France

31-year-old Frenchman Dimitri Payet scored the goal of the weekend during Marseille’s 4-0 beatdown of Guingamp in Ligue 1 action Sunday. The mercurial attacker has built a reputation for the spectacular over the last few years — including a sensational but ultimately ill-fated stint with West Ham — but his volley from nearly 25 yards out over the weekend was the sort of audacious finishing that the division hasn’t seen since Zlatan Ibrahimovic was representing PSG.

Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was reminded the hard way that fame and fortune does not make you immune to the law.

The Frenchman, who captained his country to World Cup victory this summer, pleaded guilty to a drunk-driving charge on Wednesday. He will have to pay a $65,000 fine and is banned from getting behind the wheel for 20 months.

Welcome home, France.

Back playing in France for the first time since winning the 2018 World Cup, the French national team received a rousing reception from its fans: a magnificent tifo that portended a magnificent performance from Kylian Mbappé against the Netherlands on Sunday.

It was supposed to be the best matchup of the first match day of the UEFA Nations League, the last two World Cup champions going at it on the first day of the new competition. Unfortunately, aside from a few lively moments from Kylian Mbappé early and Germany late, the match was mostly tepid, finishing in a 0-0 draw.

When 18-year-old phenom Timothy Weah takes the pitch on Friday for the USMNT’s headline friendly against Brazil at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, it’s likely that he’ll see three of his Paris Saint-Germain club teammates opposing him. With 90 caps to his name, Neymar is the most experienced of Brazil’s PSG bunch, but Thiago Silva (who’ll captain the side) isn’t far behind on 76, and defender Marquinhos has already represented the Seleção 27 times at the tender age of 24.

Admittedly, we’re getting tired of all these Kylian Mbappé goals. But this Mbappe goal vs Nimes was something special.

After scoring three goals in his first two appearances with Paris Saint-Germain this season, it wasn’t really a surprise to see the 19-year-old Frenchman score again on Saturday. What was surprising was the immense quality with which the goal was taken. 

And his red card soon after.

Who are the fastest soccer players in the world today? Well, by working toward a composite of various top speeds collected throughout last year’s club season and this summer’s World Cup, we can somewhat confidently say that this list here comprises the 40 fastest soccer players in the world today. 

Neymar unveiled a fresh new celebration on Saturday. Scoring the third goal for PSG against Angers in a 3-1 win, he showed off some writing on an unusually large wristband. 

Neymar is typically sporting a band of tape around his right wrist, but today his Nike-emblazoned band was more reminiscent of a college quarterback with a list of plays written on it. But it wasn’t to remember any set-piece plays, but to honor a dear family member.

Kylian Mbappé is unplayable right now.

After helping France win the World Cup over the summer, he scored two goals in his first match back with PSG last week. He added another goal and an assist on Saturday against Angers, helping the defending champion to a 3-1 victory. 

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is to make a decision about the vacant Bordeaux managerial post over the weekend. Henry had been linked with taking over from Steve Bruce at Aston Villa after new owners had taken over the club, but it did not eventuate.

Thierry Henry is set to leave the Belgium coaching team and take the managerial role at Bordeaux.