Brazos Valley · USL League Two · Goalkeeper · #0 · France · 26 yrs
It was an instantly iconic image: Cyle Larin, two minutes after he first jogged onto the pitch, standing in front of a roaring Toronto Stadium crowd, in the moments after he scored one of the great goals of his life and in Canadian soccer history, with his eyes closed and his fingers in his ears.
Kylian Mbappe’s chapter at Real Madrid has come with enormous expectations, relentless scrutiny and constant headlines. Yet despite the pressure that naturally follows the French superstar, support...
After living in the Argentina idol’s shadow, the 39-year-old star of Qatar is still capable of a final glorious chapterLionel Messi in Qatar felt like the perfect story. It was the great finale. He is doomed always to be compared with Diego Maradona and, placed alongside a life of operatic ups and downs, of injury and addiction, drugs bans and organised crime, the highest highs and the lowest lows, his narrative always seemed a little flat: a kid was good at football, and then was consistently good at it for two decades, winning title after title. Yes, there were tears and frustrations, moments of doubt, but he wasn’t nearly drowning in a cesspit, shooting at journalists with an airgun or using a fake penis to evade the drugs testers.Qatar offered at least a degree of dramatic intrigue. Club success evidently wasn’t enough. Messi was driven. He had overcome his natural reserve to become the true leader of the team while winning the Copa América in Brazil the previous year. He gave team talks. When, giving a TV interview after the quarter‑final win over the Netherlands he snapped at Wout Weghorst: “Que mira, bobo?” – what are you looking at, idiot? – it was celebrated as the quiet man coming out of his shell, albeit with an oddly childish phrase. Could the Argentinian finally lift the trophy in what was assumed to be his final World Cup? In the knockout stage, it felt every game could be his last; his genius and its apparent fragility seemed a constant reminder of mortality. Continue reading...
With Germany preparing for the 2026 World Cup, Neuer’s dramatic return from international retirement has created another devastating twist in a story that has haunted Ter Stegen for more than a decade. For years, Manuel Neuer and Marc-Andre ter Stegen represented two generations of elite German goalkeeping, with the national team constantly caught between proven greatness and the promise of a successor waiting for his opportunity. Now, with Germany preparing for the 2026 World Cup, Neuer’s dramatic return from international retirement has created another devastating twist in a story that has haunted Ter Stegen for more than a decade. Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed that Neuer will once again lead the squad into a major tournament after previously stepping away following Euro 2024. The decision immediately reshaped the goalkeeping hierarchy and reopened old wounds for Ter Stegen, whose international career has become one of soccer’s strangest stories despite his reputation as one of Europe’s finest goalkeepers. The DFB-Team made headlines by recalling 40-year-old Manuel Neuer for the World Cup after months of uncertainty surrounding the position. Nagelsmann ultimately trusted the Bayern Munich veteran over the newer generation of goalkeepers, even after Oliver Baumann had temporarily emerged as the country’s first-choice option. Neuer’s experience remains difficult to ignore: he owns 124 caps for Germany, won the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and continues to deliver elite performances at club level despite concerns surrounding recurring calf injuries. “Anyone who knows me, knows that I didn’t make this decision lightly,” Neuer previously wrote on Instagram after announcing his retirement. “After many intense and long discussions with my family and friends, I have decided that right now is the right time to close my chapter.” Gemeinsam für Deutschland: Unser Kader für die WM 2026! 🖤❤️💛#dfbteam #fifaworldcup2026 pic.twitter.com/zaxWgXsGGv— DFB-Team (@DFB_Team) May 21, 2026 That chapter, however, reopened after several impressive displays with Bayern Munich, including a sensational Champions League performance against Real Madrid. Neuer produced nine saves at the Santiago Bernabeu, in a display that reminded many why he remains one of the most influential goalkeepers in modern soccer history. The brutal record behind Ter Stegen’s career The deeper story, though, belongs to Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Buried beneath Neuer’s comeback is the astonishing reality that Ter Stegen has never played a single minute in either a World Cup or a European Championship for Germany across the last 14 years. For a goalkeeper widely considered among the world’s best during his peak years at Barcelona, the statistic feels almost impossible to believe. The record stretches across multiple tournaments and several heartbreaking near-misses: TournamentStatusEuro 2012Not called upWorld Cup 2014Not called upEuro 2016Neuer’s backupWorld Cup 2018Neuer’s backupEuro 2020Missed through injuryWorld Cup 2022Neuer’s backupEuro 2024Neuer’s backupWorld Cup 2026Missed through injury Despite earning 44 caps for Germany, every appearance came outside the sport’s two biggest international tournaments. Ter Stegen featured in qualifiers, friendlies, Nations League fixtures, and the Confederations Cup, but never received a major tournament appearance. Injuries and timing worked against him Many believed the door had finally opened after Neuer retired following Euro 2024. Ter Stegen appeared ready to become Germany’s undisputed No. 1 heading into the 2026 World Cup cycle. Instead, his career took another painful turn. Marc-Andre ter Stegen of FC Barcelona. After losing prominence at Barcelona following changes under Hansi Flick and increased competition for the starting role, Ter Stegen moved on loan to Girona, seeking regular minutes. Shortly afterward, he suffered a severe hamstring injury that required surgery and disrupted his entire season. The injury eventually rul
After a decade filled with trophies, tactical revolutions, and relentless success, the Spaniard now prepares to take the next step as the soccer world wonders what comes next for the coach who changed the modern game forever. Pep Guardiola has officially confirmed that his remarkable era with Manchester City is coming to an end, closing one of the most dominant managerial reigns England has ever witnessed. After a decade filled with trophies, tactical revolutions, and relentless success, the Spaniard now prepares to take the next step as the soccer world wonders what comes next for the coach who changed the modern game forever. The announcement immediately sent shockwaves across the Premier League, with rivals, supporters, and former players reflecting on Guardiola’s enormous impact. From transforming Manchester City into a global powerhouse to forcing every title challenger to raise its standards, Guardiola leaves behind a legacy that stretches far beyond silverware. When he arrived in England in 2016 after successful spells with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, many questioned whether his style could survive the intensity of the Premier League. Ten years later, those doubts feel almost impossible to remember. Under the Spaniard, Manchester City collected 20 major trophies, including six Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League crown, multiple domestic cups, and a historic continental treble in 2023. More importantly, the club became the benchmark every rival desperately tried to reach. Beyond trophies, Guardiola’s greatest contribution may be the way he reshaped soccer thinking in England. His positional play, use of inverted full-backs, and constant tactical experimentation influenced managers across the league and even grassroots soccer. Guardiola explains why the time felt right The emotional weight of Guardiola’s departure became clear during his final press conference before facing Aston Villa. The City manager admitted the decision had been building internally for quite some time. “I am really satisfied, I don’t know the right words. Happy, proud. The experience of my life,” he said. The Spaniard also revealed the emotional toll of coaching continuously for nearly two decades. “I need to breathe a little bit and relax. It’ll be a while, that is my feeling right now,” he explained. The 55-year-old stressed that the club also needed a fresh voice moving forward. “I think the club needs a new manager, new energy with these incredible players that we have right now, and you start to write another chapter,” he said. What Guardiola’s future now looks like While speculation immediately linked Guardiola with several national teams and elite clubs around Europe, the Spaniard ruled out an immediate return to coaching after leaving Manchester City. Instead, he plans to step away from the constant pressure of the touchline after years of managing matches every few days. “Rest. No plans to train for a while. Otherwise, I would be here. I need to step back. I will not train for a while,” Guardiola confirmed. At the same time, Manchester City announced that the manager will remain connected to the wider City Football Group structure as a Global Ambassador. In that role, he is expected to offer technical guidance and support projects involving clubs such as New York City, Girona, and Yokohama F. Marinos. We see things they’ll never see 🏆🐐 pic.twitter.com/s2I6Jf7wUD— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 22, 2026 Guardiola made it clear he wanted to stay emotionally tied to the organization even if he is no longer making daily soccer decisions. “I would love to continue to be part of this club. Not manager action, I will take absolutely zero decisions in that. Just to be part of the club,” he explained. The Citizens are already preparing major tributes to honour Guardiola’s contribution. They have officially confirmed that a stand at the Etihad Stadium will carry his name, while a statue is also planned outside the ground. North Stand to be
Brentford boss Keith Andrews has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Liverpool at Anfield (kick-off 16:00 BST). You are constantly learning about that and yourself, how you deal with people, how I speak to you [media] guys and trying to balance that.
