As we previously covered and you’ve undoubtedly discovered yourself, the 2018-19 Champions League features an Adidas match ball that’s decidedly bolder in its iconic “starball” design. The white stars imposed alongside blue panels certainly make it more visible on the pitch, especially when play is slowed down or when players are lining up during set piece situations.
The 30 nominees for the 2018 Ballon d’Or award were released today by France Football, and although The Best FIFA Football Awards got tongue’s wagging back on Sept. 24, the gala for the sport’s most prestigious individual prize is expected to follow in a similar vein. (Read: Luka Modric will win, denying Cristiano Ronaldo a third straight triumph.)
For the first time ever, the gala for the Ballon d’Or will also include a presentation for the inaugural awarding of the Kopa Trophy — a prize given to the world's best under 21 player, so really just another Golden Boy because we really need more individual prizes in this sport, don’t we?
Regardless, the 10 finalists for the prize include:
PSG played a Ligue 1 match over the weekend, so you know we’ve got some AND 1 Mixtape Tour highlights for you. The detractors will claim it’s a farmer's league, and they’ve got a point, but if you don’t want to watch Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani and Angel Di Maria play football together, there’s an obvious bit of sickness permeating your brain.
PSG won 5-0, taking its record to 9-0-0 with 32 goals scored and a staggering goal difference of +26. The wonder teen scored four goals in a 13-minute second half spell to break the internet.
Valencia opened Sunday’s LaLiga match against Barcelona at the Mestalla in complete control. Two minutes in, Ezequiel Garay gave the hosts the lead after Thomas Vermaelen failed to deal with a corner and the ball somehow eluded Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba on its way to Garay.
Over the next 20 minutes, Michy Batshuayi forced Marc-Andre ter Stegen into a fine save and Geoffrey Kondogbia whistled an effort past the upright. Barcelona had offered little of its own in the final third, but that all changed spectacularly in the 23rd minute.
What happens when you smash a clearance straight into some power lines? It’s a thought we’ve all had while playing on a rural pitch that has the conductors running along the sidelines. However, it’s a tantalizing question that few of us have ever acted upon — not even our resident scientist, who got his PhD in soccer science from Johnny Hopkins, knew the answer to this one.