Midfield

Eden Hazard hints at Belgium retirement "but not before going all out in Qatar first"

Eden Hazard believes he has a lot to offer Belgium at the World Cup and is confident he can prove his detractors wrong as the midfielder ruled out an imminent departure from Real Madrid.

Hazard, going to the global showpiece tournament for the third time, is Belgium captain but has barely played for Real this season after falling out of favor under coach Carlo Ancelotti.

The 31-year-old, however, is comparing the situation to the European Championship in 2020 when he also went into the competition lacking game time.

Ranking all 8 of Federico Valverde's comically good goals this season

It's early in the race for the 2023 Ballon d'Or, but with the season now over 30 percent complete, there's no denying that Real Madrid utility man Federico Valverde has put himself in the conversation with some unbelievable contributions in the Champions League and LaLiga.

It used to be that Valverde was the unsung hero of either the midfield (deputizing effectively for Luka Modrić or Toni Kroos) or right wing (with Karim Benzema and Vini Jr in the spotlight), but this year, whether deployed on the wing or in midfield, the 24-year-old has blossomed into the star of the show.

MLS playoffs confirm undervalued USMNT truth: Kellyn Acosta is a big-game player

From a USMNT perspective, the MLS Cup Playoffs have only served to reinforce the poorly trending narrative around the team. 

Paul Pogba to miss World Cup after failing to recover from knee surgery

France midfielder Paul Pogba will miss their World Cup title defense after failing to recover from knee surgery in time for next month's tournament in Qatar, his agent said on Monday.

Pogba had an operation on a damaged meniscus in September but his agent said that, following a medical review, he would not be able to return to the Juventus squad or join up with France before the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 World Cup.

Another American goes down: USMNT dealt Weston McKennie injury blow

There's more unfortunate news for the USMNT midfield with just 22 days to go until lining up against Wales: Weston McKennie, after coming off injured at the start of the second half during Juventus' 1-0 win over Lecce on Saturday, has been diagnosed with a thigh injury that'll keep him out for over two weeks.

Watch: Nicolò Fagioli scores outrageous curler for Juventus

There have been very few bright spots for Juventus this season. On the back of the club’s humiliation in the Champions League midweek, a host of injuries forced manager Massimiliano Allegri’s hand as he utilized many of his younger players against Lecce. His faith was rewarded by Nicolò Fagioli, who scored a stunning goal to give the Bianconeri a 1-0 win. 

Watch: Thomas Partey goal highlights a fantastic North London Derby

The North London Derby needs no introduction. It’s a match that each side’s fan base will have circled from the minute the calendar was revealed. For neutrals, the tactical chess match between Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Spurs manager Antonio Conte manifested itself as the Gunners won a brilliant 3-1 affair, filled with end-to-end, attacking play.

University of Nebraska's Reagan Raabe scores outrageous chip after just 40 seconds

The Nebraska women’s soccer team welcomed the #9 Northwestern Wildcats to Barbara Hibner Field Thursday night and opened the scoring in sensational style. Midfielder Reagan Raabe took just 40 seconds to give the Huskers the lead with an audacious, opportunistic chip.

Mental Training: A High School Soccer Player's Guide For Watching Game Film

The high school soccer season is in full swing right now for the majority of boys' soccer players in the U.S. As a high school goalkeeper coach, the fall is my favorite time of the year as I get to train the next generation of great shot-stoppers at my alma mater.

Barça Extends 18-Year-Old Gavi's Contract And Raises Release Clause To $1 Billion

Amid reported interest from Man City, Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool, Barcelona has secured the services of football's most highly regarded midfield talent through 2026 after 18-year-old Gavi put pen to paper on a new three-year deal that sees his release clause rise to $1 billion.

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