The ability to choose is often taken for granted in soccer. With the increased prominence of dual nationals in recent years, fans are becoming used to seeing players pick which nationality they want to represent, like Yunus Musah and Folarin Balogun. What’s less common, however, is a player who, before turning 19, not only qualifies for four national teams but has already represented three of them.
Here's the thing: Artists don't know how to create a proper statue of a soccer player, or those who try are not very talented. I mean, there are far too many examples of baller tributes becoming absolute fiascos, with the classic Cristiano Ronaldo bust leading the way.
On the one hand, Mykhaylo Mudryk deserves sympathy. The 22-year-old has only played 15 Premier League games (for a completely dysfunctional team) and deserves much more patience (which he'll get because he cost $107 million) despite failing to score a goal for Chelsea.
On the other hand, Mudryk deserves zero sympathy — at least for one day — after committing the cardinal sin of gym-goers everywhere: mocking someone for trying to make themselves better, indiscreetly filming them and posting it online to millions of eye balls.
All El Tráficos count the same, right? Well, maybe that wasn't the case Tuesday night with LAFC and the LA Galaxy meeting in the U.S. Open Cup at only the Round of 16 stage and with LAFC entirely focused on next week's Concacaf Champions League final against León.
This meeting was basically the El Clásico equivalent of Barcelona playing Real Madrid in a preseason friendly at Hard Rock Stadium.
But don't tell Riqui Puig that.
Paris Saint-Germain fans proved once again why they are the most miserable and spoiled group in all of sports. During PSG’s Ligue 1 game vs. Ajaccio at the Parc des Princes Parisian fans booed Lionel Messi every time the ball was at his feet.
PSG fans booing Messi reminds me of that one spoiled kid who gets upset when their parents buy them a fancy new car but it’s the wrong color.
The loudest of the whistles and jeers came on corner kicks that Messi took. Fans also booed before the game when he was announced in the starting lineup.
Here at The18, we don't condone small shin guards (the tibia is more exposed than Leeds United's backline), but we certainly enjoy the roguish wild cards who risk it all in the name of comfort.
Things got a little out of hand during a recent CAF Champions League quarterfinal between Espérance and JS Kabylie in Tunisia. The match experienced a 40-minute delay to the second half after fans clashed with security forces around the stadium, and firefighters were required to put out several small fires in the stands.
Also, a storage room was looted and some of the equipment was later seen being used in the riots, including a chainsaw. According to Reuters, the chainsaw-wielding man has since been arrested.
In a match best described as barely-believable, Liverpool took a 3-0 lead over Spurs inside 15 minutes on Sunday before Tottenham stunned Anfield with three of their own, culminating in Richarlison's equalizer at 90+3'.
But Diogo Jota earned all three points for Liverpool at 90+4', and in the ensuing bedlam manager Jürgen Klopp twanged his hamstring while pointedly celebrating the goal in the fourth official's face.
Warning: If you've pulled your hamstring before, this clip will conjure painful memories. You can almost feel this video.
We all have a reason to hate VAR: its stupid nano-sized offside lines, seeing penalties nobody else sees, the time it takes from the game to review plays — you name it. However, there are times when you wish the technology was around.
Or at least you entertain the idea after seeing how unfair life was with Spanish goalkeeper Manu García last weekend.
There’s quite literally nothing better in soccer than scoring a last-minute goal that gives your team the win, right?
Well, Abel Hernández did just that, but in the most spectacular fashion possible. Worthy of a ceaseless replay.
Uruguayan Primera División league-leaders Peñarol visited Plaza Colonia in the 12 matchday of 15 in what was a tough visit for the charrúa giants last Sunday.