Europe

You’ve Seen More Of These Footballers Than Your Own Family In 2020

The frantic finish to the 2019-20 season, the rejiggered smorgasbord of the new campaign and nine months of quarantine have combined to create an unceasing storm of football on our televisions. In many ways it’s been a godsend; in many ways it’s been an obscene bit of servility to broadcast dollars. What are these absurdly sterile performances — played out in soulless grounds across the world — if not momentary benediction for the promise of better times ahead?

French Club Holds Moment Of Silence For Groundskeeper Killed By Stadium Light In Freak Accident

The past 24 hours have been somber and harrowing for Ligue 1 club FC Lorient after one of the team's groundskeepers was killed in a freak accident on Sunday night.

Following Lorient's 3-0 home defeat to Rennes at the Stade du Moustoir, the grounds crew came out to do their post-game duties. One of those jobs includes tending to the field with a grow light. The contraption emulates sunlight, warms the field and keeps the grass healthy.

Watch Center Back Domagoj Vida Produce Some 2021 Puskás Magic With Absurd Flying Backheel

Officially, the 2020 Puskás award was given to Tottenham’s Son Heung-min. Unofficially, Croatia and Besiktas center back Demagoj Vida scored the greatest goal of the 2020 calendar year. This amazing Vida goal on Sunday deserves everything and more.

The cherry on top of this sweet strike? This bad boy was scored in the 69th minute. Nice.

Presnel Kimpembe Shuts Down 4-On-1 Counterattack With Tackle Of The Season

In the 79th-minute of Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash between Lille and Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1, a PSG corner kick quickly transitioned into a Lille counterattack going the other way. Faced with a four-on-one, center back Presnel Kimpembe produced one of the most spectacular tackles you’ll ever see.

After drifting toward Timothy Weah on the ball, Kimpembe quickly reacted to his pass inside, read Burak Yılmaz’s intention and acrobatically put an end to his run on the stretch — Kimpembe obliterated him with the toes of his left foot. 

Messi Explains His Worst Form In 13 Years And Talks About 2021

Lionel Messi has admitted the ill feeling between him and Barcelona over his attempt to leave the club in the close season has affected his form this season, in which he has posted his lowest goal and assist tallies in 13 years.

Messi caused consternation at Barça when he sent the club a burofax (official notice) that he wanted to leave in August, but then president Josep Maria Bartomeu blocked the move and the Argentine committed to stay this season to avoid a legal battle. He has less than seven months left on his contract and is able to negotiate with other clubs from January.

Luka Modrić Is Playing Like The 2018 Ballon d'Or Is There To Be Won

Since losing 2-0 to Shakhtar Donetsk on Dec. 1, Real Madrid has won five straight matches over a 15-day period — including Sunday’s 2-1 win over Eibar — to finish top of Champions League Group B and climb to second in LaLiga.

The quality of the previous four opponents is worth mentioning (Sevilla, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Atlético Madrid and Athletic Bilbao), as is the fact that the 35-year-old Luka Modrić has started each of those matches while playing at his 2018 Ballon d'Or level.

Gone In 6 Seconds: AC Milan Scores Fastest Serie A Goal Ever

Clocking in at just 6.2 seconds, AC Milan’s Rafael Leão has recorded the fastest goal in Serie A’s 122-year history.

Traveling to Sassuolo’s Mapei Stadium on Sunday, Milan went straight at the home side after kickoff with Hakan Çalhanoğlu carrying the ball forward. The Rossoneri No. 10 delivered a perfectly weighted pass for Leão, and the 21-year-old Portuguese forward put his name in the history books.  

Racist Jackholes Are Bombarding Jordyn Huitema, BF Alphonso Davies With Shocking Abuse

Jordyn Huitema and Alphonso Davies are two of the brightest young stars in soccer today. They also happen to be Canadian and have been a couple for at least the last three years. And they also have been bombarded with the most vile, disgusting racism imaginable at such a young age.

The18's Complete 2021 Soccer Calendar

No one can argue that 2020 has been an awful year that we all want to put behind us. But before we look ahead 2021, we have to take a minute to appreciate how sports have provided something resembling normality in recent months.

Considering the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been incredibly lucky to have soccer leagues playing regularly since June.

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