Inspiring

There’s no disputing the fact that the game’s brightest young talent is heavily localized in South America. If you’re looking for the best young players in FIFA 22 Career Mode, chances are you’ll just send a scout off to Brazil to find a technically gifted phenom that’ll recreate Ronaldinho’s impact at PSG.

But thanks to a historic Copa Libertadores final four that includes three clubs from Brazil — Palmeiras, Atlético Mineiro, Flamengo — and Ecuador’s Barcelona SC, it’s an easy enough exercise to pinpoint the prodigies that’ve shone brightest in 2021.

Sometimes you question whether all this internet was really a good idea to begin with. The misinformation, the death of the Fourth Estate, the social media addiction, the rise in mental illness, the dumbing down of the entire global population, the monopolization of everything by the most uncaring corporations in the history of mankind… it really makes you think.

But then a video like this comes along and you remember why we made the internet in the first place: to occasionally connect the globe with one giant golden thread of joy.

To Poland’s Ekstraklasa we go for a goal that’s sort of like Zlatan Ibrahimović’s legendary individual strike for Ajax against NAC Breda, except if all of those drags, cuts and rolls were performed against one hapless defender.

On Saturday, Wisła Kraków defeated Górnik Łęczna 3-1 with the game-winner ultimately belonging to Yaw Yeboah. It was a goal fit to win any game.

The most powerful sporting moments aren't always during gameplay or even on the field at all — there are moments that are bigger than the sport itself.

Soccer has always been larger than the physical game played on the pitch; it's a way of life, an escape for supporters all over the world to come together and be a part of something bigger than themselves. If you aren't a part of it you wouldn't understand, but being a hardcore fan comes with elevating highs and deep lows. Your daily emotions rely heavily on how it's all going. 

When it comes to attack-minded players, the USMNT has never been more exciting. Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Weston McKennie, Brenden Aaronson and Konrad de la Fuente are all footballers that bring you to your feet when in possession around goal, but they all share two common traits: (1) they’re not strikers and (2) they’re young.

These are important points because now we’re going to move on to talking about USMNT strikers who, for the most part, are all also fledglings.

Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen has recorded a touching video to reassure a nine-year-old girl who is due to undergo the same operation he had after collapsing while playing at Euro 2020.

The Inter Milan player suffered a cardiac arrest during his country’s opening game of the tournament, against Finland, and received life-saving treatment on the pitch.