Xavi Hernandez is still making the game of football look effortless in Qatar, and the former Barcelona and Spain star is on the verge of adding another trophy to his cabinet. For those keeping count, this would be number 627.
For those of you wondering how footballers will manage to perform in the sweltering heat of a Qatarian World Cup, Xavi has the answer: slowly but surely.
As part of new FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s mission of “getting football back to the heart of FIFA”, a team of FIFA Legends took on the Mexico All-Stars to celebrate both the 66th FIFA Congress in Mexico City and the 50th anniversary of the historic Azteca Stadium.
It may not be as well known, or receive the same global attention, as England’s FA Cup, or even Spain’s Copa del Rey, but the Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup, affectionately known as the Scottish Cup, dates back to 1873-74, making it the oldest national and football competition in the world.
2006 World Cup winner Luca Toni signed off on his illustrious career with an audacious Panenka penalty against Juventus this weekend, leading Verona to a shock 2-1 victory over Juventus.
Luca Toni gets a penalty in his last ever game. Gives it the Panenka: https://t.co/ac2sDwL50L
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) May 9, 2016
After a slow start to his professional career, Jordan Morris is now officially more lit than Dubai. Morris scored his fourth goal in as many games on Saturday, tying a rookie record for the longest MLS goal-scoring streak.
Morris was named on Jurgen Klinsmann’s preliminary 40-man roster ahead of the Copa America, and his exploits with Seattle mean that he’s highly likely to make the final list of 23 players.
After a largely drama-free edition of the Champions League semi-finals, we get an already drama-filled Madrid Derby Champions League final. This will be fun.
It almost didn't happen, though, as the second leg of Manchester City vs. Real Madrid was nearly as much of a snoozer as the first leg. Gareth Bale supplied one piece of entertainment when his shot/cross/thing hit Fernando's leg and then went past Joe Hart and into the net.
On the score sheet, it will go down as Fernando's own goal due to deflection, but it was Gareth Bale's run and chip that got the scoring going in the last match of the Champions League semi finals. Real Madrid scored in the 20th minute and held on to defeat Manchester City 1 - 0 to advance to the Champions League final. Both teams traded chances as Bale hit the woodwork and Aguero had a shot just inches over the bar.
The city will be divided as Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid will face off in Milan on May 28th.
The Chelsea vs. Tottenham 2-2 draw was significant in that it handed Leicester City the title, but even if that outcome had not come to pass, the game itself was still a classic for the ages. It was a blood-and-thunder, old school derby. It was the kind of game that Manchester United and Liverpool used to produce back when those teams actually had players who cared about the occasion.
Last week, Mexico National Team and Benfica striker Raul Jimenez kept Benfica in the Premeira Liga title race with a superb goal in the 73rd minute to beat Rio Ave.
This week, Jimenez sent Benfica into the final of the Taca la Liga (Portuguese League Cup) with a 71st minute.
Hector Herrera's play was the lone bright spot for Porto this Saturday in a 3-1 loss to Sporting CP.
Herrera, who sported the captain's armband, converted a penalty for Porto, who are now basically guaranteed third place in the Premeira Liga, 13 points behind Sporting CP and 10 points ahead of Braga.