Antonio Rüdiger shut down Erling Haaland and is now aiming to shut down Kylian Mbappé.
Rüdiger has been in incredible form with Real Madrid this season (taking the reigns of the central defense following the injuries of teammates Eder Militão and David Alaba), leading the team to a very likely LaLiga title as well as to a spot in the UEFA Champions League semifinals through the deciding kick in a penalty shoot-out.
Lionel Messi bagged an assist as Inter Miami kicked off the 2024 MLS Season with a 2-0 victory vs. Real Salt Lake on Wednesday. What everyone is talking about is a Messi injured player trick we have never seen before.
Messi is one of the most creative players on the ball in the sport’s history. On Wednesday he did something this writer has personally never witnessed a player try before. He used an injured player on the ground and dribbled over him.
Messi injured player trick
BERLIN — Borussia Dortmund were left fuming over a penalty decision in Tuesday's Champions League round of 16 first leg that earned hosts PSV Eindhoven a 1-1 draw.
Donyell Malen had scored a superb goal for the visitors against his former side before Eindhoven's Luuk de Jong converted the spot kick in the 56th minute at the Philips Stadion.
"Zero percent penalty, zero," Dortmund defender Mats Hummels said of his challenge on Malik Tillman.
Preseason serves as a great window to get rid of the rust and make mistakes to learn from even for veteran players. Gotham FC and USWNT star Kelley O’Hara shared just that on Wednesday in a hilarious video of her getting tackled by a motionless defender.
During NWSL preseason with defending champions Gotham, O’Hara was completely cleaned out by a defender. The good news is that there won’t be any hard feelings due to the fact that one of the players involved in the incident lacks the ability to have feelings.
Kelley O’Hara training dummy incident
United States men’s national team and Fulham left back Antonee Robinson provided one of the more creative assists we’ve seen during his side’s 2-2 draw with Burnley.
With Fulham leading 1-0 early in the first half, Robinson helped double the lead with a no-look, first-timed and backward assist over the top to Rodrigo Muniz.
Did that description sound extra confusing? Take a look for yourself at this Robinson assist.
Antonee Robinson assist vs Burnley
Before reading this article, you must mentally prepare yourself to watch a brutal foul that doesn’t even get called.
This isn’t some gruesome tackle where a player’s leg gets snapped in half, but it’s still one that will have you wincing just watching it.
The painful sparta kick took place during Wednesday’s AFC Asian Cup match between Lebanon and China.
In the second half Lebanon’s Khalil Khamis cleared a ball with a high boot and China’s Dai Wai Tsun was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Lebanon kick to the face vs. China
The Africa Cup of Nations never fails to provide exhilarating and peculiar moments. A Jefferson Encada clearance in the opening game between hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau has already provided fans with a hilarious highlight.
Encada, who plays at right back for Guinea-Bissau, appeared to have a simple game plan. That plan was the ball was not allowed in his penalty area.
In the first half he intercepted a pass inside the box and had several different options. He could pass back to his goalkeeper or to a fellow defender.
United States women’s national team and San Diego Wave center back Naomi Girma was a brick wall in defense last year and has deservedly been named the 2023 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year.
Girma is the first pure defender to win the award in its 39-year history.
Naomi Girma Player of the Year award
Real Madrid center back Antonio Rüdiger isn’t just one of the best defenders in the world, he’s also one of the most entertaining.
Rüdiger engaged in some hilarious nonsense during Real Madrid’s thrilling 5-3 victory vs. Atlético Madrid in the Supercopa de España on Wednesday.
Perhaps to get into Atlético striker Álvaro Morata’s head, Rüdiger was caught on camera grabbing the Spaniard’s nipple and giving it a twist.
United States men’s national team defender Chris Richards had a heart-in-mouth moment on Wednesday when he was shown the first red card of his career. Thankfully for the 23-year-old the red card was immediately rescinded.
During Crystal Palace’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea the American defender — who plays a defensive midfielder role for Palace — took one for the team and committed a foul to halt a counterattack.
In the 73rd minute Noni Madueke had successfully dribbled past Richards and the USMNT player tried to pull on the Chelsea forward’s shirt to slow him down.