&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/pittsburgh-steelers&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Pittsburgh Steelers&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; need a win against the &lt;strong&gt;Cleveland Browns&lt;/strong&gt; in Week 17 to seal another postseason appearance. As they prepare that game, the team has signed an &lt;strong&gt;NFL&lt;/strong&gt; veteran cornerback to help &lt;strong&gt;Mike Tomlin&lt;/strong&gt; on the secondary.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;As a Christmas present to coach &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/mike-tomlin&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Tomlin&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;the Steelers announced they signed 6’3″ cornerback, Tre Flowers&lt;/strong&gt;, to the active roster of the team. Flowers brings lots of presence and size to the unit.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The Steelers have had too many injuries on the secondary, so as the playoffs approach, &lt;strong&gt;they signed a known presence in the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nfl&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;NFL&lt;/a&gt; to add alternatives to the team&lt;/strong&gt;. Flowers could also serve as a strong safety if needed.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;The Steelers defense is trending upwards&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;At 9-6, a win would cement the Steelers as the AFC North champions and hence, guarantee them a home playoff game. As they face the much-maligned &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cleveland-browns&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Browns&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;they hope Flowers helps them keep growing stronger&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-embed__wrapper&quot;&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;ck-twitter&quot;&gt;&lt;blockquote class=&quot;twitter-tweet&quot; data-width=&quot;500&quot; data-dnt=&quot;true&quot;&gt;&lt;p lang=&quot;en&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;We have signed CB Tre Flowers to the Active Roster. &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/BordasLaw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;@BordasLaw&lt;/a&gt; &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;📝: &lt;a href=&quot;https://t.co/oqHzXijwSe&quot;&gt;https://t.co/oqHzXijwSe&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href=&quot;https://t.co/EFWcS6uMqH&quot;&gt;pic.twitter.com/EFWcS6uMqH&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/steelers/status/2004266812050121149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;December 25, 2025&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;script async=&quot;&quot; src=&quot;https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js&quot; charset=&quot;utf-8&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;During the last two games, &lt;strong&gt;the Steelers have allowed 15 and 63 rushing yards against top-tier running backs&lt;/strong&gt;. However, they need a bit more strength on the passing game. Still, it’s undeniable that the defense is finding its footing at the right time.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nfl/aaron-rodgers-offers-key-insight-on-dk-metcalf-incident-in-steelers-vs-lions-game&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;Can the Steelers finally get it done?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;When the Steelers brought &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/aaron-rodgers&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Aaron Rodgers&lt;/a&gt;, DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey and more players, the goal was to be a contender. While no one is really seeing them that way, &lt;strong&gt;they are one of the few teams that have a Super Bowl champion coach and a Super Bowl champion quarterback. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The last time the Steelers won a playoff game was in 2016. &lt;strong&gt;It’s been almost a decade since the last time the Steelers went on a deep playoff push&lt;/strong&gt;. While the expectations are not that high, the Steelers must find a way to create some buzz, and a dominant win against the Browns in Week 17 may be the way. This would help the team rest all the starters in Week 18 and enter the Wild Card round at home, rested, and ready to roll.&lt;/p&gt;

Steelers sign NFL veteran player to bolster Mike Tomlin’s defense ahead of Week 17 game vs Browns

Steelers sign NFL veteran player to bolster Mike Tomlin's defense ahead of Week 17 game vs Browns - Bolavip US

miniaturas

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kansas-city-chiefs&quot;&gt;Kansas City Chiefs&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; face the &lt;strong&gt;Denver Broncos&lt;/strong&gt; in a Christmas Day matchup, and the absence of &lt;strong&gt;Patrick Mahomes&lt;/strong&gt; has raised plenty of questions, especially with &lt;strong&gt;Gardner Minshew&lt;/strong&gt; also unavailable. The reason, however, is straightforward and comes down to the quarterbacks currently available on the roster.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The Chiefs’ depth chart is clear heading into the game against Denver. &lt;strong&gt;Chris Oladokun sits at the top of the list&lt;/strong&gt; as the No. 1 quarterback, while Shane Buechele would be the next option in case of an emergency. Star quarterback &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/patrick-mahomes&quot;&gt;Mahomes&lt;/a&gt; is sidelined with an injury, and Minshew is also unavailable.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Kansas City is dealing with a quarterback crisis. Mahomes is not expected to return until 2026, while&lt;strong&gt; &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/gardner-minshew&quot;&gt;Minshew&lt;/a&gt; is dealing with a knee injury that is not as severe&lt;/strong&gt;. Mahomes’ injury required surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation process, making his absence far more significant.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;How much experience does Oladokun have&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Between the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Oladokun&lt;strong&gt; appeared in a total of two games with the Chiefs, one in each year&lt;/strong&gt;. His experience at the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nfl&quot;&gt;NFL&lt;/a&gt; level is extremely limited, and he has primarily served as a practice squad quarterback since 2022. That was the year he entered the league after being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;div class=&quot;ck-twitter&quot;&gt;&lt;blockquote class=&quot;twitter-tweet&quot; data-media-max-width=&quot;560&quot;&gt;&lt;p lang=&quot;en&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;Big opportunity tonight for Chris Oladokun, who will make his first career start after spending each of the last four years on the Chiefs’ practice squad.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;He spoke about it earlier this week. &lt;a href=&quot;https://t.co/W64LWciG7E&quot;&gt;pic.twitter.com/W64LWciG7E&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— Matt McMullen (@KCChiefs_Matt) &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/KCChiefs_Matt/status/2004256207457210447?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;December 25, 2025&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;/div&gt; 



&lt;p&gt;Since 2022, Oladokun &lt;strong&gt;has completed 11 passes on 16 attempts&lt;/strong&gt;. He has not thrown a touchdown or an interception during his time with the Chiefs, the only team where he has managed to maintain a longer stay. He has also recorded 12 rushing yards.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The Broncos are expected to take advantage of the absence of Mahomes and Minshew, &lt;strong&gt;as Kansas City’s offense is likely to struggle without them&lt;/strong&gt;. However, Oladokun’s familiarity with the system and his years within the organization could lead to a different and potentially surprising outcome.&lt;/p&gt;

Why is Chris Oladokun and not Patrick Mahomes or Gardner Minshew playing tonight for Chiefs vs Broncos on 2025 Christmas?

Why is Chris Oladokun and not Patrick Mahomes or Gardner Minshew playing tonight for Chiefs vs Broncos on 2025 Christmas? - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kansas-city-chiefs&quot;&gt;Kansas City Chiefs&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;will face off against&lt;strong&gt; Denver Broncos &lt;/strong&gt;in a Week 17 showdown of the 2025&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nfl&quot;&gt;NFL&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;regular season. Here’s everything you need to know, including kickoff details and streaming options for USA fans, so you don’t miss any of the action.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p class=&quot;has-text-align-center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.fubo.tv/welcome/leagues/191277?irad=356362&amp;amp;irmp=3119684&quot; rel=&quot;sponsored nofollow&quot;&gt;[Watch Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos online in the USA on Fubo]&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;NFL&lt;/strong&gt;’s Christmas Day finale features an &lt;strong&gt;AFC West&lt;/strong&gt; matchup with plenty at stake, even if the motivations differ. The &lt;strong&gt;Kansas City Chiefs&lt;/strong&gt; enter on a four-game losing streak that has knocked them out of playoff contention.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;However, &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/patrick-mahomes&quot;&gt;Patrick Mahomes&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; and company are still pushing to finish strong. The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/denver-broncos&quot;&gt;Denver Broncos&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, meanwhile, remain in the hunt for the division crown and need a win to stay ahead of the &lt;strong&gt;Los Angeles Chargers&lt;/strong&gt;, adding urgency to a holiday showdown with real implications.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;When will the Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos match be played?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Kansas City Chiefs &lt;/strong&gt;take on&lt;strong&gt; Denver Broncos &lt;/strong&gt;in Week 17 of the 2025&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;NFL&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;regular season on&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;Thursday, December 25&lt;/strong&gt;. Kickoff is scheduled for&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;8:15 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_20251225_BUS_550176_Bo-Nix_4763b754.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-550188&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos – Matthew Stockman/Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nfl/latest-gardner-minshew-injury-update-provides-beacon-of-hope-for-andy-reid-chiefs-amid-patrick-mahomes-absence&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos: Time by State in the USA&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ET&lt;/strong&gt;: 8:15 PM&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;CT&lt;/strong&gt;: 7:15 PM&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;MT&lt;/strong&gt;: 6:15 PM&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PT&lt;/strong&gt;: 5:15 PM&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;How to watch Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos in the USA&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;NFL&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;matchup between the&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;Kansas City Chiefs &lt;/strong&gt;and&lt;strong&gt; Denver Broncos &lt;/strong&gt;will be available for live streaming on&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.fubo.tv/welcome/leagues/191277?irad=356362&amp;amp;irmp=3119684&quot; rel=&quot;sponsored nofollow&quot;&gt;Fubo&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;. Fans can also catch the game on ABC and Amazon Prime Video.&lt;/p&gt;

Where to watch Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos in the USA: 2025 NFL Regular Season Game

Where to watch Kansas City Chiefs vs Denver Broncos in the USA: 2025 NFL Regular Season Game - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/baltimore-ravens&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Baltimore Ravens&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; are not going through their best stretch, and recent rumors have suggested a &lt;strong&gt;strained relationship&lt;/strong&gt; between head &lt;strong&gt;coach John Harbaugh and quarterback &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lamar-jackson&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Lamar Jackson&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;. Now, Harbaugh has addressed those speculations directly.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;During the 2025 NFL season, the Ravens have fallen short of the expectations set before the campaign began. Some have &lt;strong&gt;pointed to alleged tension between &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/john-harbaugh&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Harbaugh&lt;/a&gt; and the croster with Jackson as a possible explanation&lt;/strong&gt;, but the head coach has firmly denied any issues between them.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;“So, I don’t know where that’s coming from,”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; Harbaugh said on the rumors, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. &lt;em&gt;“I’ve never seen that ever. That’s not something that I’ve ever witnessed, and I’m in every meeting. &lt;/em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;So I love him. Always have, always will.”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Frustration can fuel speculation&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;While Harbaugh has dismissed claims of a &lt;strong&gt;fractured relationship&lt;/strong&gt;, frustration has undeniably been present throughout &lt;strong&gt;Baltimore’s challenging season&lt;/strong&gt;. As results failed to meet expectations, Jackson &lt;strong&gt;has shown visible signs of frustration&lt;/strong&gt; at various points during the year.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;According to reports, the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nfl/amid-heated-rift-with-ravens-lamar-jackson-reportedly-hints-at-nfl-team-he-wants-to-play-for&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;quarterback has even been linked to speculation about potential future destinations&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; should he ever leave Baltimore. That chatter has only intensified narratives about internal tension within the organization.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Despite those rumors, &lt;strong&gt;Harbaugh has repeatedly praised Jackson publicly&lt;/strong&gt;, emphasizing his leadership and importance to the team. Still, questions remain about whether &lt;strong&gt;Jackson feels his talents are being maximized within the current offensive system&lt;/strong&gt;—or if he believes a different situation could better suit his skill set.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nfl/ravens-hc-john-harbaugh-explains-controversial-decision-to-take-derrick-henry-out-vs-patriots&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;Will the Ravens trade Lamar Jackson?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;At this time, there are &lt;strong&gt;no indications that the Ravens plan to trade Lamar Jackson&lt;/strong&gt;. The quarterback recently signed a massive contract extension, signaling the franchise’s long-term commitment to him.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;However, continued underachievement could eventually force difficult decisions. Teams such as the &lt;strong&gt;New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, and Miami Dolphins&lt;/strong&gt; have been mentioned by league insiders as &lt;strong&gt;hypothetical landing spots&lt;/strong&gt; if Baltimore ever explored a trade.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        

Ravens HC John Harbaugh addresses rumors of strained relationship with Lamar Jackson

John Harbaugh delivers key injury update on Lamar Jackson after Ravens’ SNF loss against Patriots

Lamar Jackson turns heads with major admission about his injuries this season with Ravens

Ravens HC John Harbaugh addresses rumors of strained relationship with Lamar Jackson - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;The Denver Broncos have been one of the biggest surprises of the 2025 NFL season. Thanks to solid performances from quarterback Bo Nix in his second year and one of the best defenses in the league, they look like serious &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/super-bowl&quot;&gt;Super Bowl&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; contenders.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The transition in the AFC West has been completed. &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/patrick-mahomes&quot;&gt;Patrick Mahomes&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; and the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kansas-city-chiefs&quot;&gt;Kansas City Chiefs&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; are officially eliminated, so the divisional title is up for grabs between the Broncos and the Chargers.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Because of this, a loss on Christmas Day could be catastrophic for the Broncos, who are not only fighting to win their division but also for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;What happens if Broncos lose today against Chiefs?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;If the Broncos lose today against the Kansas City Chiefs, they would fall to a 12–4 record and lose the No. 1 seed in the AFC. That spot would be taken by the Patriots (12–3), and the Jaguars could also overtake them for the No. 2 seed if they beat the Colts, since they hold the tiebreaker over Denver.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        


&lt;h2&gt;Have the Broncos clinched a playoff spot?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Yes. The Denver Broncos have clinched a playoff spot regardless of what happens in their game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The only thing left to determine is whether they advance as AFC West champions or as a wild-card team.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nfl/andy-reid-sends-clear-message-on-chiefs-elimination-from-playoffs-as-gardner-minshew-replaces-patrick-mahomes-after-qb-injury&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;How can the Broncos win the AFC West?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The Broncos can win the AFC West if they secure victories in their two remaining games against the Chiefs and the Chargers. Another scenario is Denver defeating Kansas City and the Los Angeles Chargers losing in Week 17 to the Texans.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;If both the Broncos and the Chargers win in Week 17, the AFC West will be decided in the matchup they will have in Week 18. The big advantage the Chargers hold is a 5–0 divisional record, which would give them the tiebreaker over the Broncos.&lt;/p&gt;

What happens if Broncos lose to Chiefs in NFL Week 17?

Andy Reid confirms to Gardner Minshew that Chiefs QB job for next season is not available after Patrick Mahomes injury

What happens if Kansas City Chiefs lose today against Broncos in NFL Week 17?

What happens if Denver Broncos lose against Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day? - Bolavip US

What happens if Broncos lose today against Chiefs?

What happens if Denver Broncos lose today against Kansas City Chiefs in NFL Week 17?

&lt;p&gt;There is little debate that &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-dodgers&quot;&gt;Los Angeles Dodgers&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; star &lt;strong&gt;Shohei Ohtani&lt;/strong&gt; is already considered one of the defining legends in &lt;strong&gt;MLB&lt;/strong&gt;. Beyond that, his impact has pushed him into conversations reserved for the greatest athletes in sports history. In a city as competitive as Los Angeles, where iconic figures span multiple leagues, one of the most recognizable &lt;strong&gt;Lakers&lt;/strong&gt; legends made it clear how Ohtani is now viewed across the city.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;When &lt;strong&gt;Shaquille O’Neal was asked on Overtime whether Shohei Ohtani had surpassed him as a Los Angeles sports icon&lt;/strong&gt;, the response was strikingly candid, even if it was difficult for Shaq to admit. The question came from a lifelong Los Angeles fan who acknowledged O’Neal’s legacy while pointing to Ohtani’s unprecedented accomplishments.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“The question was whether Ohtani is a bigger LA sports icon than Shaq,”&lt;/em&gt; the fan said. &lt;em&gt;“It breaks my heart to say this directly to your face because I’m from Los Angeles, born and raised in Santa Monica. I&lt;strong&gt; cried when you left the Lakers. But what Shohei Ohtani is doing right now will never be done in any sport ever again.”&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The fan added that &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/shohei-ohtani&quot;&gt;Ohtani&lt;/a&gt;’s trajectory suggested sustained dominance. He noted that while Ohtani had not yet reached three straight championships, the opportunity was ahead, supported by a historic long-term contract and a roster built to contend. The implication was clear: &lt;strong&gt;the Dodgers are positioned to win multiple titles with Ohtani at the center&lt;/strong&gt;.&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;478815&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_551477_shaquille-oneal_cb4ade10.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Shaquille O&apos;Neal during a Los Angeles Lakers game.&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-478815&quot; sizes=&quot;(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Shaquille O’Neal during a Los Angeles Lakers game.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Shaq makes Ohtani’s greatness clear&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/shaquille-oneal&quot;&gt;O’Neal&lt;/a&gt; acknowledged the comparison despite his own unmatched legacy with the Lakers. Shaq was part of a dominant championship core alongside Kobe Bryant and remains one of the most physically imposing players the NBA has ever seen. Still, &lt;strong&gt;he recognized that Ohtani’s influence, amplified by his recent championship alongside Yoshinobu Yamamoto and a loaded Dodgers roster&lt;/strong&gt;, could define an entire generation.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/alex-bregman-rumors-red-sox-fight-back-with-three-mlb-stars-emerging-as-plan-b&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

        

        


&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“&lt;strong&gt;You are one of the greatest LA icons of all time, unquestionably&lt;/strong&gt;,”&lt;/em&gt; the fan continued. &lt;em&gt;“Every statue that’s been erected of you deserves to be there. That being said, &lt;strong&gt;Shohei Ohtani is going to have skyscrapers built after him &lt;/strong&gt;because what he is accomplishing in Major League Baseball has never been done in 150 years.”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Shaq paused before agreeing. &lt;em&gt;“&lt;strong&gt;I hate to say it, but he’s correct,&lt;/strong&gt;”&lt;/em&gt; O’Neal said. He pointed to &lt;strong&gt;Ohtani’s global reach, particularly in Japan, drawing parallels to how Yao Ming once transformed All-Star voting through China’s massive fan base&lt;/strong&gt;. In Shaq’s view, Ohtani’s international impact reinforced everything the fan had argued.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;The accolades that place Ohtani and Shaq among LA’s greatest&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Ohtani’s résumé already places him among baseball’s elite. He is a &lt;strong&gt;five-time All-Star&lt;/strong&gt;, a &lt;strong&gt;two-time World Series champion&lt;/strong&gt;, and a &lt;strong&gt;four-time MVP&lt;/strong&gt;, with &lt;strong&gt;all four awards won&lt;/strong&gt; unanimously, a feat unmatched in &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb&quot;&gt;MLB&lt;/a&gt; history. He has also earned &lt;strong&gt;six All-MLB First Team selections&lt;/strong&gt;, four &lt;strong&gt;Silver Sluggers&lt;/strong&gt;, three Hank Aaron Awards, two home run titles, and an NL RBI crown, while producing 45.2 WAR over the past five seasons as both an elite hitter and a frontline pitcher.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;O’Neal’s legacy remains untouchable in basketball circles. He finished his career as a &lt;strong&gt;four-time NBA champion&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;three-time Finals MVP&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;league MVP&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;15-time All-Star&lt;/strong&gt;, and &lt;strong&gt;14-time All-NBA selection&lt;/strong&gt;. Beyond the court, Shaq became a global cultural figure whose reach extended far beyond basketball, cementing his place among Los Angeles’ most influential sports icons with the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers&quot;&gt;Lakers&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is named Los Angeles’ greatest sports icon by a Lakers legend

MLB Rumors: NY Mets make drastic decision on former NY Yankees star Cody Bellinger in favor of World Series champ

Phillies’ former CF positions himself greatly to get massive payday amid Cody Bellinger’s uncertainty between NY Yankees and NY Mets

Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is named Los Angeles’ greatest sports icon by a Lakers legend - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;Free agency in the &lt;strong&gt;MLB&lt;/strong&gt; can go many different ways, but for former &lt;strong&gt;Philadelphia Phillies&lt;/strong&gt; centerfielder Harrison Bader, it could go massively well. He is positioning himself as a player with a huge payday on the horizon. This is developing amid &lt;strong&gt;Cody Bellinger&lt;/strong&gt;‘s key decision of playing for the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-yankees&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;New York Yankees&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; or going to the &lt;strong&gt;New York Mets&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Bader played for the Twins and the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-phillies&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Phillies&lt;/a&gt; last year, but has not signed a free agent contract. However, given the fact that Bellinger is an outfielder – and even first base at times- that can move everywhere, &lt;strong&gt;Bader is the only starting-caliber pure centerfielder left in free agency&lt;/strong&gt;, and that can give him a very profitable bag once he signs for a team.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The other centerfielders remaining in free agency are &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cody-bellinger&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Bellinger&lt;/a&gt;, JJ Bleday, Garrett Hampson, DaShawn Kerisey Jr. and Chas McCormick. &lt;strong&gt;Supply and demand is what can make Bader improve his net worth massively &lt;/strong&gt;with the next contract he signs.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;How did Bader play in 2025?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Bader played good for the Twins but &lt;strong&gt;after getting traded to the Phillies, he shined best&lt;/strong&gt;. The centerfielder’s contributions to the Phillies in the last stretch of the 2025 &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb&quot;&gt;MLB&lt;/a&gt; season makes him a very desirable player to have.&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_551433_GettyImages-22339309192-Bolavip_0d31e775.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Harrison Bader played for the Phillies&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-486563&quot; sizes=&quot;(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Harrison Bader played for the Phillies&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Bader had 17 homers and 54 RBIs last season. However, it’s his defense what makes him a great player. He won the Gold Glove back in the day. &lt;strong&gt;Bader has incredible range, a huge arm and very high energy. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/mlb-rumors-ny-yankees-reportedly-know-what-cody-bellinger-thinks-of-joining-the-ny-mets&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;Which teams could try to land Bader?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;A few days ago, Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo of The Athletic reported that the Phillies, Mets, Rays, Orioles, Diamondbacks, and Royals are all looking to get a centerfielder. &lt;strong&gt;There are a couple of teams that can be disregarded, though&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;First, the Phillies, who already lost Bader to free agency. Then, the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-mets&quot;&gt;Mets&lt;/a&gt;, as they are focused on poaching Bellinger from the Yankees and/or trading for Luis Robert Jr. The most intriguing option could be Baltimore, as the Orioles traded Cedric Mullins, trotted out Colton Cowser, and they are aggressive. &lt;strong&gt;They already landed the services of Pete Alonso at first base. Why not pull the trigger again to try and land Bader&lt;/strong&gt;?&lt;/p&gt;

Phillies' former CF positions himself greatly to get massive payday amid Cody Bellinger's uncertainty between NY Yankees and NY Mets - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;As much as 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;love to take the &lt;strong&gt;New York Yankees&lt;/strong&gt;’ favorite toys away from them, reports suggest the Orange and Blue may be taking an alternative route instead. In the midst of a noisy &lt;strong&gt;MLB&lt;/strong&gt; offseason, the club in Queens could land the top available free agent, rather than &lt;strong&gt;Cody Bellinger&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Former Chicago Cubs outfielder &lt;strong&gt;Kyle Tucker&lt;/strong&gt; has become the No. 1 free agent in the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb&quot;&gt;MLB&lt;/a&gt; open market. &lt;strong&gt;Coming off a one-year, $16 million contract&lt;/strong&gt;, it looks like the 2022 World Series champion with the Houston Astros set to switch addresses once more. A return to Chicago is unlikely, though it can’t be ruled out completely. However, if the&lt;strong&gt; Mets embark in negotiations with him&lt;/strong&gt;, it could be all she wrote for the Cubs. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;New York is used to making such offseason splashes on free agents, while Chicago isn’t. Needless to say, going after Tucker would shut the door on &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cody-bellinger&quot;&gt;Bellinger&lt;/a&gt;. Moreover, the Orange and Blue &lt;strong&gt;can’t afford to engage in a two-front bidding battle in MLB&lt;/strong&gt;. A decision must be made, and a report suggests the Mets may finally be done pursuing the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-yankees&quot;&gt;Yankees&lt;/a&gt;’ targets. At least, for the time being.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;According to &lt;em&gt;Newsweek’s &lt;/em&gt;prediction, the Mets will land &lt;strong&gt;Kyle Tucker on an 11-year, $430 million contract&lt;/strong&gt;, outbidding the Toronto Blue Jays for the star right-fielder. If that were to happen, Tucker would bag the second-highest contract on the Mets. Obviously, &lt;strong&gt;he would come in second after Juan Soto&lt;/strong&gt; who signed a 15-year, $765 million deal in Queens.&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_551414_tucker-1_5398070a.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Kyle Tucker&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-550210&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Kyle Tucker #30 with the Cubs high-fives teammates in the dugout.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;The reasoning behind Mets being favorites&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;As reported by Newsweek, there are three main candidates leading the race for Tucker: the Mets, Dodgers, and Blue Jays. Still, &lt;strong&gt;none as willing to open the checkbook as the Mets&lt;/strong&gt; have proven to be when it comes to free agency signings.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        

        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/mlb-rumors-ny-yankees-star-aaron-judge-pushes-ny-mets-away-from-cody-bellinger&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;“&lt;em&gt;Meanwhile, the spend-happy Dodgers are &lt;strong&gt;reportedly not willing to make him a long-term offer,&lt;/strong&gt;” Newsweek &lt;/em&gt;reported.&lt;em&gt; “The Yankees seem to be focusing on Cody Bellinger and the Phillies may have already pivoted off Tucker by signing Adolis Garcia to a one-year deal.&lt;/em&gt;“&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;It comes down to the Mets and Blue Jays, and it could truly be anybody’s game. However, carrying the burden of potential departures from Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil, &lt;strong&gt;New York can’t afford to be on the losing side of a bidding war again&lt;/strong&gt;. If that means going overboard with an overpaying contract, then so be it. At least that’s how the reasoning in Queens looks.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Mets could do Yankees a favor&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;By steering away from Bellinger, Steve Cohen and the Mets may be doing several favors for the Yankees. First and foremost, &lt;strong&gt;they’d be saving Brian Cashman and company from a huge embarrassment&lt;/strong&gt; by avoiding the loss of yet another star to the organization in Queens. Moreover, the Bronx Bombers would be in pole position to re-sign Bellinger to a long-term deal and keep the core together at Yankee Stadium. &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_551414_cody-bellinger-ny-yankees_d55fe1ad.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Cody Bellinger pointing with his finger&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-551354&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Cody Bellinger during a game with the Yankees.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Last, but certainly not least, the Mets would take Tucker off the market, which would leave Bellinger next in line. Most reports indicate Bellinger and his agent, Scott Boras, are waiting on Tucker’s next deal to figure things out for themselves. By signing the former Cub, the &lt;strong&gt;Mets would be expediting the process for the Yankees&lt;/strong&gt;, while helping calm the anxiety around the Bronx, where fans have grown skeptical about the business plan put together by Hal Steinbrenner and company.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;The price to pay for NY Yankees&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Of course, there’s a fact that can’t be overlooked. Cohen and the Mets may be playing with an open tap money-wise, but the Yankees are not. By signing Tucker to such a monstrous contract, the expectation is that Bellinger and Boras will further &lt;strong&gt;increase their asking price&lt;/strong&gt;. That is saying a lot considering &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb/cody-bellingers-reported-demands-creates-tension-and-draws-strong-criticism-amid-ny-yankees-ny-mets-rumors&quot;&gt;Bellinger’s demands draw tension and criticism amid the Yankees and Mets rumors&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;With Tucker no longer available, the Pinstripes would see their offseason targets narrow down to one candidate. Essentially, the Yankees either pay up, or &lt;strong&gt;they risk seeing fans riot outside Yankee Stadium.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_poll&quot; id=&quot;694da26ee2d53b59fb2f06e7&quot; data-title=&quot;Who will Tucker sign with?&quot; data-options=&quot;5&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

NY Mets shake up NY Yankees' Cody Bellinger rumors with push for another MLB champion

NY Mets rumors: Pursuit for MLB stars Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette takes discouraging turn

NY Yankees reach final conclusion on Cody Bellinger–Kyle Tucker dilemma as NY Mets lead rumors around MLB

MLB Rumors: NY Mets make drastic decision on former NY Yankees star Cody Bellinger in favor of World Series champ - Bolavip US

Mets make drastic decision on former Yankees star Bellinger

&lt;p&gt;Though &lt;strong&gt;MLB’s &lt;/strong&gt;2026 Opening Day is still a little ways down the road, the &lt;strong&gt;Boston Red Sox&lt;/strong&gt; are currently leaving it all on the field in hopes of retaining &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/alex-bregman&quot;&gt;Alex Bregman&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;. That may be easier said than done, and rumors indicate Boston has now come up with a triple-option Plan B in case things end sourly with the two-time World Series champion.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;While keeping Bregman in town is still the &lt;strong&gt;main priority in The Hub&lt;/strong&gt;, the Red Sox know better than to place all their eggs in one basket. Moreover, they aren’t missing the forest because of the tree. The free agency class is quite stacked, as are the potential trade candidates, and &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/boston-red-sox&quot;&gt;Boston&lt;/a&gt; has seemingly found its &lt;strong&gt;three candidates to fill out the void&lt;/strong&gt; if Bregman happens to sign elsewhere.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“The Red Sox are also considering &lt;strong&gt;Bo Bichette, Kazuma Okamoto and Ketel Marte&lt;/strong&gt;,” &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb&quot;&gt;MLB&lt;/a&gt; Network insider Jon Heyman commented on Boston’s shopping list for the offseason.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Where Bichette and Okamoto&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Although Bichette and Okamoto are both unrestricted free agents, &lt;strong&gt;they bring very different backgrounds to the table&lt;/strong&gt;. Bichette is coming off a strong year with the Blue Jays, helping Toronto reach the World Series round of the MLB Playoffs. As concerns grew around his play at shortstop, Bichette is now willing to play at the second baseman position, which in turn could lead to him filling Bregman’s spot at 3B.&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_551431_bo-bichette-1_c730db30.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Bo Bichette&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-547325&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Bo Bichette is still unsigned in free agency&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;As for Okamoto, the 29-year-old Japanese infielder &lt;strong&gt;arrives fresh off the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) &lt;/strong&gt;league. Okamoto has been linked to the Pittsburgh Pirates, as they &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb/mlb-rumors-pirates-exploring-long-shot-acquisition-to-help-out-paul-skenes-rest-of-the-team&quot;&gt;explore a long-shot move to help out Paul Skenes and company&lt;/a&gt;. However, should Boston intervene, it could really tilt the scale on its favor as Okamoto has time to sign an MLB deal until Jan. 4, when his posting window closes.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        

        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/red-soxs-youngster-owed-50-million-emerges-as-trade-candidate-amidst-alex-bregmans-uncertain-mlb-future&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;Marte is not a free agent&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Ketel Marte, on the other hand, is currently under contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Although Marte &lt;strong&gt;signed a six-year, $116.5 million deal&lt;/strong&gt; with the D-backs, his name has gained much traction in the MLB rumor mill. According to &lt;em&gt;The Athletic&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;the Red Sox are not included on Marte’s current five-team no-trade list&lt;/strong&gt;. Thus, they can’t be ruled out of the race.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;In more ways than one, Boston going after Marte could be a &lt;strong&gt;self-defense mechanism&lt;/strong&gt; after Arizona entered the sweepstakes for Bregman. Sometimes, going on offense is the best defense, and Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow may think just that.&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_551431_Marte_16c0ea29.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Ketel Marte&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-547793&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Update on Bregman&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The Red Sox are still considered the favorites to sign Bregman out of MLB free agency. However, there is an unavoidable fact: &lt;strong&gt;the third baseman recently opted out of his three-year, $120 million contract&lt;/strong&gt; in Boston. The main reason behind his decision was to secure a longer-term deal and cash in after a great season. But the fact remains that he has shown a willingness to cut ties with the Red Sox.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Whether that turns out to be a source of bad blood or not is a different question. At the end of the day, Bregman and Boston built enough fond memories in 2025 for both sides to want to &lt;strong&gt;run it back in 2026—and well beyond&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_poll&quot; id=&quot;694daf17e2d53b59fb2f06ea&quot; data-title=&quot;Who would be the best acquisition for Boston?&quot; data-options=&quot;4&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

Red Sox fight Alex Bregman's leverage by declaring interest in three MLB stars

MLB Rumors: Red Sox circle 2x All-Star to replace Alex Bregman amid slow progress in negotiations

MLB Rumors: Red Sox ramp up trade talks for Cardinals’ All-Star amid Alex Bregman drama

Alex Bregman rumors: Red Sox fight back with three MLB stars emerging as Plan B - Bolavip US

Alex Bregman rumors: Red Sox fight back with three MLB stars emerging as Plan B

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-mets&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;New York Mets&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; have made it a habit of stealing players from the &lt;strong&gt;New York Yankees&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Cody Bellinger&lt;/strong&gt; might be the next name on that list. However, it seems like the Bronx Bombers are confident in this situation.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, &lt;strong&gt;the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-yankees&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Yankees&lt;/a&gt; think Bellinger “&lt;em&gt;won’t skip to Queens&lt;/em&gt;.”&lt;/strong&gt; This reveals a big level of confidence that they will keep the outfielder services.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cody-bellinger&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Bellinger&lt;/a&gt; is an aging two-time All-Star and former MVP back in 2019. However, he is still very good and productive. He isn’t even that old to begin with. He will turn 30 next season, &lt;strong&gt;indicating there are still a couple of seasons for him to be an X factor.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;How did Bellinger fare in his year with the Yankees?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Bellinger had 656 plate appearances, in which &lt;strong&gt;he had 160 hits, 29 home runs and also 98 RBIs&lt;/strong&gt;. He was struck out 90 times. Bellinger is a very good outfielder on both ends, offense and defense.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-embed__wrapper&quot;&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;ck-twitter&quot;&gt;&lt;blockquote class=&quot;twitter-tweet&quot; data-width=&quot;500&quot; data-dnt=&quot;true&quot;&gt;&lt;p lang=&quot;en&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;This is just a reminder that Cody Bellinger is a really good player. It seems like all these narratives are turning him into some sort of slap-hitting defensive outfielder. The Yankees would be a far more dangerous team with him than without.  Agree that there should be a line on… &lt;a href=&quot;https://t.co/ZtxB3zfcUd&quot;&gt;pic.twitter.com/ZtxB3zfcUd&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— Yankeesource (@YankeeSource) &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/YankeeSource/status/2003858436321091799?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;December 24, 2025&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;script async=&quot;&quot; src=&quot;https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js&quot; charset=&quot;utf-8&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;During the 2025 season, &lt;strong&gt;Bellinger played 85 games at left field, 52 at right field, and 41 at center field. &lt;/strong&gt;He also had seven games at first base. He is a very versatile player to have on a roster.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/mlb-rumors-ny-yankees-star-aaron-judge-pushes-ny-mets-away-from-cody-bellinger&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;Both the Yankees and Mets need his services&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The Yankees need Bellinger back as &lt;strong&gt;his versatility is guarantee&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;strong&gt;of quality&lt;/strong&gt; on a roster that has a couple of holes in there. Bellinger provides stability and availability wherever he is needed.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;As per the Mets, &lt;strong&gt;they need big names to join &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/juan-soto&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Juan Soto&lt;/a&gt; and company&lt;/strong&gt;. The Mets are trying to stay relevant after missing the playoffs last season. Certainly bringing a name like Bellinger would boost the team.&lt;/p&gt;

MLB Rumors: NY Yankees reportedly know what Cody Bellinger thinks of joining the NY Mets

MLB Rumors: NY Yankees reportedly know what Cody Bellinger thinks of joining the NY Mets - Bolavip US

destacadas

&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?

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

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