Europe

While its self-entitled billing as “the greatest league in the world” is certainly open to debate, there’s no doubting the Premier League’s popularity and appeal throughout the world. Our Premier League guide will get you up to speed with regards to the league's history, format, clubs and players.

With a global fan following of 1.46 billion, or 70 percent of the world’s estimated 2.08 billion football fans, the Premier League is enjoyed around the planet.

July 14, 2012 marked the first-team debut of a 13-year-old kid from Drammen, Norway. Since then, the world has been witness to the record-breaking career of one of soccer’s fastest rising stars: Martin Ødegaard.

The agony and the ecstasy. No it’s not a soap opera, just another champions league campaign for Arsenal football club and Arsene Wenger. Defeating a giant on the back of defeats to Dynamo Zagreb and Olympiacos feels commonplace, but this result demonstrates the gunners are developing into a formidable outfit.

In September, Lionel Messi injured his knee in Barcelona's 2-1 win against Las Palmas in La Liga. According to media reports, his recovery has suffered setbacks and he will not be fit for El Clasico — Barcelona's clash against fellow La Liga titans Real Madrid — on Nov. 21. 

Paul Pogba was born March 15, 1993 in Langy-sur-Marne, Siene-et-Marne, France, about 50 miles north of Paris. Born to Guinean parents, he is the youngest of three, with two older twin brothers — Florentin and Mathias — who both ply their trade in football as well.

Serie A has been the top-flight tournament in Italian soccer for 86 years, and it has grown to be among the top leagues in the world. It boasts a tradition of great players and tough, defensive-minded play, but it has not been foreign to controversy and scandal. The 20 best team from “the boot” will fight for this year’s Scudetto, the country's top club honor. Here's your complete Serie A guide.

As the sun sets on New York’s Hofstra Stadium, 11,000 fans will bear witness to a testimonial that deserves a global audience. Raúl González Blanco, after a career approaching 1,0000 professional appearances and 400 goals, will solemnly say goodbye to the game he left an indelible mark upon. 

The last remnants of sunlight streaking across the FieldTurf, Raúl will bid adieu from Long Island, somehow fading away into one of the most densely populated regions in the United States. 

The triple nutmeg is a rare but vicious beast. If you should encounter one in the wild, give it a safe distance and back away slowly, lest you get nutmegged yourself.

But seriously, Werder Bremen's Zlatko Junuzovic is handing out nutmegs like Santa handing out presents. He did Borussia Dortmund's Sokratis dirty three times in the same run, and left poor Sokratis, who Dortmund have probably cut, or even humanely put down, by now. 

Viewer discretion is advised for this video. Do not watch it if you are squeamish or in any way bothered by nutmegs.

Rumors of Scottish football’s demise have NOT been greatly exaggerated. Founded in 1873, Scotland’s Football Association (SFA) is the second oldest in the world (behind England’s), but it is currently at a crossroads. Known worldwide for the “Old Firm” rivalry between Celtic and Rangers, by far the two biggest clubs in Scotland, the top-flight Scottish Premiership has lost a lot of lustre since financial shenanigans led to Rangers’ relegation in 2012.

As William Shakespeare said, some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. Or, in the case of this midfield game winner from amateur Dutch side VV Capelle against FC Dordrecht in the Dutch Cup, some steal greatness from a pit of mediocrity and exhaustion. 

“Achieve” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.