History

In 1986, Diego Armando Maradona was on top of the world. With five goals and five assists, El Pibe de Oro led Argentina to an impressive World Cup victory. The stat that really shows how great Maradona was that summer in Mexico wasn’t his goals, assists or record number of dribbles — it was the record he set for most fouls suffered in a men’s World Cup. 

Perhaps more so than any other type of soccer, international football lends itself to the hero forward who saves the day with a miraculous goal. Whether it’s Pelé dominating the men’s World Cup, Michelle Akers scoring at will at the Women’s World Cup, Landon Donovan’s unforgettable finish against Algeria or Carli Lloyd’s midfield bomb in 2015, there’s something about the international game that loves a star goal scorer. 

After a 2020 that was, in many ways, a lost year for international soccer, the U.S. women’s national team went into 2021 with high hopes. The year ended with feelings of missed opportunities and the need for a rethink moving forward less than 20 months away from the next Women’s World Cup.

Evergreen Japanese footballer Kazuyoshi Miura, now 54, has no intention of hanging up his boots and said that as many as eight Japanese clubs are after his signature for next season, Kyodo News agency reported on Tuesday.

Miura, known as "King Kazu" in his homeland, became the oldest player to feature in Japan's first division when he played for Yokohama FC last season, but is now looking for opportunities elsewhere after the side were relegated to the second tier.

In Europe there's a pretty established pathway to becoming a professional footballer: get signed to the academy of a professional club at an early age and hope that one day you're good enough to make the first team.

For an American with European dreams, the route is similar: either have a rich family that can send you abroad or hope that a European club somehow spots you.

Sergio Agüero had an emotional farewell to the sport on Wednesday after being forced to retire at the age of 33 due to a heart condition. Fans of all clubs — even those who had Agüero as a bitter rival for so many years —fondly remembered Agüero’s career that was ended far too soon.

Running through Wednesday's KNVB Cup results on ESPN FC there was a name that stuck out like royalty among the Van den Bergs and Voets — a goalscorer for Den Haag identified as one "C. Seedorf". 

A quick search revealed that he's 21-year-old winger Cain Seedorf, who spent time at Ajax's youth academy before signing his first professional contract with Den Haag in 2020. And yes, he's a nephew of the legendary Clarence Seedorf.