Prodigies

During a distinguished playing career with Boca Juniors that included five Primera División titles and three Copa Libertadores triumphs, Argentine legend Juan Román Riquelme made a habit of destroying rival River Plate.

He loved nothing more than snatching the souls of lost Millonarios. 

24/05/00

The Greatest Nutmeg Ever

By Juan Román Riquelme on Mario Yepespic.twitter.com/hs1T4bWuE2

MANCHESTER — Manchester City's Erling Haaland struck a second half hat trick as the Premier League champions came back from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

The Norwegian, who averaged almost a goal per game in the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund before his move to City in June, has now scored six times in his opening four league matches for Pep Guardiola's side.

The win moves City to the top of the table, level on 10 points with Brighton & Hove Albion. Palace are 13th with four points from their opening four games.

Barcelona got its first win of the season with a hard-fought 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad at the Anoeta on Sunday night in a match that largely swung in the visitor's favor following the introduction of Ansu Fati in the 64th minute.

With Sergio Busquets suspended following his red card in Barça's opening draw with Rayo Vallecano, Xavi handed a start to Frenkie de Jong in midfield and introduced Álex Balde and Ferran Torres on the left-hand side.

Multiples sources have now confirmed that the Riqui Puig LA Galaxy contract has been agreed to, with the 23-year-old joining from Barcelona on a free transfer despite still having one year left on his contract at the Camp Nou.

Barça manager Xavi told Puig back in May that he wasn't part of the club's midfield plans for the new campaign, and after being left off the team's preseason tour of the United States, the "next Iniesta" has signed a three-year deal ahead of the MLS transfer window closing Thursday.

Leeds United completed its final preseason fixture ahead of opening the Premier League campaign against Wolves on Aug. 6, and Jesse Marsch's men delighted a crowd of nearly 30,000 at Elland Road with a 6-2 beatdown of Serie B side Cagliari.

Marsch selected both of his American players in the starting XI with Tyler Adams playing in the midfield pivot role alongside Marc Roca. Brenden Aaronson was in a front three with Rodrigo and Patrick Bamford.

Crystal Palace have signed American international defender Chris Richards from Bayern Munich on a five-year contract, both clubs said on Wednesday.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. BBC reported Palace will pay an initial $10.33 million for the 22-year-old center back, with the fee rising to $13.35 million with add-ons.

After becoming the youngest goal scorer in NWSL history last month, 16-year-old Portland Thorns prodigy Olivia Moultrie got her second of the season Saturday night and it'll certainly be up for Goal of the Week honors.

The Thorns welcomed Gotham FC to Providence Park with Portland near the top of the table and NJ/NY beneath the playoff line, and it only took the home side five minutes to open the scoring through Taylor Porter after Gotham failed to clear a corner kick.

Brace yourself for the sequel, Bend It Like Beckham 2: Going Bottom Bins On Orlando City B, because 19-year-old Romeo Beckham, son of Old Golden Balls himself, has curled home his first set-piece goal for Inter Miami CF II in MLS Next Pro.

Romeo's first foray into football was back in 2014 with Arsenal's Academy, but he was released and briefly pursued a fledgling tennis career while training alongside Andy Murray. However, he returned to the sport last year by joining Miami's reserve team and it looks like the correct decision.