Philipp Lahm thinks the Ballon d’Or is just a popularity contest for strikers

Philipp Lahm is really good. He’s been one of the top two or three players for Bayern Munich and the German national team for a decade now. He’s unquestionably one of the greatest players of his generation. And yet, he doesn’t ever get Ballon d’Or recognition because he doesn’t score goals. He thinks that isn’t right, and wrote an editorial asking FIFA to change the award.

His idea to replace the Ballon d’Or with best goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and striker awards isn’t going to happen. But presenting these in addition to the Ballon d’Or isn’t a terrible idea, though they’d probably just go to Barcelona and Real Madrid players anyway.

Michel Zyro of Wolves turned in this disaster. (r/soccer)

Some Lionel Messi fans vandalized a Cristiano Ronaldo statue to celebrate the Ballon d’Or.

AS Roma have sacked Rudi Garcia. (Roma)

Bill Hamid is out of USMNT camp with a knee injury. Sean Johnson has replaced him. (MLS)

Brayan Jimenez, who’s been on the run a month, was finally arrested as part of the FIFA scandal. (BBC)

Neymar will have to appear in court during the case regarding his transfer’s legality. (Guardian)

Wolfsburg’s Bas Dost is out two months with a fractured metatarsal. (Bundesliga)

Valencia have hired a sporting director after Gary Neville was horrified with their lack of scouting. (Mirror)

James Young on the relationship between Brazilian and Haitian soccer. (Vice)

James Clark asks how many more lower league stars there are like Troy Deeney and Jamie Vardy. (The Set Pieces)

Ian King on the handball rule and if it should be changed. (Two Hundred Percent)

Silly season has returned. Please don’t take anything in this section too seriously.

Liverpool appear to have a deal to sign Joel Matip on a free this summer. (Mirror)

Barcelona look to be in the lead to sign Leroy Sané. (L’Equipe)

And they’re close to signing Nolito, too. (AS)

Ezequiel Lavezzi’s agent says Inter and Chelsea are trying to sign his client. (Football Italia)

Edinson Cavani to Arsenal might be possible. (Telegraph)

Newcastle and Manchester United played to a crazy 3-3 draw. (Coming Home Newcastle)

EPL: 7 games (2:45 p.m.) -- Liverpool-Arsenal is the TV game, but Spurs-Leicester is great, too.

Copa del Rey: 4 games (from 2:30 p.m.) -- Barcelona plays at 2:45 p.m.