The famous live-score platform Sofascore has announced its list of Player of the Season award winners, for the season 2023/2024. Based on the globally acclaimed Sofascore rating system, these awards celebrate not just moments of brilliance but the persistence and consistent excellence demonstrated throughout an entire season. Among the recipients of this prestigious award are Kylian Mbappé (Ligue 1), Jude Bellingham (La Liga), Rodri (Premier League), Ewa Pajor (Frauen-Bundesliga), Harry Kane (Bundesliga), Caroline Graham Hansen (Liga F) and Khadija Shaw (Women’s Super League). Combined with the markets whose season will end in December, the award will recognize top performers across 50 leagues worldwide.

This year’s Player of the Season trophies carry an additional layer of meaning. Through the Field of Dreams campaign, Sofascore partnered with Brazilian football legend Zico to renovate a football pitch at his academy in Rio de Janeiro. In a unique move, each trophy contains pieces of the rejuvenated football pitch from Zico’s Academy, symbolizing the connection between a player’s roots and their rise to greatness.

Zico, speaking about the partnership, stated, “Football is more than just a game; it’s a journey fueled by dreams and sustained by persistence. The Player of the Season award from Sofascore represents the effort that every player puts into reaching their goals. I’m proud to partner with Sofascore in renovating a pitch at my academy, where the next generation of football stars will begin their journey.”

At the heart of the campaign is the belief that football is not defined by a single moment of brilliance but by the consistent hard work and dedication required to achieve excellence.

Also watch the video about the Player of the Season award on sofascores official youtube channel.

Branimir Karačić, Sofascore’s Chief Marketing Office: “The Field of Dreams concept is not just about honoring today’s stars, but also about reminding every player where their journey began. Every winner, whether in Brazil or across the globe, will hold a piece of this community-driven project in their hands. It’s a recognition of their hard work and a tribute to the support they received along the way.”

Find the full list of winners on sofascore website!

Lottery is the Fourth in Germany to Modernize with New, Camera-based Terminals Connecting Retail and Digital Sales

Scientific Games is set to bring advanced retailer technology to a fourth German state lottery. Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz will move to a more modern, purchasing experience that connects retail and digital with the global lottery company’s camera-based Contour.v terminals. Scientific Games will install the player-friendly Contour.v terminals in 2025 across Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz network of approximately 900 retail outlets in central southwest Germany.

The modernization project includes the company’s SYMPHONY Edge terminal software and management system, as well as training for Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz retailers. The technology rollout is through a new five-year contract that may be renewed for up to three additional years.

Jürgen Häfner, Managing Director for Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz, said, “With both player and retailer in mind, we are investing yet further in our well-established retailer network to enhance the connection between our digital and retail sales channels. This new technology project with Scientific Games aligns with our clear focus on player-oriented enhancements that take the purchasing experience with Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz to the next level.”

Offering contactless player interactions and mobile scanning features, the Contour.v terminals represent Scientific Games’ new-era optical technology. Contour.v was innovated by the company as part of its newest line of high-performance Contour terminals to meet evolving market demand in integrated lottery retail and digital environments.

The camera-based optical terminals feature an easily viewable and accessible ticket scan area and HD screens configurable for both clerk and player view, Contour.v was designed with durability and unparalleled user experience in mind. A sleek, unibody eliminates unnecessary parts, making the terminals extremely reliable. Unique, advanced optics technology enhances the speed of service. The Contour.v terminals also offer easy processing and a variety of options for ongoing software upgrades.

“Scientific Games welcomes Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz to the growing number of lotteries moving to modern retail technology that easily connects the retail and digital channels, and offers players a smooth, convenient purchasing experience,” said Matthias Müller, VP of Sales & Marketing for Scientific Games.

The company has served Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz since 2006 and currently provides the Lottery with central systems technology, terminal management system and retail point-of-sale technology, as well as its world-leading instant games through the Scientific Games Enhanced Partnership program.

Scientific Games is a supplier to all 16 lotteries in Germany, and the largest lottery systems technology provider in Europe. The company currently supplies games, technologies, analytics and services to 150 lotteries in 50 countries.

Contour.v is a trademark of Scientific Games. © 2024 Scientific Games, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

16-time JD Cymru Premier champions, The New Saints FC, teamed up with GAMSTOP, the UK’s national online self-exclusion scheme, in support of Self-Exclusion Day on Saturday 14th September.

The New Saints donated their match-day sponsorship slot to GAMSTOP for their 4-0 JD Cymru Premier victory over Barry Town, which saw the club promote the initiative across its matchday programme and social media platforms. The club’s players wore dedicated custom made GAMSTOP warm-up shirts ahead of the fixture, to raise awareness for the vital campaign designed to highlight the power of self-exclusion.

Beyond the fixture, GAMSTOP, in partnership with Addiction Recovery Agency (ARA), are set to deliver essential training sessions to The New Saints Academy, educating young athletes on the risks of gambling, how to spot and support problem gamblers and how they can support their mental and financial well-being through self-exclusion tools.

The New Saints are proud to play a crucial role in spreading awareness about the importance of GAMSTOP’s work, encouraging both fans and the wider public to engage with the responsible gambling message and to make use of GAMSTOP’s services if they or someone they know is struggling. This year’s Self-Exclusion Day campaign was dubbed #TakeBackControl2024.

GAMSTOP CEO Fiona Palmer said: “The level of support The New Saints provided for Self-Exclusion Day has been above and beyond. Football clubs play a key role in shaping their communities, and it’s fantastic to see TNS take such a proactive stance in supporting individuals who may be struggling with gambling harm. Together, we can ensure that support is available for those who need it.”

Chris Sergeant, Head of Academy at The New Saints FC, added: “We’re delighted to work with GAMSTOP and use the power of football to raise awareness about the importance of responsible gambling. As a club, we are always looking for ways to support our players, fans, and the wider community. This partnership is a crucial step in continuing that mission.”

Clubs from all four English leagues, including Premier League clubs such as Crystal Palace, also joined TNS in marking Self-Exclusion Day with many donating programme advertising and posting on their social media. GAMSTOP is a free service which allows vulnerable consumers to exclude themselves from all gambling sites licensed by the Gambling Commission for up to five years, with shorter options of six months or a year. They recently surpassed 500,000 sign ups to their service.

For more information on GAMSTOP, visit gamstop.co.uk.