David Villa did not want to run anymore. That is what he told the media after scoring from 53.5 yards against the Philadelphia Union Friday.
50 yards out. FIFTY.
Just a ridiculous goal from @Guaje7Villa https://t.co/YZY6UFo1Lv— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 15, 2017
Steph Catley has good career judgment. Right now, she's a defender for the Orlando Pride. If she wasn't, though, she says she'd be a Corgi breeder.
If you weren't a soccer player what would you be? @stephcatley: "I think I would be a Corgi breeder."
"They're like mythical animals." pic.twitter.com/3ojDEihFfI
Didier Drogba has officially joined USL side Phoenix Rising as a player and (really) owner. Drogba's minority ownership stake in the team will allow him to transition to a front office role after playing this season. He will join former Chelsea teammate Shaun Wright-Phillips in Phoenix.
AS Monaco scored three vital away goals against Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion, but you get the feeling that this tie favors whichever team is forced into having the attacking onus. The second leg in Monaco promises more of the same, and this time it’ll be Dortmund needing to force the issue.
Thomas Tuchel opted for a more conservative approach to start the match, playing Sven Bender, Sokratis and Lukasz Piszcezek in the back and opting for Marcel Schmelzer and Matthias Ginter as wing backs.
Year-long speculation over whether CONCACAF’s bid for the 2026 World Cup, which will almost certainly be awarded to the region, would become a joint bid by the United States, Mexico and Canada has officially been confirmed today.
Franck Ribery is reportedly considering bringing his talents to the United States (or Canada) once his contract with Bayern Munich is up. This does not come as much of a surprise, as German-icon Bastian Schweinsteiger recently made the move to join MLS with the Chicago Fire.
However, according to Ribery, MLS is not the only destination that he would enjoy playing for. Some of the other places we could see him play are China, Dubai or even Qatar.
Marta, the five-time FIFA World Player of the Year, has joined the Orlando Pride on a two-year contract with an option for a third year. With the possibility of Alex Morgan’s short-term loan deal at Lyon running through June (Lyon will have to navigate a Champions League semifinal against Carli Lloyd’s Manchester City to make that a reality) the Orlando Pride have moved quickly to add more star power.
In the face of constant derision from both fans and club teams with regards to international friendlies, UEFA proposed the adaptation of a UEFA Nations League to replace friendlies. Essentially, instead of playing one-off exhibition matches, all 55 European nations would be divided into four groups, much like a club league system, using prior results to determine which nations would begin in which groups.
In just her third cap with the USWNT, 21-year-old midfielder Rose Lavelle stole the show. She got things started in the 5th minute, with a chipped ball into the box that nearly found Mallory Pugh, another bright young star who had a strong game. Moments later Lavelle dribbled past several Russian defenders along the edge of the box, shooting from 20 yards out and forcing an impressive save from Russian goalkeeper Alena Belyaeva.
Jermaine Jones came out firing in his latest interview with ESPN FC. His soundbites ranged from how he sees himself as Tom Brady and how he’s “always the best player on the field for this country” in big tournaments to the ever-growing criticism of the midfield combination of Michael Bradley and himself.