When highly regarded Masia product Riqui Puig recently left Barcelona for the LA Galaxy in search of a leading role, the preposterous idea of the 23-year-old Spaniard elevating Javier Hernández's game to the point where Tata Martino had to include him in Mexico's World Cup squad might've crossed our minds.
Newcastle and Manchester City played out a ridiculous 3-3 draw at St. James' Park on Sunday afternoon in an early contender for Premier League match of the season that also featured candidates for the year's best free kick (Kieran Trippier) and most unbelievable assist (Kevin De Bruyne).
Bernardo Silva picked out İlkay Gündoğan for City's opener in the fifth-minute, but Newcastle equalized through Miguel Almirón in the 28th and went ahead before halftime thanks to Callum Wilson.
Leeds United completed its final preseason fixture ahead of opening the Premier League campaign against Wolves on Aug. 6, and Jesse Marsch's men delighted a crowd of nearly 30,000 at Elland Road with a 6-2 beatdown of Serie B side Cagliari.
Marsch selected both of his American players in the starting XI with Tyler Adams playing in the midfield pivot role alongside Marc Roca. Brenden Aaronson was in a front three with Rodrigo and Patrick Bamford.
After what felt like an ever-lasting saga of back and forth between Dani Alves and Pumas, the Brazilian finally signed and played his first game for the Mexican club on Wednesday night.
The deal to bring the 39-year-old to Liga MX was sealed last week and Alves was presented to fans last Saturday, but due to fitness concerns, the carioca was ruled out of Pumas' match against Pachuca on July 24 that resulted in a goalless draw.
There was a trophy on the line and a spot in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League on Tuesday night when the Vancouver Whitecaps welcomed Toronto FC to a sweltering BC Place for the 2022 Canadian Championship Final.
The first match of PSG's preseason tour of Japan ended in victory for Christophe Galtier's side with Lionel Messi and 20-year-old Arnaud Kalimuendo (a Leeds and Everton transfer target) on the scoresheet in a 2-1 victory over Kawasaki Frontale at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
The big news out of Barcelona on Wednesday was confirmation of Raphinha's $58.5 million transfer from Leeds United, but the team also opened its preseason campaign 60 miles north of home against fourth-tier side UE Olot at the club's modest Estadi Municipal in Catalonia.
The United States men's U-20 team hammered Nicaragua 5-0 on Saturday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Concacaf U-20 Championship in Honduras. Victory over Costa Rica on Tuesday would guarantee passage to the 2023 U-20 World Cup in Indonesia, but the ultimate goal is a win in the semifinals on July 1 to book a place at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
The United States women’s national team defeated Colombia 3-0 on Saturday in Commerce City, Colorado, during the first of two friendlies. The game was frustrating at times for the USWNT as the team failed to score two penalties and missed a plethora of chances but ultimately got the job done.
In the end it was two perfect Rose Lavelle assists to Sophia Smith that unlocked the game for the USWNT. There’s a chance that Lavelle has laser vision because these two assists were about as good as it gets.
The greatest Romanian footballer of all-time, Gheorghe Hagi, has still got it — the "it" in his case being all-seeing assists that are weighted like californium and the ability to absolutely crack one at the age of 57.
On Sunday at Cluj Arena, a large crowd gathered to salute the career of the country's other favored footballing son, Adrian Mutu, as a Romania Stars team took on a World Stars side coached by Cesare Prandelli.