - GOOOOOAL OF AL ZAWRAA! (4-1)

Al Zawraa pull one back with a well-worked move. Substitute Qasim Majid split the defense with a perfectly weighted through ball, sending Ibrahim Gbadamosi in on goal, where he finished with composure to cut into the deficit.

56' - GOOOOOAL FOR AL NASSR! (5-1)

Al Nassr respond immediately to restore their four-goal cushion. Saad Al Nasser delivered the assist, Joao Felix smartly let the ball run with a clever dummy, and Kingsley Coman arrived to finish with class and complete his brace.
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">🚨🚨| GOAL: KINGSLEY COMAN WITH A BRACE FOR AL NASSR!! Al Nassr 5-1 Al Zawraa<a href="https://t.co/PUnINTy70w">pic.twitter.com/PUnINTy70w</a>— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) <a href="https://twitter.com/centregoals/status/2003877403710706033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2025</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

62' - Substitutions for both teams (5-1)

Both teams make changes as the match continues. For Al Zawraa, Faisal Alhumaidan leaves the field and Bani Hani comes on. Al Nassr also rotate their lineup, with Joao Felix, Kingsley Coman, and Brozovic exiting, while Haroune Camara, Ali Al Hassan, and Rakan Al Ghamdi are introduced.

68' - Al Zawraa look to close the gap again (5-1)

Al Zawraa are attempting to cut the deficit once more. While signs of fatigue and frustration are visible, the Al Zawraa know goal difference could still prove decisive in the race for qualification. Al Nassr also made another change, with Angelo Gabriel leaving the match and Nader Al Sharari coming on.

72' - Al Nassr maintain control despite changes (5-1)

Despite the changes, Al Nassr continue to apply constant pressure and do not allow Al Zawraa to move the ball forward comfortably. The spaces being left open are creating dangerous situations, and the psychological impact of the scoreline is clearly evident as the match enters its later stages.

77' - Substitution for Al Zawraa (5-1)

Al Zawraa make another change as Nizar Mahmoud Al Rashdan leaves the match and Ali Sadeq comes on in the latter stages.

82' - Substitution for Al Zawraa (5-1)

Another change for Al Zawraa as Ibrahim Gbadamosi exits the match and Murad Mohammed comes on as they continue to adjust in the final minutes.

87' - Al Nassr see out the match (5-1)

The match is practically decided, with Al Zawraa showing little intent to reduce the deficit. Al Nassr remain in full control, continuing to dominate possession and game management.

90' - Full time at Al-Awwal Park (5-1)

The match ends with a comprehensive victory for Al Nassr over Al Zawraa. Cristiano Ronaldo shines with key assists as Al Nassr complete a dominant display to close out their AFC Champions League Two group stage campaign.

Thanks for joining us!

Al Nassr defeated Al Zawraa 5-1 in the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two, with Cristiano Ronaldo providing key assists and Kingsley Coman scoring a brace in a dominant performance.
You followed every moment of this exciting match here, on Bolavip.
Thanks for staying with us, and see you next time!

Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr make triumphant return with 5-1 win over Al Zawraa: Highlights and goals - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;The spotlight returns to continental action as &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/al-nassr&quot;&gt;Al Nassr&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, led by coach &lt;strong&gt;Jorge Jesus&lt;/strong&gt;, host &lt;strong&gt;Al Zawraa&lt;/strong&gt; in &lt;strong&gt;Matchday 6&lt;/strong&gt; of the &lt;strong&gt;2025 AFC Champions League Two&lt;/strong&gt;. While both teams have already secured qualification, the fixture has drawn attention for reasons beyond the standings. Follow &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/al-nassr-vs-al-zawraa-live-cristiano-ronaldo-set-for-2025-afc-champions-league-two-debut&quot;&gt;Al Nassr vs Al Zawraa live&lt;/a&gt; with us!&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;At the center of the discussion is &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cristiano-ronaldo&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, who has yet to appear in the competition after an early agreement with the coaching staff to manage his workload. That plan was designed to limit fatigue during a demanding stretch of the season.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;However, &lt;strong&gt;the 28‑day pause in domestic competition has shifted the dynamics&lt;/strong&gt;. With Saudi league play on hold due to the national team’s Arab Cup commitments, Al Nassr &lt;strong&gt;now view this match as a chance to regain rhythm and rebuild competitive sharpness&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo starts, makes AFC Champions League Two debut&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo &lt;strong&gt;is starting&lt;/strong&gt; for Al Nassr today, &lt;strong&gt;being the team’s captain&lt;/strong&gt; against Al Zawraa. Al Nassr head coach &lt;strong&gt;Jorge Jesus had already anticipated in his pre‑match press conference that Ronaldo would play&lt;/strong&gt;, affirming his inclusion in the squad after weeks of strategic rotation aimed at managing fatigue. &lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;“Cristiano Ronaldo will be there for the game &lt;/strong&gt;against Al‑Zawraa tomorrow (today),&lt;strong&gt;”&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt; he said. After resting the previous games, CR7 is &lt;strong&gt;making his debut&lt;/strong&gt; in the 2025-26 AFC Champions League two today.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251224_BUS_550709_ronaldo-alnassr_5b35258d.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-550712&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo and players of Al Nassr celebrates victory after winning the Saudi Pro League match. Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Al Nassr lineup vs Al Zawraa today&lt;/h2&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/soccer/fifa-confirms-good-news-for-cristiano-ronaldo-and-al-nassr-ahead-of-transfer-window&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Here’s the &lt;strong&gt;Al Nassr starting XI for today’s AFC Champions League Two Matchday 6 clash&lt;/strong&gt; against Al Zawraa: Bento, Sultan, Amri, Saad, Khaibari, Brozovic, Angelo, Coman, Wesley, Joao Felix, Ronaldo.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        

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Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr make triumphant return with 5-1 win over Al Zawraa: Highlights and goals