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Watch: CR7's incredible reaction to “Messi, Messi” chants; scores his 50th goal of 2023

Cristiano Ronaldo is closing the year as one of the top goalscorers of the world and while the goals and assists keep coming, fans in Saudi Arabia have made it their duty to remind the legendary striker of his ultimate rival, Lionel Messi.

“Louder, I can’t hear you!” — Cristiano Ronaldo’s incredible reaction to Messi chants

Classic Ronaldo.

Inter Miami’s preseason travel will be insane with games in Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and El Salvador

Inter Miami and Lionel Messi are going worldwide in 2024 with the preseason schedule taking the Herons to El Salvador, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and who knows where else. The Inter Miami preseason travel will be intense.

The idea of Miami touring the world and fans getting to see one last Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo game is exciting on paper. When you start adding up the miles that the club will travel you start to feel a little bad for the Miami players.

Here are the dates and opponents announced so far.

Inter Miami 2024 preseason schedule

Mallory Swanson finishes 2023 as USWNT’s top scorer despite not playing since April

One of the biggest “What-ifs” for the United States women’s national team in 2023 is what would the year have looked like if star forward Mallory Swanson didn’t suffer a knee injury in April.

During a friendly against Republic of Ireland Swanson’s 2023 World Cup dreams were shattered after suffering a gruesome tear to the patellar tendon in her left knee. She hasn’t played for the USWNT or the Chicago Red Stars since.

Watch: Folarin Balogun bags both assists in Monaco’s 2-1 victory vs. Rennes

United States men’s national team and AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun turned provider on Saturday as he assisted both of his side’s goals in a 2-1 Ligue 1 victory vs. Rennes.

Balogun entered the match with just one goal contribution in his last six games for Monaco and needed a solid performance. Monaco signed Balogun for roughly $43 million this summer.

The 22-year-old USMNT star delivered on Saturday this time with his passing rather than goal scoring.

Balogun assists vs Rennes

The new star? — Trinity Rodman was the only player to appear in all USWNT matches in 2023

Trinity Rodman is on pace to become one of the next American stars at the international stage and an unbelievable stat for the USWNT in 2023 explains why.

Trinity Rodman is the only player to appear in all 18 USWNT matches in 2023; has historic goal contributions against China

The 21-year old is here to stay.

Aston Villa only allowed two shots vs. Manchester City in a historically dominant performance

BIRMINGHAM — Aston Villa overran Manchester City with a fully-deserved 1-0 win on Wednesday thanks to a deflected shot from Leon Bailey, leaving the reigning Premier League champions in an unfamiliar fourth position and six points off the top.

Unai Emery's Villa, enjoying their best season for years, oozed with confidence and dominated the game throughout, leap-frogging City to third in the table.

Watch: World’s greatest international goal scorer Christine Sinclair plays her final game for Canada

Christine Sinclair bid an emotional farewell to international soccer on Tuesday with one final match that brought an end to a superlative career in which she catapulted the Canadian national women's team from obscurity to Olympic champions.

The result of the friendly, a 1-0 win over Australia played in Sinclair's home province of British Columbia, did not matter as the night was all about celebrating Canada's most successful soccer player of all time.

Christian Pulisic scores his first Milan goal in two months with fabulous effort vs. Frosinone

Christian Pulisic got himself back on the scoresheet for AC Milan on Saturday with a sensational goal during his side’s 3-1 Serie A victory vs. Frosinone.

The assist came from an unlikely source as goalkeeper Mike Maignan supplied the ball for Pulisic.

In the 50th minute the USMNT No. 10 doubled the lead for the hosts and displayed his incredible ball control. Maignan looped a ball over the Frosinone defense and Pulisic expertly controlled the ball then finished with a clever chipped shot.

USMNT still ranked top 15 in the world despite loss to Trinidad and Tobago

If you’ve kept up with The18 over the past couple years, then you know we love to poke fun at FIFA’s ridiculous world rankings. The latest FIFA rankings put the United States men’s national team at No. 12 in the world.

Latest FIFA rankings

Watch: Ricardo Pepi scores vital 92nd minute Champions League winner vs. Sevilla

Ricardo Pepi scored his first ever Champions League goal on Wednesday and it couldn’t have come at a better time as he headed in the game-winning goal during PSV’s group stage game vs. Sevilla.

A rough start for PSV saw the Dutch club down 2-0 on the road in Seville and needing a miracle. That wish was granted with Lucas Ocampos getting sent off for Sevilla in the 66th minute which completely shifted the momentum.

PSV clawed back to make it 2-2 but were searching for a winner.

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