Phenoms

Kylian Mbappé Substitution Leaves The Young Frenchman Heated

For the second time this season, PSG manager Thomas Tuchel had to deal with drama after a Kylian Mbappé substitution — this time during his team’s 5-0 victory against Montpellier on Saturday.

Sometimes you just really don’t want to be substituted out of a match. The level of soccer doesn’t matter — whether it’s youth, college or professional — but the best thing to do is wish your oncoming teammate success and then get cozy on the bench. But Mbappé seems to have his own style.

There Was No Stopping A 21-Year-Old Lionel Messi At The 2008 Olympics

The crowning achievement of Lionel Messi’s international career remains the gold medal he captured as a 21-year-old at the 2008 Summer Olympics. It was a loaded Albiceleste squad with further attacking firepower provided by Sergio Agüero, Ángel Di María and Ezequiel Lavezzi, but Messi and Argentina were hugely reinforced by the over-age inclusions of Javier Mascherano and Juan Román Riquelme.

Lionel Messi And Ansu Fati Make Magic Together

Barcelona stayed three points behind Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga following a 2-1 victory over Levante on Sunday with both goals coming from 17-year-old phenom Ansu Fati. Fati became the youngest-ever to register a brace in Spain’s top division, and it’s only fitting that Lionel Messi registered the assist on both goals.

The match’s first goal arrived in the 30th minute after Messi took possession inside his own half before playing an immaculate ball that dissected five Levante defenders and sent Fati on his way. 

The Next Paul Bunyan: Erling Haaland’s First Dortmund Highlights Are Superhuman

It’s obviously far too early to say that Kylian Mbappé vs. Erling Haaland is the next generation’s version of Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi — and you can absolutely make fun of me for even bringing it up — but these two kids are not normal. 

The 21-year-old Mbappé has already proven that he has no level. With a World Cup winner’s medal to his name and a Champions League strike rate of 19 goals in 30 appearances (to go along with 11 assists), there’s no doubt that Mbappé’s Ligue 1 domination would translate across all European leagues. He’s a phenomenon.

16-Year-Old Australian Handed First Start In W-League And Promptly Scores

Hana Lowry, a 16-year-old Australian midfielder, marked her first W-League start on Jan. 23 with a rocket header in the 22nd minute to start the scoring spree off for Perth Glory in the club’s 4-2 victory over Newcastle Jets. As a Perth local, Lowry became the fifth-youngest player to score on their starting debut in W-League history.

Toronto FC Signs Youngest Player In Club History

The 2019 MLS runner-up Toronto FC has decided to invest in youth as it announced the signing of 15-year-old Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty on Wednesday morning.

19-Year-Old English Phenom Rhian Brewster Off The Mark At Swansea City

Rhian Brewster wasted little time in scoring on his home debut for Swansea, striking in the 19th minute to bring the Swans level with Wigan at 1-1. The 19-year-old did well to sense an opportunity and made a perfectly timed run onto fellow loanee Conor Gallagher's slip pass into the box, burying his shot in the lower right corner for his first senior goal.

He was named Swansea fans' Man of the Match for his performance in the 2-1 victory over Wigan which saw the Swans move up to fifth place in the Championship.

No. 1 Pick Sophia Smith Becomes First Teenager Taken In NWSL Draft

The NWSL Draft 2020, the eighth such draft for the league, featured a first. Sophia Smith, taken with the No. 1 overall pick by the Portland Thorns, became the first teenager selected in the draft on Thursday morning. 

Smith, a 19-year-old forward who just finished her sophomore season with Stanford, won a national title and scored 24 goals in 33 games with the Cardinal. 

Christian Pulisic Becomes Chipotle’s First International Ambassador

I’ll never forget the buildup to Chipotle’s first restaurant in London. I was studying there at the time and the “COMING SOON” signage on Charing Cross Road would hit hard around lunchtime on a Saturday afternoon. A cohort of Americans would stand outside the scaffolding and strain to see inside the darkened edifice for any signs of that spar, industrial interior design coming together. It’s hard to tell how much progress is being made when the piping is always exposed.  

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