Ajax keeps defying expectations in the Champions League this season. First, the Dutch side knocked out defending champion Real Madrid in the Round of 16. Perhaps more remarkably, Ajax followed that up by taking down Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus in the quarterfinals.
Next season is the last thing on Liverpool supporters’ minds at the moment with the club through to the Champions League semifinals (where they’ll meet Lionel Messi’s Barcelona) and involved in one of the most exciting Premier League title run-ins ever. However, New Balance launched Liverpool’s jersey for the upcoming season today, and it draws influence from both the past and future of the historic club.
Few players in the history of the sport have impacted women’s soccer as much as Mia Hamm. The feared striker retired as the all-time leader in international goals with 158 (later passed by former teammate Abby Wambach) and still holds the record for most USWNT assists with 145, a mark that may never be equaled.
It says everything about Joshua Kimmich’s ability that when he’s described as the heir to Philipp Lahm at the right back position for both Bayern Munich and Germany, no one bats an eye.
The 24-year-old has captured the Bundesliga title in each of his three full seasons with Bayern, and he shares Lahm’s Cruyffian quality of being able to play pretty much anywhere while still being the best player on the pitch.
Heading into the season, there were legitimate questions over how Toronto FC would rectify its disaster of a 2018 MLS season. Sebastian Giovinco was shipped off to Saudi Arabia and Gregory van der Wiel was let go after a year by “mutual consent” from both parties, which is rarely a sign of good things behind the scenes.
On March 24, 2016, Johan Cruyff passed following a battle with lung cancer at the age of 68. As Gary Lineker said, football “lost a man who did more to make the beautiful game beautiful than anyone in history.” He revolutionized two of the game’s most storied clubs, Ajax and Barcelona (also the LA Aztecs), but his impact is still being felt around the globe.
You may recall back in January when Barcelona U-10 phenom Michal Zuk signed a brand ambassador contract with adidas. It was an unprecedented show of financial support for such a young player still years away from first-team experience, but his highlights speak for themselves.
As it turns out, the rest of Zuk’s Barcelona U-10 team is every bit as talented as he is.
Chances are, you’re somewhat familiar with the Marcus Rashford story. It’s well known that he’s a local lad, having joined the Manchester United academy system at the age of seven.
His astronomical rise at the club is also well documented. He made his first team debut for United at the age of 18 while the side was stalling under the leadership of Louis van Gaal. However, in the space of a few days, a star was born.