PREMIER LEAGUE REVIEW
WorldSoccer GLOBAL FOOTBALL SINCE 1960 R
December 2019
Best Athletic player ever
LIONEL MESSI Barca genius wins
another Ballon d’or
V.A.R SRIKES AGAIN
ASSIST KINGS Who will be number one
PLUS
CRISTIANO RONALDO CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-UP BEHIND THE SCENES OF CHELSEA EUROPA LEAUGE AFTER PARTY
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Content December 2019
01
03 8
MLS CUP CHAMPIONS
04 05 06
9
TRANSFER WARS
07
Meet the greatest athlete of all time
Goal Heroes
Assist Kings
Championship Rund-up
Cup Winners
Ballon d’or Awards record holder
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Mercurial Vapor BOUND TO BE FAST
Cristiano Ronaldo
most athletic player ever known
T
hroughout the past few years, an endless debate has enveloped football over the title of best player in the world.
The only two candidates, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, have dominated the sport, winning every possible individual accolade and carrying their clubs to the pinnacle of the sport. At this point, it is difficult to mention one of these two greats without mentioning the other. While Messi seems to have his neck out in front in terms of general success, there is little argument over Ronaldo’s status as football’s best athlete. Cristiano is truly the prototype of an ideal footballing specimen, as proved by his pace, power and leaping ability. Throughout the sport, one would be hard-pressed to find a player quicker than Ronaldo. The Portuguese international causes 01 WORLD SOCCER
nightmares for defenses, racing at his opposite numbers at unbelievable speeds.
player whose skill is anywhere near Cristiano Ronaldo’s in the air.
That Cristiano can run 100 meters in a time closer to that of world-record holder Usain Bolt than to that of many other footballers is made all the scarier by his ability to control the ball without losing much of his quickness.
Ronaldo’s ability to attack headers is incredible, timing his runs perfectly to strike the ball at optimum speed and using his own momentum to send balls flying.
As can be seen through the rest of the football world, speed kills. However, Ronaldo’s pace is on another level, allowing him to
What’s even more incredible, though, is Cristiano’s ability to meet balls so far above him. For an example of this incredible attribute, one need look no further than his header for Real Madrid in their Champions League round of 16 clash with Manchester United.
Cristiano is truly the prototype of an ideal footballing specithe ball hung up men, as proved by his pace, With for him, Ronaldo rose early to meet it and power and leaping ability. seemed to hover at wreak havoc and destroy his opponents while giving him the ability to carry his side. An underrated portion of Cristiano’s game is his power. The strength of the Portugal captain’s shot is obvious through his laser free kicks, but it is his ability to ride a tackle that shows the true extent of his power. Granted, there are many instances in which Ronaldo goes down much easier than he needs to in an attempt to earn
his highest point for a period of time that defied the parabolic motion attributed to gravitational motion. From there, he was somehow able to create power and push the ball perfectly into the side netting. Any one of these attributes would make for a fantastic footballer, but Cristiano Ronaldo’s ability to stand out on so many levels makes him a unique talent. While Lionel Messi has the ability to succeed through his pure skill, 02 WORLD SOCCER
Top Scorer
1
Jamie Vardy – 16
2. Tammy Abraham - 11 3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 10 4. Marcus Rashford - 10 5. Sergio Aguero – 9 6. Sadio Mane – 9 7. Harry Kane - 9 8. Danny Ings - 9 9. Raheem Sterling – 8 10. Teemu Pukki – 8 11. Mohamed Salah - 7 12. Raul Jimenez – 6 13. Chris Wood – 6 14. Ashley Barnes – 6 15. Harry Wilson – 6 16. Richarlison - 6 17. Christian Pulisic - 5 18. Gabriel Jesus - 5 19. Christian Pulisic - 5 20. Bernardo Silva – 5 21. Callum Wilson - 5
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Assit King 2. Son Heung-Min - 7 3. David Silva - 6 4. Trent Alexander Arnold - 6
1
Kevin De Bruyne - 9
5. Andrew Robertson - 5 6. Riyad Mahrez - 4 7. Bernardo Silva - 4 8. Harvey Barnes - 4 9. Anwar El Ghazi - 4 10. Mohamed Salah - 4 11. Roberto Firmino - 4 12. Emiliano Buendi - 4 13. Jack Grealish - 4 14. Daniel James - 4 15. Raul Jimenez - 4 16. Sadio Mane - 4 17. Dwight Mcneil - 4 18. Marcus Rasford - 4 19. joao Moutinho - 4 20. Bernardo silva - 4 21.Tammy Abraham - 3
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Championship Roundup: Leeds return to top with seventh straight win
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eeds climbed back to the top of the Sky Bet Championship after two late efforts earned them a 2-0 win over Hull at Elland Road.
It was a seventh-straight victory and 10th game unbeaten for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, while the defeat saw the Tigers drop to 13th, five points adrift of the play-offs. Hélder Costa had a goal ruled out for offside for the home side before they went ahead after 74 minutes when a sliding Jordy De Wijs turned Costa’s cross into his own net. They made sure of the points with a swift counter-attack from a Hull corner and, after Patrick Bamford hit
credit- Ezgjan Alioski celebrates after scoring the second goal for Leeds. Photograph: Simon Davies/ProSports/Shutterstock It became 10-aside in first-half stoppage-time when Joe Rafferty was dismissed following a challenge on Joe Bryan. David Nugent doubled the lead seven minutes into the second half with his first goal since returning to the club in the summer. Aleksandar Mitrovic gave Fulham hope but they could not find an equaliser. Millwall ended a run of three-straight draws with a 2-1 win at Bristol City. Murray Wallace and Jake Cooper put the visitors in charge with 20 minutes to play before Callum O’Dowda pulled one back but the visitors held on. Paddy McNair’s late penalty enabled Middlesbrough to rescue a point from a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest. Ryan Yates had put Forest ahead midway through the second half. Joe Allen’s brace made sure Stoke ended a run of three-straight defeats with a 3-0 win over Luton. James McClean scored the first before goals from Allen either side of the interval wrapped it up.
credit--Fulham’s Denis Odoi (centre) is shown the red card by referee Keith Stroud. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA 05 WORLD SOCCER
Matthew Daly’s last-minute strike saw Huddersfield bring a run of five matches without a win to an end with a 1-0 victory at Charlton. Coventry hold on in FA Cup
THE EUROPA CUP WINNERS
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fter a triumphant night on the pitch in Baku, our Europa League winners headed back to their hotel to celebrate in style with family and friends at the exclusive after-party. From Willian’s skills on the drums and David Luiz’s notoriously expert footwork on the dancefloor, to Maurizio Sarri enjoying sunrise on the balcony with the first trophy of his career, you can go behind the scenes at the party by watching our exclusive video above. With the final not kicking off until 11pm local time, it was a late start to the celebrations for the players, who were able to mix with staff as well as catch up with family and friends who had made the trip for the all-London contest in Azerbaijan. It meant night quickly turned to morning once the party got into full swing, though that didn’t stop the guests from enjoying the drink, food and music until the early hours of the morning - it was
just as well that we stayed on English time throughout our stay in Baku! Earlier at the Olympic Stadium, those supporters who had braved the 2,700-mile journey to the banks of the Caspian Sea celebrated in the stands as the Blues claimed the fifth major European honour in Chelsea history. After the trophy lift on the pitch, players were able to revel in the special moment with our brilliant fans in the far corner of the stadium. In the dressing room, there was no shortage of champagne flying around and Sarri’s arrival prompted the most enthusiastic drenching of the evening not long after the final whistle. After Athens, Stockholm, Munich and Am-
the banks of the Caspian Sea celebrated in the stands as the Blues claimed the fifth major European honour in Chelsea history. After the trophy lift on the pitch, players were able to revel in the special moment with our brilliant fans in the far corner of the stadium. In the dressing room, there was no shortage of champagne flying around and Sarri’s arrival prompted the most enthusiastic drenching of the evening not long after the final whistle. After Athens, Stockholm, Munich and Amsterdam, Baku joined the list of cities etched into Chelsea folklore and our players made sure the occasion was marked in appropriately triumphant fashion.
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H
E HAS DONE IT AGAIN
Lionel Messi clinched his sixth Ballon d’Or award on Monday after yet another scintillating season for the Argentine. The 32-year-old saw off competition from the likes of Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk to win the prestigious accolade, which is voted for by journalists. Messi won the award for the first time in 2009 but had not won it since 2015. The Barcelona forward now has one more title than arch rival Ronaldo. “Today is my sixth Ballon d’Or. It’s a completely different moment, lived with my family and my children,” said Messi at the award ceremony in Paris. “As my wife said, you must never stop dreaming but always work to improve and continue to enjoy. I am very lucky, I am blessed.” Messi has maintained his ridiculously high levels over the last 12 months, becoming Europe’s top 07 WORLD SOCCER
Men’s Player in September, once again beating Ronaldo to the title. This season has started in familiar fashion with the magician scoring nine league goals for the Catalan club. He netted a superb late winner against title rivals Atletico Madrid on Sunday and was called “infallible” by his manager Ernesto Valverde. Messi added: “I hope to continue for a long time. I realize that I am very lucky, even if, one day, retirement will ring. It will be difficult. “But I still have beautiful years ahead of scorer for a third consecutive season me. Time goes very quickly, so I want and winning his 10th La Liga title to enjoy football and my family.”Messi added: “I Family is the most important thing. hope to continue for a long time. I realize that Obviously I lovFootball, and i live for I am very lucky, even if, it but Family is above all. one day, retirement will ring. It will be difficult. “But I still have beautiful years ahead of with Barcelona. me. Time goes very quickly, so I want He was also named The Best FIFA to enjoy football and my family.”Messi Men’s Player in September, once added: “I hope to continue for a long again beating Ronaldo to the title. time. I realize that I am very lucky, even This season has started in familiar if, one day, retirement will ring. It will be fashion with the magician scoring difficult. nine league goals for the Catalan “But I still have beautiful years ahead of club. He netted a superb late winner me. Time goes very quickly, so I want to against title rivals Atletico Madrid on enjoy football and my family.” Sunday and was called “infallible” by his manager Ernesto Valverde. Messi added: “I hope to continue for a long time. I realize that I am very lucky, even if, one day, retirement will ring. It will be difficult. “But I still have beautiful years ahead of me. Time goes very quickly, so I want to enjoy football and my family.”Messi added: “I hope to continue for a long time. I realize that I am very
MLS CUP WINNERS SEATTLE
For a decade, fans of the Seattle Sounders have turned out in record numbers to cheer their team. They have come in the rain and in the wind, in the sunshine and in the cold, and they have roared as their beloved Sounders have won (often) and lost (less so). They have seen their team advance to the playoffs 11 years in a row, the longest active streak in Major League Soccer, and they even got to see them win a title in 2016. Seattle had failed to score in its two previous appearances in M.L.S. Cup. On Sunday, it got three goals. But Sunday was different. On Sunday, the Sounders, who have been one of the most consistently successful franchises since joining the league, beat Toronto F.C., 3-1, at CenturyLink Field and finally got a chance to celebrate a title on their home turf, in front of their fans. “I’m going to take it in, I’m going to get a little emotional, because it’s really a good moment for the city
Credit...Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press, via Associated Press While the setting was different for the third Seattle-Toronto final, the game had a familiar feeling from the opening kickoff. Once again, Toronto was the aggressor, controlling much of the possession, patiently knocking the ball around in Seattle’s half, waiting for an opening. Once again, the Sounders were content to sit back and absorb the pressure, then charge forward in a furious counterattack
Victor Rodriguez, the game’s most valuable player, scored Seattle’s second goal on a shot that split two defenders.Credit...Ted S. Warren/Associated Press
The victory made Seattle the sixth team in M.L.S. to win multiple league titles, bolstering its status as one of the elite clubs in a rapidly changing league. Since the Sounders won their first title, M.L.S. has added four new teams. The repeat matchup alone was a surprise, given the league’s reputation for parity, but all the more given changes to the playoff format this year. M.L.S. did away with its two-game series in the conference semifinals and finals this year, making every round an elimination game. To the surprise of many — though not all — it was playoff-tested Toronto and Seattle who emerged from the chaos. Seattle embraced the chance to host the final. Fans fortunate enough to get tickets — the game sold out in a few hours — and those who did not packed the bars and restaurants 08 WORLD SOCCER
TRANSFER WARS May the riches club win
Neymar
Paris Saint-Germain
The deteriorating relationship with Real Madrid boss Santiago Solari is starting to bother Isco, as his Twitter post complaining about game time showed. The 26-year-old has spent more time on the bench than any other player in La Liga this year, and if the trend continues, he will seriously consider a move away. It’s an awkward situation for Isco, who does not want to play for any other
The idea of Neymar moving from PSG to Real Madrid may sound like little more than tabloid fodder, but it should not be completely ruled out. According to sources in Spain, the La Liga club have made contact and want to be kept in mind if the Brazil international decides to leave Paris at the end of this season, and they would work hard to meet his requirements. We should bear in mind Neymar joined PSG in a bid to become the best player in the world and also command a staggering financial deal. club and still believes he could have a meaningful role in the side if given the right opportunities. If Solari remains in charge beyond this season, though, it will be time to consider the next move. Barcelona have been linked, though sources at Madrid are almost certain that would not happen, while Manchester City had a long-term interest but no longer list him among their
However, Kylian Mbappe’s incredible rise has somewhat overshadowed his status at the club, and there have been noises from parties around the player that he is beginning to become agitated. He is widely considered as one of the best players in the world. NEYMAR has admitted his unhappiness at Paris Saint-Germain last season as old club Barcelona circled - and knew he “must leave”.
Isco
Real Madrid
Eden Hazard Real Madrid
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A Belgian professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for Spanish club Real Madrid and captains the Belgium national team. An interview with French radio station RMC ramped up the momentum behind a potential move to the Santiago Bernabeu, but Hazard’s mind has been made up since the start of the season.
Chelsea have known the 28-year-old is waiting for Real Madrid to make their intent known over a future bid, but they have also shown fans their own ambition to keep him, as a new contract offer remains on the table— one that would make him around £350,000 per week.
Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United will all be linked with Gareth Bale before the end of the season, as intermediaries look to find out where he could land if he did return to the Premier League. On the face of it, this seems a great time for the Wales international to come back. Injuries have taken a toll at Real Madrid, and after coming off the bench and missing a great chance in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey Clasico, you have to wonder where he fits in with the likes of Lucas Vazquez and Vinicius Junior coming of age. They are seen as the future of the club. Old Trafford has always been earmarked as his landing spot back on English
Alexis Sanchez
Inter Milan
soil, and Manchester United are sure to retain interest if they are able to offload one of their big-name forwards in the summer. However, there is a twist to this that could mean Bale, 29, sees through another season in La Liga, as sources in Spain claim Madrid president Florentino Perez does not want him to leave and would love to see him play with Hazard.
Gareth Bale Real Madrid
Some would believe Hazard is seen as his replacement, but that apparently isn’t the case, so Madrid might fight harder to keep him than most would
If a spot is to open up in United’s front line, then it’s almost certain to be the one belonging to Alexis Sanchez. The 30-year-old has not found his feet since a move from Arsenal in January 2018, and with the club now looking to have found a way to move forward successfully under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, sources say the club’s hierarchy is open to the prospect of the Chilean’s sale at the end of the season. Sanchez
is said to have some regret about not opting for a move to Manchester City when he had the chance, but PSG are now seen as his best chance of an escape route. The Ligue 1 champions could put together a financial package that includes matching his wages, but it will only happen if they lose Neymar or Mbappe.
Tanguy Ndombele Tanguy Ndombele’s plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the France national team emergence at Lyon as one of the most impressive central midfielders in the game has alerted clubs from two of Europe’s top leagues. Manchester City, Tottenham and Juventus have the France international on their radars as a player who is capable of becoming a real
force in the game—particularly as he is still just 22. Lyon have an €80 million (£70 million) valuation on his head, but even representatives of the player believe that figure is probably too high, so expect negotiations to begin towards the end of the season in order to open up a move to an elite club.
Tottenham Hotspur
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HORROR INJURY Terrible Injury
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verton’s Andre Gomes suffered a horrific injury which overshadowed his side’s battling 1-1 home draw against Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League Sunday. The Portuguese international suffered a fractured dislocation to his right ankle after a challenge from Spurs’ Son Heung-min and was rushed straight to hospital where he underwent successful surgery on Monday. The midfielder’s ankle appeared to buckle under him after Son’s challenge saw him collide with Serge Aurier but the club confirmed Gomes is expected to make a full recovery. It was immediately clear that the injury was serious with South Korean star Son visibly upset even before he was belatedly shown the red card by referee Martin Atkinson. Aurier, who would have had a full view of the extent of the injury, was seen appearing to pray while other players could barely bring themselves to view what had happened. Match
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referee Martin Atkinson consoles Son Heung-Min as Everton players and medical staff cluster around the stricken Andre Gomes. Tottenham led 1-0 before the incident with Dele Alli scoring for the visitor just after the hour mark after Alex Iwobi’s mistake led to Son feeding him the pass to score. With Son sent off, Everton pressed for an equalizer in the 12 minutes of added time and it duly arrived when substitute Cenk Tosun headed home from Luca Digne’s cross. But all thoughts were with Gomes at the final whistle, with under pressure Everton manager Marco Silva summing up those feelings. “It’s more than a football game, it’s the most im-
portant thing right now and give all our support to him and to his family as well,” he said. “We as a group and the players we have to keep the spirit we showed after that moment,” he added. Everton’s goalscorer Tosun said after the match that he would have rather lost the game than see his teammate suffer such an injury. “You win, you draw, you lose but all that doesn’t matter when something like this happens. I wish I didn’t score, I wish we lost 0-5 and this didn’t happen,” he wrote on Instagram. “I know you will come back stronger bro and we will be there for you.” Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said Son was not to blame for the serious injury sustained by Gomes and hinted the club could appeal the decision. “It was clear it was never the intention of Son to create the problem that happened afterwards,” said Pochettino, before blaming the involvement of VAR. “I don’t know what will happen now. The club will see if it is possible but what we cannot change is what happened after.”
C
Let’s address this first of all - it’s a terrible tackle. And you can see that he didn’t mean to cause as much damage to Gomes as he did while also seeing that it’s still a horrific challenge. From behind, Son came in and wiped Gomes clean out, and though he was left in tears afterwards, he was rightly sent off.
real track record of similar misdemeanours previously, but this baseless ‘he’s not that type of player’ rhetoric trotted out time and again in these instances only detracts sympathy from where it should be - in this case, Gomes, another fabulous footballer who has almost certainly lost at least a year of his career now. Our thoughts and best wishes are with him at this time. Aside from that, Everton didn’t play particularly well, to be honest. Especially in the first half, the Blues were guilty of showing Tottenham, a team in poor form and who have not won a Premier League away game since January, far too much respect and struggled to fashion clear-cut chances until the match began to near its conclusion.
Son is a wonderful player with no
A sloppy giveaway from Alex Iwobi
enk Tosun’s late equaliser secured a 1-1 draw for Everton against Tottenham Hotspur this afternoon, but what matters more than anything right now is André Gomes’ welfare after a tackle on him from Son Heung-min saw him stretchered off and taken straight to hospital.
gifted the ball to Son, who played in Dele Alli, who finished smartly to give Spurs, who were hardly much better, the lead just after the hour mark. But Everton huffed and puffed thereafter and, in the eighth of 12 additional minutes, substitute Tosun met Lucas Digne’s gem of a volleyed cross and powered home a header past the helpless Paulo Gazzaniga. There were positives, for sure - Mason Holgate and Yerry Mina worked well in tandem in central defence, Tom Davies was Everton’s stand-out midfielder, and the Blues showed what they’re capable of when they laid siege on the Spurs goal in the final minutes.
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