The Rise of Lionel Messi: A Look Back at 20 Years of Magic Twenty years ago, on October 16, 2004, Frank Rijkaard made a substitution that would change the course of football history. Off went Deco, and on came a 17-year-old Argentine named Lionel Messi. Today, as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Messi’s professional … Read more
The Magical Run of Lionel Messi: A 20-Year Journey to Dominance It’s hard to believe that 20 years have passed since Lionel Messi made his professional debut for Barcelona on October 16, 2004. That fateful day marked the beginning of an incredible journey, which would see him become one of the greatest soccer players of … Read more
Rewrite the article written in Bill Connelly, ESPN Staff WriterOct 16, 2024, 10:39 AM ET Close Bill Connelly is a staff writer for ESPN.com. On Oct. 16, 2004, in the 82nd minute of a 1-0 win against local rival Espanyol, Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard made a substitution. Off went Deco, the game’s lone scorer, and … Read more
The Magpies’ Dream XI That Never Was: A Blast from the Past Three years have passed since Newcastle United’s takeover by the Saudi Arabian-led consortium, and what a wild ride it has been. Fans and pundits alike have debated the prospects of the team, predicting who would make the squad. One such XI made headlines, … Read more
Meslier’s Post-Match Celebrations Leave Fans Fuming Leeds United fans are still reeling from their 2-2 draw with Sunderland, with one moment in particular standing out as a major contributor to the mixed emotions: Illan Meslier’s bizarre goalkeeping error that handed the Black Cats a stoppage-time equalizer. The French goalkeeper had been solid for most of … Read more
Smalling’s Saudi Shambles: Ex-England Defender’s Al Fayha Debut to Forget Chris Smalling left a lasting impression on his Saudi Pro League debut, but it’s not exactly the kind of memory he’ll want to relive. The former Manchester United and Roma defender joined Al Fayha this summer, hoping to bring some experienced firepower to the Saudi … Read more
The Championship’s Worst Miss of All Time? Ebou Adams’ Horror Show In a game that will be remembered for years to come, Derby County midfielder Ebou Adams took the cake for the worst miss in Championship history. The Gambia international’s calamitous effort went viral after the Rams secured a 1-0 win over Cardiff City at … Read more
San Marino’s 20-Year Drought Ends, But They’re Not the Lowest-Ranked Team Anymore San Marino, one of the smallest and most unlikely teams in international football, have gone 20 years without a win. But, in a stunning turn of events, they’re no longer the lowest-ranked team in the world. And it’s all thanks to Eritrea, who … Read more
Angel Di Maria Exposes Louis van Gaal’s Failing Management Techniques Published 11:17 3 Sep 2024 GMT+1 The Argentine winger revealed his darkest days in his career, naming Louis van Gaal as the worst manager he’s ever had the misfortune of playing under. Angel Di Maria has enjoyed a storied career, with stints at Real Madrid, … Read more
Rice’s Red Card Decision Sparks Fury: "Worst in the Season" Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice’s dismissal against Brighton and Hove Albion has left fans fuming. The Englishman was sent off for a second yellow card after appearing to kick the ball away, but replays showed that he was kicked by Brighton’s Joel Veltman. The incident occurred … Read more