Benzema’s Last Dance? The Ballon d’Or Winner Opens the Door to a World Cup Return

Marc Marquez didn’t just win the 2025 MotoGP World Championship; he dismantled it. By the time the paddock arrived at the Mandalika Circuit in October, the title was already an afterthought, tucked safely away in the Spaniard's trophy cabinet since September.

The statistics from his 2025 campaign read like a fever dream: 11 Grand Prix victories supplemented by a staggering 14 Sprint race wins. It was a metronomic display of brilliance that only came to a halt when a violent crash in Indonesia forced him out of the final five rounds.

Had he stayed upright, the record books would likely have been rewritten entirely.

Yet, despite standing atop the mountain, the eight-time World Champion is remarkably quick to downplay the prospect of an encore.

The Perfect Storm

Speaking to El Periodico, Marquez admitted that even he was caught off guard by the sheer margin of his superiority. "I never imagined such a year," he confessed. "The goal was to fight for the title, but clinching it with five races to go? Not like this."

The reality of the modern "Sprint era" makes such gaps statistically improbable. With 37 points available every weekend, the room for error is microscopic. "Between the sprints and the long races, it’s almost impossible to repeat," Marquez noted. "There are just too many points up for grabs; staying that consistent is not easy."

A Renewed Grid for 2026

If the math doesn't stop him, the competition will. The 2025 season was defined as much by Marquez’s brilliance as it was by the absence of his primary rivals.

• Jorge Martin: After an injury-plagued 2025 that saw him sidelined for the majority of the year, the "Martinator" returns in 2026 with a point to prove.

• Francesco Bagnaia: Marquez’s own teammate will be his fiercest critic. After a disastrous 2025 campaign defined by uncharacteristic errors, Bagnaia is expected to undergo a "reset" to reclaim his status within the factory Ducati garage.

• The Yamaha Wildcard: The arrival of Toprak Razgatlıoğlu at Yamaha adds a volatile new element to the front of the grid, with the Japanese manufacturer showing significant technical strides.

The Long Road to Recovery

Before Marquez can worry about Martin or Bagnaia, he must first conquer his own body. The crash in Mandalika has left him in a race against time, with his arm currently undergoing a grueling recovery process.

"The arm loses a lot of strength after five weeks of immobilization," Marquez explained. "The bone needs to heal properly, and the ligaments even more so. Right now, it’s just hours of physiotherapy and the hyperbaric chamber. Anything that helps is a bonus."

Marquez has proven before that he can return from the brink. But as the 2026 season looms, the question isn't just whether he can be fast again—it’s whether the rest of the world will ever let him be that dominant again.

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The modern Alessandro Bastoni—a pillar of Inter Milan’s backline and a centerpiece of the Italian national team—feels like an inevitability. But as the 26-year-old reveals, the path to the top was paved with a surprising amount of self-doubt and a sliding-doors moment that could have changed the history of the Nerazzurri.

It is difficult to imagine now, but upon his arrival at San Siro (2019/2020 season), Bastoni was ready to walk away. Staring down a defensive depth chart that featured seasoned titans like Milan Skriniar, Diego Godin, and Stefan de Vrij, the youngster felt out of his depth.

"I repeatedly asked to leave on loan," Bastoni admits. He didn't just doubt his place; he doubted his readiness for the weight of the Inter shirt.

It took the stubborn conviction of Antonio Conte to steady him. Conte refused the loan requests, promising the youngster minutes and a role in his project. It was a gamble that didn’t just change Bastoni’s season—it altered the trajectory of his entire career.

Training day 🖤💙 pic.twitter.com/BdN8eP9qYE

— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter) December 22, 2025

Inheriting the Inter DNA

Now entering his seventh season with nearly 300 appearances under his belt, the apprentice has become the master. Bastoni is no longer the kid looking for the exit; he is the veteran looking to pay it forward.

He speaks with deep reverence for the "old guard"—figures like Andrea Ranocchia, Danilo D’Ambrosio, and Samir Handanović. They were the ones who taught him the gravity of the badge.

"Playing for Inter means representing millions of fans," he explains. "You realize quickly that their entire week, their very mood, hinges on your result." It is this psychological weight that he now aims to help the next generation carry.

The Pursuit of the Ultimate Prize

When discussing his future, Bastoni is both pragmatic and hungry. He doesn't need to name the trophy he covets most; the pain of two near-misses in the Champions League speaks for itself.

It remains the "ultimate goal," the final piece of the puzzle at club level. On the international stage, his mission is one of restoration: ensuring Italy secures its rightful place at the next World Cup after years of heartbreak.

Bastoni’s style is a blend of traditional grit and modern elegance. When asked to choose between the thrill of a goal, the heroics of a goal-line clearance, or the craft of an assist, he leans toward the latter.

While he acknowledges that "defending is the priority," there is an undeniable joy in the way he progresses the ball—a trait that has made him one of the most unique center-backs in Europe.

For Bastoni, growth is found in the shadows of loss rather than the glow of silverware. It is a perspective born from experience.

"The joy of winning fades quickly," he says, "but the sting of defeat keeps you up at night, forcing you to analyze every mistake." In the world of elite football, it is that restless, late-night analysis that separates the great players from the legends.