Feel Good

Alyssa Thompson becomes youngest draft pick in NWSL history after being selected No. 1 overall

LOS ANGELES — Angel City FC on Thursday selected 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson with the first pick of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) draft, making the Los Angeles native the first player in league history drafted directly out of high school.

"Alyssa Thompson, for us, is a phenom and generational player," said Angel City general manager Angela Hucles Mangano.

"She's a player who can make an immediate impact, but she's also young and can develop and look to be a player that we're building a future off of, too."

Watch all 11 Puskás Award finalists right here, right now

I don't mean to brag, I don't mean to boast, but if you've been following The18 for the past year then you've already seen all 11 FIFA Puskas Award nominees. We have exquisite taste like that. 

But in case you can't remember the strikes — arriving as early as Apr. 2 and as late as Kylian Mbappé's side-volley against Argentina in the World Cup final on Dec. 18 — here's a trip down memory lane with videos that you can watch right here, right now. I've also included a link to what The18 said at the time.

No World Cup hangover for Messi — Argentine scores in first game back for PSG

24 days after lifting the World Cup, Lionel Messi made his return to the pitch as league-leading PSG welcomed last-place Angers to the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

With Kylian Mbappé not returning to training until Thursday, PSG manager Christophe Galtier started Messi and Neymar out wide with 20-year-old French striker Hugo Ekitiké leading the line and Fabián Ruiz joining the attack from midfield.

Before the match, PSG players warmed up in shirts paying tribute to Pelé and there was a minute's applause before kick-off.

Open-top bus parade time: Newcastle United reach a cup semifinal!

It'd been 18 long years since Newcastle United had advanced to the semifinals in one of England's cup competitions, but their supporters can once again dream of breaking a major trophy curse that's lasted since 1955 after beating Leicester City 2-0 in the League Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday night at St James' Park.

adidas X Jamaica partnership quickly leads to the most anticipated jersey of 2023

Maybe you missed it since the news appeared on New Year's Day, but the Jamaica Football Federation recently announced a partnership with adidas to "not only celebrate Jamaican football but also Jamaican style and culture."

We're expecting jersey, training wear and lifestyle clothing drops soon with the new kits reportedly coming by the end of January. It's a busy summer for Jamaica with the Reggae Girlz competing in their second straight FIFA Women's World Cup and the Reggae Boyz attempting to claim the Concacaf Gold Cup for the first time.

Not over yet? Portugal's new coach says he'll ‘sit down and talk’ with Ronaldo

LISBON - Portugal named former Belgium coach Roberto Martínez as their new manager on Monday and the Spaniard said he would sit down with Cristiano Ronaldo to talk about his future in the team.

Martínez, 49, replaces Fernando Santos, who left his job after Portugal suffered a shock defeat by Morocco in the World Cup quarterfinals.

"I appreciate the enthusiasm and ambition with which he (Martínez) received the invitation," Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) President Fernando Gomes told a news conference as Martínez stood next to him.

Costa Rica legend Celso Borges pulls off the most spectacular double nutmeg you'll see this year

Celso Borges might have pulled off one of the filthiest nutmeg sequences of the year. Yes, I'm aware we're in January.

The 34-year-old central midfielder is one of Costa Rica’s all-time greats (playing a vital part in the Ticos’ 2014 World Cup run) and to this day, he keeps showing us why he’s regarded as such, even in a charity match.

Dortmund's Sébastien Haller ready for comeback after 6-month battle with testicular cancer

BERLIN - Borussia Dortmund forward Sébastien Haller is back in team training and ready to make his competitive comeback following surgery and treatment for testicular cancer.

The striker was diagnosed during a pre-season training camp in July and had been signed only weeks earlier by Dortmund for an initial fee of $33.24 million.

Marcos Acuña scores goal right after being honored by Sevilla for winning World Cup

Argentina's victorious World Cup squad members have all gone back to their club sides where they've been given receptions befitting the return of conquering heroes. PSG gave Lionel Messi a guard of honor on Wednesday when he returned to training, Alexis Mac Allister was serenaded by Brighton teammates and Enzo Fernández...

Jesse Marsch back from the brink after Leeds fight off FA Cup upset with 2-goal comeback

With Leeds United just two points above the Premier League relegation zone nearing the campaign's halfway point, an FA Cup exit to EFL Championship side Cardiff City on Sunday would've certainly left Jesse Marsch's job security on the brink.

It looked pretty hopeless at halftime after Jaden Philogene and Sheyi Ojo scored to give Cardiff a 2-0 advantage while the 6,000 Leeds supporters who'd made their way to Wales booed their players and manager off the pitch.

Pages