The USMNT vs. Brazil matchup on Friday will be the 19th time the two titans clash. Although the U.S. has only won one match and lost 17 against the Sambas so far, New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium is moments away from witnessing one of the most historic New World soccer spectacles — and I’m not referring to Neymar flopping about like a fish.
The player ratings for FIFA 19 will be revealed over the next week with EA Sports counting down the game’s top 100 footballers each morning.
PSG defeated Nimes 4-2 in an action-packed Ligue 1 encounter Saturday that saw Neymar open the scoring and celebrate in front of a sign at Stade des Costières that called him a crybaby. The Brazilian, who’ll be representing the Seleção in friendlies on U.S. soil next week, was substituted off in the 91st minute having taken his total to four goals in four league games following the World Cup.
Neymar unveiled a fresh new celebration on Saturday. Scoring the third goal for PSG against Angers in a 3-1 win, he showed off some writing on an unusually large wristband.
Neymar is typically sporting a band of tape around his right wrist, but today his Nike-emblazoned band was more reminiscent of a college quarterback with a list of plays written on it. But it wasn’t to remember any set-piece plays, but to honor a dear family member.
Kylian Mbappé is unplayable right now.
After helping France win the World Cup over the summer, he scored two goals in his first match back with PSG last week. He added another goal and an assist on Saturday against Angers, helping the defending champion to a 3-1 victory.
Adidas has long been king in the soccer world. The official partner of FIFA gives the German giant a huge following as perhaps the most popular producer of soccer-related equipment from clothes to cleats. But a look at what soccer players are sponsored by Nike reveals how close the American company is coming to overtaking adidas as the biggest soccer brand.
For too many years already, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have absolutely dominated the discussion surrounding who is the best soccer player in the world. The Argentinean and the Portuguese have formed a hegemonic dynasty that's lasted since at least 2008. To find a Ballon d'Or winner other than Messi and Ronaldo, one has to travel all the way to 2007 when Brazilian star Kaká won the prize, and he's now retired.
As he bounces back from a less-than-ideal World Cup showing and gets ready to suit up for PSG, Neymar’s been in his hometown for the 2018 edition of "Neymar Jr.’s Five." The five-a-side tournament consists of teams from more than 60 countries who battle it out in tournament qualifiers for a chance to play in the World Final at Instituto Projeto Neymar Jr. in Praia Granda, Brazil.
First things first, I’m not 100 percent certain we’ve agreed on a term for this particular skill. Is it a piece of back heel control? A rabona touch? An inverse rabona? A Nasty Neymar? From henceforth, it should be known as the Ballad of Ahmadzadeh Farshad.