Amazing Goals

PSV Eindhoven’s hopes of making it through to the Champions League Round of 16 took a massive blow Wednesday after Pablo Rosario’s smashing opener (assisted by Hirving “Chucky” Lozano) was canceled out by a whistling, 18-yard Radja Nainggolan half-volley and ultimately made meaningless by Mauro Icardi’s comedic winner in the 60th minute.

Let’s be fair here: Tottenham was missing a number of key starters due to injury. But damn, Barcelona looked so much better than Spurs in the first half of their Champions League match on Wednesday at Wembley Stadium in London. 

Philippe Coutinho scored an easy goal 90 seconds into the match and Ivan Rakitic hammered home a long-range volley off the post in the 28th minute as Barcelona led 2-0 at halftime. 

As one of the fleetest-footed footballers in the world, Neymar is subject to a lot of physical abuse. Always wanting to take opponents on with his dazzling skills, defenders are often forced to resort to violence to stop the Brazilian.

But you can’t stop a perfect free kick, and Neymar punished Red Star Belgrade with just such a shot in the Champions League on Wednesday in Paris. 

Beginning with the World Cup and carrying into the first month and a half of the new club season, it’s hard to argue against Eden Hazard’s standing as the most influential attacker in football (and the most fun to watch).