Editorials

Xavi Hernandez walks on the pitch during the match between Rayo Vallecano and FC Barcelona on November 25, 2023. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images)

Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez on managerial hot seat

Subpar officiating remains a bugaboo for Liga MX clubs and fans alike

Luis Rubiales must go as president of the Spanish FA

Manchester City and their enigmatic coach stand on the cusp of greatness

Cevin Diagne of Senegal (left) battles Nigeria's Aniekeme Okon during the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2019. Diagne played for Cadiz and Brugge but is now without a club, an example of a player from Africa who has fallen by the wayside. (Photo by Lukasz Sobala/PressFocus/MB Media/Getty Images)

Africa U-20 Nations Cup: Feeder system for exploitation of young talent?

Lionel Messi looks at the World Cup trophy as he holds the Golden Ball award after Argentina won the World Cup final between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 18, 2022.(Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

Lionel Messi: The Greatest of All Time

Marco Asensio during the match between Real Madrid v FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on March 20, 2022 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Why Marco Asensio link to Barcelona makes little sense

FIFA Ballon d'Or nominees Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo smile during the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2014 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images)

Robert Lewandowski and Mohamed Salah in race for Ballon d’Or

Fans outside the Camp Nou stadium where Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi held a press conference in Barcelona on August 8, 2021. - Messi fought back tears as he began a press conference at which he confirmed he is leaving Barcelona, where he has played his entire career. (Photo by Pau BARRENA / AFP) (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)

What is FC Barcelona really doing in the post-Messi era?

FC Porto's Malian forward Moussa Marega (C) reacts and attempts to leave the pitch after hearing racists chants as FC Porto's Brazilian defender Alex Telles tries to stop him during the Portuguese league football match between Vitoria Guimaraes SC and FC Porto at the Dom Alfonso Henriques stadium in Guimaraes on February 16, 2020. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images)

Latest incident with Porto’s Moussa Marega demonstrates players need to do better

ROMA, LAZIO, ITALY - 2020/01/12: Supporters of AS Roma cheers during Serie A football match AS Roma vs FC Juventus.Juventus won 2-1. (Photo by Antonio Balasco/KONTROLAB/LightRocket via Getty Images)

12 derbies to watch for across Europe for the rest of this season

Players of Boca Juniors (blue and yellow), River Plate (red stripe) and the referees pose for pictures before the start of their all-Argentine Copa Libertadores semi-final first leg football match at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, on October 1, 2019. - The banner reads "Football is a Game, Violence is Not." (Photo by Alejandro PAGNI / AFP) (Photo by ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP via Getty Images)

Match Preview: Boca Juniors host River Plate looking for a Copa Libertadores final

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: Pep Guardiola the head coach / manager of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at at Etihad Stadium on April 17, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Manchester City will regret not focusing on the Champions League

LEEDS, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: Aston Villa's Anwar El Ghazi (right) can't believe he's been shown a red card during the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Aston Villa at Elland Road on April 28, 2019 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Were Leeds right to allow Aston Villa to score?

LEON, SPAIN - OCTOBER 31: Ernesto Valverde of FC Barcelona gestures during the Spanish Copa del Rey match between Cultura Leonesa and FC Barcelona at Estadio Reino de Leon on October 31, 2018 in Leon, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Ernesto Valverde cannot continue as Barcelona manager

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JULY 20: A comedian attacked FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter with money during a press conference at the Extraordinary FIFA Executive Committee Meeting at the FIFA headquarters on July 20, 2015 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images)

Is FIFA any better off with Gianni Infantino as president than it was with Sepp Blatter?

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 12: Usain Bolt of the Mariners warms up during the pre-season friendly match between the Central Coast Mariners and Macarthur South West United at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on October 12, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Don’t be fooled, Usain Bolt is just another gimmick for football

KIEV, UKRAINE - MAY 26: Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid celebrates with the UEFA Champions League Trophy following his sides victory in the UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Liverpool at NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium on May 26, 2018 in Kiev, Ukraine. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Analysis: UEFA announces nominees for Player of the Season Award

VERONA, ITALY - AUGUST 18: Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus FC looks on during the Serie A match between Chievo Verona and Juventus at Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi on August 18, 2018 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

European football: Ten talking points from the weekend

SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 15: A boy plays with a South African national flag in front of a mural of Nelson Mandela in Soweto Township, as the funeral of former South African President takes place in Qunu, on December 15, 2013 in Soweto, South Africa. Mr Mandela passed away on the evening of December 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton at the age of 95. Mandela became South Africa's first black president in 1994 after spending 27 years in jail for his activism against apartheid in a racially-divided South Africa. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Nelson Mandela Day: How the beautiful game shaped the Rainbow Nation

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - MARCH 23: #20 Ricardo Quaresma of Portugal in action during the International Friendly between Portugal and Egypt at the Letzigrund Stadium on March 23, 2018 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Robert Hradil/Getty Images)

The history of Ricardo Quaresma and the trivela

TURIN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 13: Alex Sandro of Juventus is challenged by Serge Aurier of Tottenham Hotspur during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur at Allianz Stadium on February 13, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Too conservative Juventus paid the price

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Watford at The King Power Stadium on January 20, 2018 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Leicester deny player-power: Mahrez saga

YEOVIL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 26: Alexis Sanchez of Manchester United looks during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Yeovil Town and Manchester United at Huish Park on January 26, 2018 in Yeovil, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Manchester City will regret backing down Sanchez’s deal

BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND - JANUARY 29: Head Coach of England Women, Phil Neville attends a England Women's Press Conference at St Georges Park on January 29, 2018 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Phil Neville: What does the fiasco over his appointment say?

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 05: Luke Shaw of Manchester United, Daley Blind of Manchester United and Juan Mata of Manchester United appeal to referee Gianluca Rocchi after CSKA Moscow first goal during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Manchester United and CSKA Moskva at Old Trafford on December 5, 2017 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Video Assistant Referee: What should we make of VAR?

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 21: Bernardo Silva of Manchester City looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Burnley at Etihad Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Manchester City’s credentials will be tested by busy winter

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 05: Andrea Pirlo #21 of New York City FC prepares for a corner kick during a MLS soccer match between New York City FC and Orlando City SC at the Orlando City Stadium on March 5, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)

Andrea Pirlo was a talent we may not see again anytime soon