International Soccer

Christian Pulisic named U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year for fourth time — ties Landon Donovan

Christian Pulisic was named the 2023 U.S. Male Player of the Year marking the fourth time in his career that he’s been honored with the award. Landon Donovan is the only other player who has won four times.

The 25-year-old forward had one of his best years with the national team and is experiencing some incredible form with his new club AC Milan.

Pulisic won in a landslide receiving 53% of the vote. The other candidates for the award were Yunus Musah, Ricardo Pepi, Folarin Balogun and Matt Turner.

Watch: USMNT midfielder Luca de la Torre scores stunning backheel goal in Copa del Rey

United States men’s national team midfielder Luca de la Torre scored his first goal of the 2023-24 season in style on Wednesday with a disgusting backheel goal.

De la Torre opened the scoring of Celta Vigo’s 3-1 Copa del Rey victory vs. Valencia in the 13th minute off a corner kick.

Valencia goalkeeper Jaume Doménech failed to punch the ball out of his box and some quick pinball action inside the 18-yard-box resulted in the ball heading straight for the 25-year-old American.

De la Torre only had a second to react and he turned the chance into an amazing goal.

Major League Soccer star Lionel Messi named FIFA Player of 2023

LONDON — Argentine Lionel Messi retained the FIFA men's player of the year trophy on Monday, beating Manchester City's treble-winning Norwegian striker Erling Haaland and France's Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé to the award.

Spain's 2023 World Cup winner Aitana Bonmati was voted the best women's player of the year.

Messi, who also secured the men's award in 2022 after guiding Argentina to World Cup victory, clinched the Ligue 1 title with PSG alongside Mbappe following that success, before moving to Major League Soccer team Inter Miami.

Guinea-Bissau player is living example of the clearance button being jammed in FIFA

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.

Emily Fox is latest USWNT player to move to European club — here are all USWNT players in Europe

United States women’s national team right back Emily Fox is the latest American player to make the switch from NWSL to Europe. Fox left the North Carolina Courage to join Women’s Super League side Arsenal.

Naomi Girma becomes first defender to win U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year

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

Gambia national team’s flight to AFCON makes emergency landing after plane loses oxygen

ABIDJAN — Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet said he and his players feared for their lives after the plane taking them to the Africa Cup of Nations finals made an emergency landing, delaying their arrival at the tournament in the Ivory Coast.

Gambia’s squad set off from Banjul on Wednesday on a short trip to Yamoussoukro, where they will play their opening two group games, but minutes after take-off they turned around because of a lack of oxygen inside the plane, he said.

Barcelona and Spain star Alexia Putellas will undergo another knee surgery

Barcelona women's captain and twice Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas will undergo knee surgery, her club said on Tuesday.

The Spain forward had to leave the national team training camp in Madrid last month because of a knee injury, which also kept her out of recent matches with Barcelona.

Alexia Putellas knee injury

Here are the top 10 USMNT goals of 2023, ranked

The United States men’s national team scored a total of 47 goals in the 2023 calendar year, and I’ve gone through all of them to find the top 10. It wasn’t easy picking the best USMNT goals of 2023, but the list has been made.

Several different factors can go into what makes a goal great including the circumstances/importance of the game. For this list the context and opponents don’t matter, we’re simply judging how nice of a goal it was.

The quality of the assist is also factored in.

Let’s watch some goals.

Neymar won’t recover in time to play in 2024 Copa América

Brazil forward Neymar will not recover from knee surgery in time to play at next year's Copa America, national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said on Tuesday.

Brazil's top scorer underwent surgery last month after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus in his left knee on international duty in October.

Lasmar, who carried out the surgery, said the 31-year-old is not expected to be fit until August and they do not intend to take short cuts in the recovery process for him to play at the June 20-July 14 tournament in the United States.

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