Inspiring

With the Bundesliga’s restart just over a week away, it’ll be fascinating to see the differing levels of fitness on display when, for example, Borussia Dortmund hosts Schalke in the Revierderby on Saturday, May 16. After over two months off, it’s only natural that some players will have taken better care of themselves, while others might need an extra week or two to last more than 60 minutes.

Goal #100: An acrobatic side volley that’s made to look effortless. Goal #99: A velvety first touch loaded with purpose, a graceful cut beyond a defender and a curled finish inside the far post.

And now there are 98 superior goals?! As Ray Hudson once said, “The insane becomes the routine with this man.” 

Over the course of the last four years, Sadio Mané has become world-renowned while shining for Liverpool. He’s now a two-time PFA Team of the Year selection, a Premier League Golden Boot recipient, the 2019 African Footballer of the Year and a UEFA Champions League winner. 

If you ask Lionel Messi who the best player on the planet was last year, he’ll tell you it was Mané.

There will come a day when the USMNT boasts a world-class striker. I might not be around to see it, but that day is coming.