History

Wales and Los Angeles FC winger Gareth Bale said on Monday he had decided to end his playing career at the age of 33, having reached exceptional milestones in both club and international football.

Bale played a Wales record of 111 games for his country and was a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid. He helped the Welsh reach the 2016 and 2020 Euros before leading them in their first World Cup since 1958 at Qatar 2022.

Taylor Twellman is leaving ESPN. An iconic and sometimes polarizing figure in the U.S. Soccer sphere, Twellman has been on TV screens for ESPN since Nov. 2011 providing us with his commentary and occasional rant.

Love him or hate him, the former USMNT player has played a big part in growing the game in the country with his work at ESPN.

Thank you @ESPN! pic.twitter.com/3FECcq1kCo

Christian Pulisic had to be substituted out in the first half of Chelsea’s 1-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City on Thursday after picking up an injury. The Pulisic injury happened in the 16th minute when John Stones put in a perfect tackle to deny the American a clean shot on goal.

Pulisic tried to continue playing but was replaced by Carney Chukwuemeka in the 22nd minute.

The United States women’s national team is preparing for two January friendlies in New Zealand against the Football Ferns. USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski released the 24-player roster for the friendlies on Thursday and some fans were surprised to not see star player Mallory Pugh on the list.

What those fans didn’t realize was that a Mal Pugh name change had taken place since the last time the U.S. played. In December the Chicago Red Stars forward married Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson.

Pelé, the magical Brazilian soccer star who rose from barefoot poverty to become one of the greatest and best-known athletes in modern history, died at the age of 82, his daughter said on Instagram on Thursday.

He had been in and out of hospital in recent months after a tumor was found on his colon.

Written by Pardis Mahdavi courtesy of The Conversation

Shortly before Lionel Messi took to the stage to lift up the World Cup trophy, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani put a black cloak, called a “bisht,” over the Argentinian soccer star’s shoulders.