Highlights

Neymar’s match against Bolivia contained parts of the good, the bad and the ugly. The good was a goal and two assists which helped the Selecao to a 5—0 rout of Bolivia in Natal, Brazil. 

The bad was a 36th-minute yellow card that means he’s suspended for Brazil’s October 11th qualifier away to Venezuela. However, given that Venezuela currently dwell at the bottom of the CONMEBOL WCQ table with two points from nine matches, Neymar’s absence shouldn’t be a factor.

Barcelona missed a chance to climb to the top of the La Liga table with a shock 4-3 defeat to Celta Vigo on Sunday. With Celta Vigo in the bottom half of the table, a Barcelona squad without the injured Lionel Messi was still expected to emerge with three points in Galicia. 

However, notable mistakes from goalkeeper Marc-Andre ted Stegen, defender Jeremy Mathieu and midfielder Sergio Busquets essentially handed the victory to the home side. 

The accolades for 15-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps forward/winger Alphonso Davies continue to stack up. The Liberian-born Davies, who has represented Canada at the under-20 level, became the youngest player to score a goal in USL history on May 15, 2016. In July, he became the third youngest player of all-time to sign an MLS contract. He’s appeared in eight matches for Vancouver this season, including two starts.

Last weekend, in the Bundesliga, Chicharito had a hat trick against Mainz. Mid-week, in the Champions League, he scored against Monaco in a loss.

Saturday, against Borussia Dortmund, he scored again.

YALL MY BOY CHICHADIOS IS ON FIRE https://t.co/KnRC7nUu5O

— CH14 (@wRoNgpayno) October 1, 2016

Jeferson da Conceicao Goncalves, commonly known as Jefinho, helped Brazil to their fourth straight gold medal in football 5-a-side at the Paralympic Games. The man who’s drawn comparisons to Pele and Neymar is blind as a result of glaucoma, but his ability on the ball is simply breathtaking.

It took more time than a normal game, but the Washington Spirit finished off the Chicago Red Stars in the 111th minute and earned a berth in the 2016 NWSL final.

Ali Krieger opened the scoring in the 36th minute.

GOAL! Ali Krieger finishes with a driving header to put the Washington Spirit ahead, 1-0. #WASvCHI #NWSL https://t.co/nJDDnMOApR

Standing at 6’3’’ and built like brick s***houses, Christian Benteke and Romelu Lukaku both share a distinct ability to absolutely boss center-backs. Both are charged with doing as much for their club sides, Everton and Crystal Palace.

On Friday night, the two players went head to head in a match surely watched by Belgium manager Roberto Martinez and his assistant Thierry Henry. While the two strikers share some qualities, they’re incredibly different in their approach play.

All aboard the Mario Balotelli redemption tour 2016 bandwagon. Don't be shy, there's plenty of room.

Balotelli scored again Thursday in Nice's Europa League loss to Krasnodar, giving the Italian five goals in four matches so far this season.

That's FIVE goals in four games now for Mario Balotelli... pic.twitter.com/TBPrmHiubX

— Sportlobster (@sportlobster) September 30, 2016

You hear it all the time — soccer is full of violence. There are nutters in the stands, fanatics and ultras that just want to light flares, sing songs and attack each other. There’s a bunch of madmen out on the pitch, raking each others shins and accumulating yellow and red cards for violent conduct.

It’s a gentleman’s game played by hooligans.

Nowhere is this stereotype better served than in this video depicting a sickening level of violence between Wurzburger and Dynamo Dresden in the German second division.

Mauro Zarate made an emotional return to Fiorentina on Thursday for their Europa League group stage encounter with Qarabag. Zarate had been given leave by the club to return to Argentina to be with his wife, Natalie Weber, through the beginning of the season. 

Weber was diagnosed with breast cancer, a tragic development following the announcement of a miscarriage earlier this year. Zarate and Weber are a beloved high-profile, celebrity couple in Argentina.