Inspiring

There’s just under 150 days until the USWNT kicks off its World Cup defense against Thailand at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, France, and time is of the essence for Jill Ellis’ side. Currently, 27 players have been called out to the team’s January Camp taking place in Algarve, Portugal.

The USWNT will train there before marquee international friendlies against France (No. 3 in the world) on Jan. 19 and Spain (No. 12) on Jan. 22. Here are the first scenes from that camp, with Crystal Dunn, Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe mic’d up for your viewing pleasure. 

Bayern Munich has only just returned from winter break training in Doha, Qatar, where 18-year-old Alphonso Davies got his first taste of action with the Bavarian giants. The $22 million Canadian international had a breakthrough 2018 with the Vancouver Whitecaps — scoring eight goals, being named to the MLS All-Star Game and receiving Vancouver’s Player of the Year award — and his immense talent has already impressed the likes of Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, Niklas Sule and, most importantly, boss Niko Kovac.

It’s hard to remember Lionel Messi sporting anything other than the famous No. 10 for Barcelona, but before he assumed the mark of the talisman, he made his debut in the No. 30 and then spent a few seasons sporting the No. 19. 

It wasn’t until Ronaldinho left the club before the 2008-09 campaign — at which time Messi had already scored 42 goals for the senior side (including 31 in LaLiga and eight in the Champions League) — that Messi assumed his iconic number.

Soccer in Canada has never been better.

The country hosted a wonderful Women’s World Cup in 2015 and will be a co-host for the men’s World Cup in 2026. Christine Sinclair, 35, is one of the best women’s players of her generation and Alphonso Davies, 18, might be one of the best players of his future generation.

Borussia Dortmund maintained its nine-point advantage at the top of the Bundesliga following a 2-1 win over Werder Bremen on Saturday, and not even the 83rd minute introduction of Josh Sargent could disrupt BVB’s continued run of excellence.

That excellence has been highlighted by the play of Paco Alcacer, who scored Dortmund’s opener in the 19th minute after this extremely well-worked set piece (also, VAR is a great thing). 

Raphael Guerreiro and Marco Reus stood over the ball, and Guerreiro ran over it once before sneakily returning and delivering with his left foot.