| MESSI | Players to have won the FIFA Men's Player of the Year since 2008: Lewandowski, Modric, Ronaldo, and... (5) |
| RONALDO | Brazilian footballer who is one of only two men to have won the FIFA Player of the Year award three times |
| GABBYLOGAN | Co-host of BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year since 2013 |
| ORR | One of only 10 players to have the three-year waiting period waived for |
| CMA | Nashville org. that hasn't named a female Entertainer of the Year since Taylor Swift, in 2011 |
| EIGHT | How many countries have won the FIFA World Cup so far? (5) |
| UKRAINE | Poland captain Robert Lewandowski has pledged to wear this country's colours on his sleeve during the World Cup. (7) |
| STROKES | One expects players to have such attacks (7) |
| GOLDENBALL | What MVP honor did Luka Modric win when Croatia was runner-up at 2018's World Cup? |
| CROAT | Eastern European such as soccer's Luka Modric |
| NORTHPOLE | Robert Lewandowski, say * (5,4) |
| ADVISOR | Consultant on armour in the years since Christ's birth (7) |
| GRAF | Who is the only tennis player to have won all four majors and Olympic gold in the same year? (4-) |
| PELE | Who is the only player to have won the World Cup three times? (4) |
| STEFFIGRAF | The only tennis player to have won each of the four Grand Slam singles titles at least four times |
| JORGINHO | Italy, Arsenal and 2018-23 Chelsea midfielder; 2020-21 UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award winner (8) |
| LIAM | England and Hampshire all-rounder; 2024 PCA Awards men's player of the year (4) |
| DAWSON | England and Hampshire all-rounder; 2024 PCA Awards men's player of the year (6) |
| RODLAVER | Only tennis player to have won two calendar-year singles Grand Slams in 1962 and 1969 (3,5) |
| SUN | ___ Wen retired Chinese soccer player who won the FIFA Female Player of the Century along with 44a in 2000 |
