For all the setbacks and empty promises of each generation of England's rising stars, the current crop of Under 21 and 19s talent is good. So good, in fact, that Gareth Southgate’s 21s took out the European Championship title in that age division – a stark contrast to the bumbling mess dished out by the first team.
It’s the kind of popular legend that is usually attributed to a “friend of a friend” and rooted in invention and fantasy, a cheap tale to explain the otherworldly. When professional football freestyler Billy Wingrove met Ronaldinho as part of Nike’s Joga Bonito advertising campaign, he said: “I’ve got two questions. One, is there a heaven? Two, how did he [Ronaldinho] get this good?”
Most amazing goals consist of incredible strikes from distance or a goalie scoring off of a corner kick to save the day, but this one is quite special. Thomas Luciano, a 14-year-old defender at club Gremio out of Brazil scored a goal for the ages off of a woodwork ricochet. After the ball came bounding off of the crossbar, quick thinking allowed Thomas to execute a perfectly time skorpion kick that put the ball over the keeper in a chaotic moment. This golazo is definitely worth a few good watchings!
The U-23 Mexico youth national team endured a disappointing campaign in the Toulon World Youth Festival as they slumped to a fourth-placed finish behind Mali, Czech Republic and group winners, France. They managed a solitary win against bottom of the table Bulgaria, but their overall performance does not inspire hope for the upcoming Olympics in Rio this summer.
Santos's U-20 goalie scored the kind of goal that dreams are made of.
What kind of dream, you ask?
Well, we didn't say it wasn't a nightmare. Take a gander.
INCREDIBLE(!) own goal by Santos-youngster Robson earlier tonight to give Atl. Mineiro u20 the lead over Santos u20. pic.twitter.com/vWM14ynVgg
— André Østgaard (@AndreOstgaard) May 25, 2016
Jurgen Klinsmann’s record and accomplishments with the United States national team are well known. After winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2013, his fortunes have gradually taken a turn for the worse. The 2016 Copa America represents a massive chance for Klinsmann and the US squad to make the country proud again, but of the highest importance is the continued buildup to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
When 11-year-old Lexi Walker took to the field at Rio Tinto stadium in 2013, home to Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake, she was not the viral singing sensation she is today. This was before she covered Idina Menzel's "Let It Go" from the hit Disney movie Frozen. That video alone, released in 2014, has racked up over 75 million views on YouTube.
Sergio Aguero's younger brother Gaston del Castillo made his debut for Independiente on Saturday versus San Lorenzo. "Kuncito," as Argentine news outlet Ole affectionately named him, was promoted to the first team in August 2015, but he has had to wait for a while to get his first senior appearance.
Please God, don’t let the American hype train destroy Christian Pulisic. He just became the youngest player ever to score two goals in the Bundesliga. Not the youngest American, the youngest in general. Not bad for a 17-year-old born in Hershey, Pennsylvania.