The coronavirus pandemic has brought a halt to football around the globe, but it’s also deprived us of one of the most fascinating developments slated for March — Youssoufa Moukoko’s debut for Germany’s U-19 team and his transition into training with Borussia Dortmund’s senior side.
With a hat trick in PSG’s 5-1 Coupe de France semifinal victory over Lyon, Kylian Mbappé took his total to 30 goals in 32 appearances across all competitions this season (to go with 17 assists).
Following Martin Terrier’s early opener for Lyon, Mbappé equalized in the 14th after ensuring that Layvin Kurzawa’s header found the back of the net from close range. Neymar then gave PSG the lead in the 64th minute from the penalty spot.
Despite making 106 appearances for Mexico, winning three Gold Cups and capturing an Olympic gold medal by the age of 30, Giovani dos Santos’ career has been largely denounced as a case of what could’ve been.
At the root of that feeling is his sparkling origin story, one which saw him join Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy at the age of 13 before cementing his status at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship as perhaps Mexico’s greatest-ever talent.
Being able to wear the U.S. crest and represent your country playing the sport you love is an honor and the opportunity of a lifetime. The U.S. U-20 women’s national team is currently competing in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, at the CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship with a spot at the 2020 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup on the line.
The year is 2020. A top-of-the-table Bundesliga clash between Bayern Munich and Leipzig is being dictated by a fascinating duel between a 19-year-old Canadian and a 20-year-old American. Bayern Munich doesn’t win.
How ‘bout that for a bit of science fiction?! But that’s actually what happened on Sunday during the sort of match that proves a 0-0 scoreline can still be a damn good time.
Steven Gerrard endured what would've been an anxious second half on Wednesday night, but in the end, his Rangers side was able to keep its title hopes alive with a 2-1 win against Hibernian.
For the second time this season, PSG manager Thomas Tuchel had to deal with drama after a Kylian Mbappé substitution — this time during his team’s 5-0 victory against Montpellier on Saturday.
Sometimes you just really don’t want to be substituted out of a match. The level of soccer doesn’t matter — whether it’s youth, college or professional — but the best thing to do is wish your oncoming teammate success and then get cozy on the bench. But Mbappé seems to have his own style.
The crowning achievement of Lionel Messi’s international career remains the gold medal he captured as a 21-year-old at the 2008 Summer Olympics. It was a loaded Albiceleste squad with further attacking firepower provided by Sergio Agüero, Ángel Di María and Ezequiel Lavezzi, but Messi and Argentina were hugely reinforced by the over-age inclusions of Javier Mascherano and Juan Román Riquelme.
Barcelona stayed three points behind Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga following a 2-1 victory over Levante on Sunday with both goals coming from 17-year-old phenom Ansu Fati. Fati became the youngest-ever to register a brace in Spain’s top division, and it’s only fitting that Lionel Messi registered the assist on both goals.
The match’s first goal arrived in the 30th minute after Messi took possession inside his own half before playing an immaculate ball that dissected five Levante defenders and sent Fati on his way.
It’s obviously far too early to say that Kylian Mbappé vs. Erling Haaland is the next generation’s version of Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi — and you can absolutely make fun of me for even bringing it up — but these two kids are not normal.
The 21-year-old Mbappé has already proven that he has no level. With a World Cup winner’s medal to his name and a Champions League strike rate of 19 goals in 30 appearances (to go along with 11 assists), there’s no doubt that Mbappé’s Ligue 1 domination would translate across all European leagues. He’s a phenomenon.