It never ceases to amaze me that with a 23-year-old Lionel Messi entering the height of his powers as a footballer, the Argentine Football Association decided to put Diego Maradona in charge of the national team for the 2010 World Cup. In his previous managerial experience, Maradona had collected three wins, eight draws and 12 losses, good for a win percentage of 13%.
When it comes to football advertisements, few have come close to matching Nike’s “Take It To The Next Level” commercials from 2008. The first-hand perspective ads put you directly in the shoes of an up-and-coming footballer, brushing shoulders with the likes of Arsene Wenger, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.
Let's get the expected out of the way. Yes, Neymar made his Paris Saint-Germain debut. Yes, he scored the final goal in PSG's 3-0 win over Guingamp. Yes, he made a delicious assist to Edinson Cavani.
But how about that own goal? What in the heck?
GOOOAAALLLL!!!!
Gary Cahill, everybody!
Just 14 minutes into his first Premier League match as Chelsea's club captain, Gary Cahill paid a touching tribute to predecessor John Terry by being a dick and getting himself sent off.
Following Cahill's exit, Chelsea's defense bungled its way to a 3-0 halftime deficit to, uh, Burnley.
In first-half stoppage time of his first match back for Everton, Wayne Rooney reminded everyone that he's still pretty good.
ROOOOONNEYYYY for Everton! pic.twitter.com/uJJG4q7D0M
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 12, 2017
Mexico international Hirving Lozano has scored his first competitive goal in Europe in his league debut with Dutch club PSV Eindhoven. The former Pachuca winger needed all of 31 minutes to find the net in PSV's league opener against AZ Alkmaar.
With 19 league assists in 30 matches, no player in Europe’s big five leagues had more than RB Leipzig’s Emil Forsberg last season. The 25-year-old Swedish midfielder was one of the breakthrough players in Europe in 2016-17, firing his club to an unexpected second place finish in the Bundesliga.
For a bit of context, Luis Suarez provided the second most assists in Europe’s big five leagues last season. His total was 13.
Maybe you’ve heard already, but this Christian Pulisic guy is pretty good. At 18, the Borussia Dortmund and U.S. men’s national team star has proven himself to be one of the best Americans in the game today. He has an impeccable first touch, composure in the box beyond his years and makes impressive runs on and off the ball.
Leg day is important. Sure, maybe you think the ladies will love you for your huge biceps or washboard abs, but don’t forget about the lower half of your body.
André Luis appears to have made that mistake. The Brazilian soccer player scored a simple goal on Tuesday but failed miserably on the celebration.
Let’s hope that celebration makes it into FIFA 18.