In 2013, during a visit with Pope Francis, legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon touched Lionel Messi’s face and stated “I wanted to make sure he was human like us. For me, Lionel Messi is an alien that dedicates himself to playing with humans."  High praise from one of football’s greatest goalkeepers. And yes, Lionel Messi is […]

The soccer ball used in the 1986 World Cup quarter final between Argentina and England, the day of the famous 'Hand of God' goal, is set to go to auction next month, according to the BBC. While any ball used in such a big match would be historically significant, this particular one is one of […]

On July 3, 1990, defending World Cup champions Argentina played against hosts Italy in the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup. The two entered the 1990 World Cup among the favorites, and the fixture remains a part of soccer's lore. Yet, it was more than a semifinal. It shined a light upon the divided nation […]

We can argue who the greatest footballer is, but who is the best soccer player you've ever seen in person? Many European and South American clubs often make trips to the United States. Summer friendlies, which return to normalcy in 2022, allow major names to show up across the United States. For example, in 2022, […]

Diego Armando Maradona's legacy at the World Cup distinguishes him as a legend of the game. He also had a strong club career revolutionizing the game with his dribbling. The Argentine scored 81 goals for Napoli. He fulfilled the expectation set out for him upon his arrival. In 1984, hundreds of thousands came out to […]

One year after Diego Maradona's death, 'The Last Days of Maradona' will chronicle the legend's passing on Spotify. Everyone remembers their personal reaction to Diego Maradona's death. After all, the Argentine left countless memories during his illustrious tenure as perhaps the greatest player of all time. Of course, Maradona tarnished his athletic greatness with his […]

It's hard to truly estimate the population of those who play the sport. But, in 2007, FIFA did its best. The world body approximated roughly 265 million people actively play the sport. No doubt, soccer earns its reputation as the world's game. That number undoubtedly bounces up or down with time and trends. For example, […]