Off the Pitch

The latest Christian Pulisic injury update will disappoint AC Milan and United States men’s national team fans as the star forward has sustained a torn right calf. The tear is low-grade, but Pulisic will be out for 3-4 weeks.

Pulisic won’t play soccer again until 2025. That sounds bad until you remember that 2024 will be over in literally three weeks. We had a good laugh at how many news outlets made dramatic headlines of “PULISIC OUT FOR THE YEAR!” when the year is about to end.

Clickbait at its finest. We’re guilty of it too from time to time.

The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday said it will vote against FIFA's awarding of hosting rights for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups by acclamation, adding that it had formally criticized the process in a letter to the world governing body.

Votes are due to be held at FIFA's virtual extraordinary Congress on Wednesday to approve the 2030 and 2034 World Cups, though each has only a single bid, which are both expected to be confirmed by acclamation.

West Ham United forward Michail Antonio is conscious and in a stable condition in hospital after he was involved in a road traffic accident on Saturday, the Premier League club said.

"West Ham United can confirm that Michail Antonio is in a stable condition following a road traffic accident this afternoon in the Essex area," the club posted on social media.

"Michail is conscious and communicating and is currently under close supervision at a central London hospital."

Michail Antonio car crash

Major League Soccer announced Lionel Messi as the winner of the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award on Friday. The Messi MLS MVP reaction from fans has been mixed with some upset that a player who appeared in only 19 games got the award.

The vote for MVP is done so by players in the league, select media members and club technical staff. After all the votes were accounted for the Inter Miami star edged out Columbus Crew’s Cucho Hernández.

Messi received 38.4% of the vote while Cucho accounted for 33.7%. 

Messi vs. Cucho 2024 stats

Premier League champions Manchester City were drawn on Thursday with Juventus, Wydad AC and Al Ain in Group G for next year's FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

Lionel Messi and Major League Soccer's Inter Miami are in Group A and will face Al Ahly in the opening match of the expanded 32-team tournament before games against Porto and Palmeiras.

2025 Club World Cup groups

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi and defender Jordi Alba represented the Supporters' Shield winners on the 2024 MLS Best XI announced Tuesday.

The Leagues Cup champion Columbus Crew also had two selections with forward Cucho Hernandez and MLS Defender of the Year Steven Moreira.

MLS Best XI 2024

The best of the best. ⭐️

MANCHESTER — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he did not intend to make light of the "very serious issue of self harm" with a joke he made after Tuesday's 3-3 draw with Feyenoord at Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola was asked in the post-match press conference how he got a cut on his nose, and he replied: "With my finger, my nail. I want to harm myself." The 53-year-old took to social media on Wednesday to explain his answer.

Pep Guardiola harm myself comment

Nov 25 (Reuters) - Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah says he is "more out than in" at the Premier League leaders with still no offer of a new contract on the table.

The Egypt striker, whose deal expires at the end of the season, scored twice as Liverpool came back to beat Southampton 3-2 away on Sunday to open up an eight-point gap at the top of the standings.

Christian Pulisic received plenty of backlash for his Donald Trump dance celebration vs. Jamaica on Monday and has now been publicly called out by a USMNT great. The Tim Howard Pulisic takedown was posted to the Mail Sport on Thursday.