Aged 31, Mexico international Andres Guardado recently told FIFA.com that he now prides himself more on bringing “balance to the team” rather than being the “box-to-box player” of old, so the Real Betis midfielder is probably less than pleased with the club’s defensive record this season — they’ve allowed 34 goals in 18 matches, third-worst in La Liga.
As first reported by Univision and subsequently confirmed by ESPN FC and the Washington Post’s Steven Goff, 18-year-old Monterrey midfielder Jonathan Gonzalez, having represented the United States at the U-17, U-18 and U-20 levels, will request a one-time switch of allegiance from FI
UEFA, you may be a bit late to the party. The European soccer governing body released a list of 50 players to watch in 2018 on Friday, an index of rising stars who could become household names in the coming calendar year. By naming Mexico’s Hirving Lozano one to watch, UEFA is basically admitting it didn’t pay attention to the last half of 2017, when Chucky tore up the Eredivisie with first-place PSV Eindhoven.
According to Club America coach Miguel Herrera, the opportunity to land 27-year-old Dutch international and current PSV Eindhoven striker Luuk de Jong “has been laid on the table.” America and Herrera are looking to land an international player to rival Tigres’ Andre-Pierre Gignac (“a player with a bigger name than Gignac,” according to Herrera), and De Jong is the player the club and coach have landed on.
Tigres winger Jurgen Damm has turned himself into an example of how not to play with fireworks after suffering first-degree burns on the right side of his face in a New Year's Eve fireworks accident. Damm will be out for around two weeks, the club announced.
Liga MX side Pachuca have landed 22-year-old winger Kekuta Manneh on a free transfer after the USMNT hopeful turned down the Columbus Crew’s contract offer, electing to continue his development abroad after five years of play in Major League Soccer.
¡Welcome @kekuta16!
It’s hardly a surprise for anyone that FIFA named Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano as one of the top ten young soccer players of the year. Having scored 11 goals in 16 matches playing for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, the 22 year-old Mexican international is off to a blistering start to his European career.
In January, Carlos Vela will leave Real Sociedad for Los Angeles FC to prepare for the upcoming MLS season. Vela, who has been at Real Sociedad since 2011, made his final appearance for the Spanish club Wednesday.
In the 90th minute, Vela capped off an excellent career with one last goal. Did he kiss the badge? Of course he kissed the badge.
Hirving Lozano now has 12 goals in his first season in Europe. He has started out his PSV career absolutely on fire and has been one of the most underrated signings of the season. His goal today, against VVV Venlo in the Dutch Cup, was a thing of beauty.
Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez is good at a lot of things. Chicharito can score with his feet, his head and, most impressively, his face for both club (West Ham) and country (Mexico). Hammers teammate Pablo Zabaleta is also a pretty good football player, having played right back for Manchester City and the Argentine national team for many years. But neither are very good at the game they played Friday: a Don’t-Laugh Challenge.