Inspiring

Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio has missed the entire season with a serious knee injury but the time away from the pitch paid unexpected dividends when he was crowned champion of LaLiga's FIFA 20 video game tournament on Sunday.

With Spanish soccer on hold along with most live sports while the world fights the coronavirus pandemic, players traded the pitch for PlayStation in an online tournament organized by eSports commentator Ibai Llanos and endorsed by LaLiga. 

While the likes of Lionel Messi, Bruno Fernandes and Thierry Henry juggle a piece of toilet paper around, Lonestar SC Academy and U.S. U-14 talent Mabry Williams is on to bigger and better things.

I’ll be honest, self-isolation has begun to take a toll on my body. I haven’t left my apartment except to take out the trash in over seven days now and there’s only so much you can do indoors. Unless, that is, you have a gym like the Lionel Messi home. 

Beginning Friday, March 20, at 3:00 p.m. ET, you’ll be able to watch the premiere of FIFA’s 2018 World Cup Official Film on YouTube. Since 1954, FIFA has sanctioned an official documentary film for each World Cup, and although the 2018 edition has been available on Amazon Prime Video for some time, Friday will mark its free launch on YouTube.

The documentary features incredible footage of the event which only FIFA can provide, and it takes an in-depth look at tournament stars like Paul Pogba, Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo while the narration is provided by Damian Lewis.

If you’re anything like me, you’re starting to go through sports withdrawal. Not since I became consciously aware of sports has there ever been a period so void of sporting events to watch (or play). 

With almost every single sporting event postponed, canceled or suspended by the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve been reduced to watching replays of games to which we already know the outcome. 

I’ll be honest. I’m loving this social distancing thing. People are nauseating and the less I have to go into public the better. My pajama pants are melding to my body. 

But not everyone is having the same experience. Some people can’t stand being cooped up all day.

Moroccan side Raja Club Athletic followed its tradition for posting the team’s starting lineup ahead of its next match. This time around, the club’s opponent just so happens to be humanity’s adversary as well.

Let’s take a look at the chosen 11 Raja Club Athletic is fielding against COVID-19 and break down each player.

No match is complete without a world-renowned broadcaster on the call. While footballers are finding ways to stay fit and in top-form during this break, commentators are doing the same. One of the best examples is this hilarious update from Clive Tyldesley's kitchen.

With football matches cancelled across Europe to stop the spread of the coronavirus, LaLiga players Borja Iglesias and Sergio Reguilon found a novel way to attract 60,000 online fans - by battling out a thrilling Seville derby on the FIFA 20 video game. 

With the number of coronavirus cases in Italy fast approaching 25,000 and a death toll of nearly 2,000, its 60 million inhabitants remain on house arrest for the time being. But how to pass the time? 

I thought the Spanish had settled that debate when, over in Seville, they started playing bingo…