Stats

Abby Wambach is the all-time leading scorer in international soccer. She has a stunning 184 goals; 23 more than her nearest female competitor, Christine Sinclair, and 75 more than her nearest male competitor, Ali Daei.  No man alive today has a legitimate chance at breaking Wambach’s record. She originally claimed the record during a friendly against South Korea on June 20th, 2013. She scored four times as she did so. A feat that will remind some of Lionel Messi, who has a habit of scoring a hat trick when he breaks a record, and perhaps does so fittingly.

Cristiano Ronaldo is pretty good at soccer. Let's not forget that. That being said, Cristiano Ronaldo's form this season has led people to whisper about a "decline" at Real Madrid, which we think is pretty ridiculous. So, we decided to take a closer look. 

The No. 9 in soccer, traditionally the number reserved for the team's starting striker, has been the subject of various discussion points over the last few years. From arguments revolving around the importance of the position in modern tactics to the belief that the No. 9 is being phased out of the game, doubts have been cast upon the future of the role.

Barcelona fan site Grup14 uploaded three very interesting infographics depicting the managerial statistics of Barcelona’s three “most successful coaches” through their first 100 games. While you won’t get any argument here about whether or not Luis Enrique, Pep Guardiola, and Johan Cruyff are the best managers in Barca’s history, we’re going to ignore the “top 3” debate for now and focus on the top two: Enrique vs Guardiola. 

It was a hell of a weekend here at The18. It's almost easy to forget that there was Premier League football what with the orange and blue haze of madness that descended upon the Rocky Mountain region after the Broncos won. Luckily, we didn't get too carried away yesterday. With the help of Ibuprofen, coffee and some much needed water, we compiled this list of the most intriguing events from Premier League Matchday 25. 

5. Everybody's favorite fairytale goes from strength to strength. 

It’s long been said that opportunity makes the man, that the big occasion grants its greatest performer an indelible place amongst legends. In today's world of soccer, one man has become synonymous with such moments. Andres Iniesta has consistently provided for FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team during their times of greatest need.

The moment you learn you are to be a parent, the name game begins. From the regal George to the hipster Pabst, parents look for names that reflect their family values and traditions.

In soccer-loving clans, it’s easy to drift towards a Leo or a Cristiano, hoping your child will channel their namesake's scoring abilities. 

We all know that being voted homecoming king or queen is just a lame high school popularity contest with no implications for one’s future (say nerds like me). So which footballers in 2015 deserve a crown and the first slow dance?

Collegiate soccer programs began to truly emerge sometime in the 1980s. For women, the passage of Title IX opened up opportunities for female athletes that were only available to men playing football (the oblong type) and basketball. Men’s soccer programs have been around significantly longer (the first NCAA championship was played in 1959), but consistently take a backseat to padded football and madness of basketball.