Style/Fashion

Looking for a new ball after this hellish cold snap eventually gives way to springtime? Look no further because both Nike (2020-21 Premier League) and adidas (2021 Champions League Final) have released new balls celebrating the business end of their respective competitions.

To celebrate the final third of the 2020-21 Premier League, Nike has released its third ball of the campaign. As darkness gives way to light and frost yields to regrowth, so to is the Premier League’s yellow Hi-Viz ball giving way to the latest Nike Flight creation.

On March 9, Inter Milan celebrates the 113-year anniversary of its founding. In an effort to give the club a modern global identity, Inter announced earlier this month that a branding change was on its way, including a new Inter Milan badge. 

Liga MX returned this past weekend with Club América securing all three points thanks to Sebastián Córdova’s dramatic winner against Atlético San Luis. After an unkind finish to 2020 — including defeats to Chivas in the Apertura quarterfinals and LAFC in the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals — América is looking to rejuvenate itself through new manager Santiago Solari.

Back in August, Neymar Jr. ended a 15-year relationship with Nike to sign a new deal with PUMA that reportedly earns him more than $30 million per year. We saw the first fruits of this relationship back in October with the release of Neymar’s first Puma fashion collection, and a new PUMA KING Platinum boot that featured the PSG forward’s logo subtly forming the legendary Formstrip. 

Borussia Dortmund and SpongeBob SquarePants have collaborated on a lifestyle capsule that includes two hoodies and two T-shirts. Why? 

But my guess is because both are yellow, Gio Reyna is SpongeBob, Erling Haaland is Patrick, Marco Reus is “MY LEG!” and Robert Lewandowski is Gary.

It’s been 18 years since Nike’s legendary “Secret Tournament” advert that coincided with the brand’s approach to the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Directed by Monty Python member Terry Gilliam with a budget of around $100 million, the commercial featured “referee” Eric Cantona and 24 superstars of the game (Thierry Henry, Francesco Totti, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Luís Figo, Patrick Vieira, Edgar Davids, etc.) and Junkie XL’s new remix of Elvis Presley’s “A Little Less Conversation”. 

There are few songs in the history of music that I hate more than “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. For whatever reason, it just grates on me like 10,000 nails on 10,000 chalkboards. But I’m willing to completely forgive the American singer/songwriter based entirely on these incredible new Pharrell soccer jerseys he created with adidas and Humanrace FC.

Designed by hand, for the @humanrace.

After five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in eight years, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to wait an unreasonably long time for the next AFCON competition. 

Algeria lifted the title in 2019 with Riyad Mahrez, Ismaël Bennacer and Raïs M'Bolhi shining for the Desert Foxes, but the follow-up tournament in Cameroon — originally slated for June and July of 2021 — has since been pushed back to January of 2022. 

With the 2021 Copa América approaching (it's September?), we can finally start to dream about the return of international play with its accompanying displays of passion, history and fantasy. 

Few sides stir the imagination like two-time Copa winner Chile, with stalwarts like Alexis Sánchez, Arturo Vidal, Gary Medel and Eduardo Vargas encapsulating an approach that can kill you in all manner of ways — just ask Messi.