Lionel Messi scored and assisted for fun.
The ongoing debate on whether or not Lionel Messi deserved the Ballon d’Or this year over Erling Haaland will probably go on for years to come. The head-to-head between the two for the award has arguably been one of the most divisive in recent years.
Atlanta United striker Giorgos Giakoumakis was named the 2023 MLS Newcomer of the Year on Thursday.
An immediate impact in the ️.
Newcomer of the Year: Giorgos Giakoumakis. pic.twitter.com/AyHGq9slod— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 2, 2023
United States men’s national team legend Landon Donovan rubbed plenty of American fans the wrong way back in 2018 when he announced that “My other team is Mexico” in a Wells Fargo advertisement.
Five years later he’s finally revealed the truth behind that moment.
Back in 2018 the U.S. men’s soccer scene was at an all-time low after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Seeing Donovan supporting the USMNT’s biggest rival drew criticism from former players too who weren’t on board with the stunt.
Lionel Messi was voted as the best player in the world on Monday winning his eighth Ballon d’Or award. A new thing fans got to see is a Messi rings photo with the Inter Miami star having specially made rings for each of his Ballon d’Or wins.
The 36-year-old Argentine and adidas teamed up to make the iconic photo happen as it’s a nod to the legendary basketball star Bill Russell who passed away last year.
Russell won eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966 and took a historic photo wearing all the championship rings.
Lionel Messi isn’t the only player capable of making defenders tackle each other in their effort to take the ball away from you.
Mia Fishel scored her first international goal in her hometown to spark the U.S. women's national team to a 3-0 victory in a friendly against Colombia in San Diego on Sunday.
Fishel, in her second appearance, put the Americans ahead in the 56th minute, and Lindsey Horan followed with another goal six minutes later for a 2-0 lead. Jaedyn Shaw, an 18-year-old forward who made her debut on Thursday, scored in the 83rd minute.
The goals came after Casey Murphy made two saves in the opening three minutes of the second half to preserve the scoreless match for the Americans.
AC Milan and United States men’s national team fans are worried about a potential Christian Pulisic injury after he was substituted out at halftime vs. Napoli on Saturday.
The American winger had one of his best displays for Milan in the opening 45 minutes. Pulisic was connecting his passes, dribbling past opponents and helped open the scoring with a beautiful assist to Olivier Giroud.
Christian Pulisic ➡️ Olivier Giroud ⚽
The United States women's national team drew Colombia 0-0 on Thursday in a lackluster friendly game that had one big theme. Alex Morgan couldn’t finish the USWNT’s best chances.
Morgan debuted for the USWNT on a snowy night in Sandy, Utah, back in 2010. The 34-year-old striker was on the field for the Stars and Stripes at the same venue again 13 years later.
The homecoming to Utah will be one to forget for Morgan who squandered three golden chances including a penalty kick.
Some Major League Soccer fans weren’t pleased to hear the news that Lionel Messi was one of three finalists for the MLS Newcomer of the Year award. While the Argentine World Cup winner dominated headlines, he only made six MLS appearances.
Messi joins Atlanta United striker Giorgos Giakoumakis and St. Louis City midfielder Eduard Löwen as the finalists for the newcomer award.
Here’s a brief overview of the three players’ MLS stats this season.
Giakoumakis
Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah and AC Milan’s 2023-24 UEFA Champions League campaign has failed to get off the runway. The Italian side was held scoreless again on Wednesday at the Parc des Princes as PSG went top of the group with a 3-0 victory.
Pulisic was arguably one of Milan’s brightest sparks in attack, however his performance will mostly be remembered for a big chance missed in the second half.