Human Interest

Fresh off scoring his 100th career goal during France’s 4-0 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying victory over Andorra, 20-year-old French sensation Kylian Mbappé boarded a plane for the United States, where he’s since been spotted at Nike’s World Headquarters, chilling with LeBron James, at game six of the NBA Finals and throwing out the first pitch at a Los Angeles Dodgers game.

We’ll probably have to wait another couple decades to see Mbappé in MLS, but it’s clear that he enjoys his time spent stateside. Of course, it’s hard not to when the red carpet is rolled out wherever you go.  

After a minor injury that spiraled into 10 operations, an infection that ate away at his tendon and threatened foot amputation, a skin graft that resulted in part of his left arm tattoo moving to his right foot and ultimately, a spell of 636 days without football, Santi Cazorla made a remarkable comeback with Villarreal last season, appearing in 46 matches, scoring seven goals and providing 11 assists. 

Liverpool FC returned home on Sunday to present its sixth European Cup on an open-top bus parade through the city’s streets. It’s the club’s first major title since the 2006 FA Cup (no, we don’t count the 2012 League Cup), and a massive crowd turned out to greet the players and staff as they made their way around the city before finishing near Strand Street, where the River Mersey empties into Liverpool Bay.

Football is the world’s game, the beautiful game. Whether you call it football or soccer, it is the most egalitarian sport in the world, one that doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, black or white, male or female, straight or gay or anywhere on the spectrum of these categories. So it should be of no surprise there are plenty of Muslim football players all over the world.

One’s personal beliefs have no effect on how one plays the game of football. Likewise, fans should never discriminate players based on his or her religious beliefs. 

Unless you have the eyes of a Liverpool supporter, the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final wasn’t the prettiest spectacle. But that suited Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson just fine.

Loris Karius doesn’t need defending. He's a professional athlete. He’s impossibly good-looking; his girlfriend even more so. He makes over $1.5 million annually. He plays for one of Turkey’s biggest, most successful clubs. 

The USWNT is more than ready to compete and defend its World Cup title, so much so that they even made sure to mark their territory. Literally. 

First stop is the hometown of Rose Lavelle: Cincinnati, Ohio. Lavelle has been a crucial part of this World Cup cycle and has been a dynamic and impactful midfielder. Her craftiness and vision on the field helped the U.S. defeat both South Africa and New Zealand in its Send-Off Series matches. 

On Wednesday, May 22, Seattle Sounders and USMNT centerback Chad Marshall announced his retirement.

While he never quite broke into the USMNT first team with only 12 appearances, Marshall will go down as one of the best American centerbacks to ever play the game.