United States women’s national team and Portland Thorns defender Becky Sauerbrunn is hanging up her boots after 16 incredible years with the national team. The 39-year-old announced her retirement via social media on Tuesday.
Becky Sauerbrunn retirement
Welcome to this week’s edition of USMNT Abroad, where we bring you the latest updates on American soccer players making waves across Europe.
From standout performances to key transfers, rumors and injury reports, The18 has got you covered with all the action involving U.S. men’s national team players in Europe’s top leagues.
C’mon, you yanks!
USMNT Abroad this weekend: The latest on American players in Europe
Christian Pulisic (AC Milan)
A fantastic Weston McKennie goal vs Man City in the Champions League on Wednesday gave Juventus breathing space in a big 2-0 victory at home.
McKennie came on as a substitute against City, making his first appearance for Juve since Nov. 23. The American midfielder was out due to muscle fatigue.
He marked his return to the field with a literal bang as he and fellow American Timothy Weah combined for a glorious goal in the 75th minute to double their team’s lead.
Weston McKennie goal vs Man City
Football Reference (Fbref.com) released their 2024 statistics for the most-viewed soccer team pages by state and it’s evident that a Gooner takeover has happened.
American soccer fans were most interested in five Premier League teams, several local Major League Soccer clubs and three National Women’s Soccer League teams. The one outlier was West Virginia who loved Real Madrid in 2024.
Last year Arsenal were the most-viewed club in 11 states and D.C. This time around Arsenal dominated the map with 28 STATES. Arsenal would’ve won the electoral college with this map.
Major League Soccer announced Lionel Messi as the winner of the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award on Friday. The Messi MLS MVP reaction from fans has been mixed with some upset that a player who appeared in only 19 games got the award.
The vote for MVP is done so by players in the league, select media members and club technical staff. After all the votes were accounted for the Inter Miami star edged out Columbus Crew’s Cucho Hernández.
Messi received 38.4% of the vote while Cucho accounted for 33.7%.
Messi vs. Cucho 2024 stats
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi and defender Jordi Alba represented the Supporters' Shield winners on the 2024 MLS Best XI announced Tuesday.
The Leagues Cup champion Columbus Crew also had two selections with forward Cucho Hernandez and MLS Defender of the Year Steven Moreira.
MLS Best XI 2024
The best of the best. ⭐️
The United States women’s national team ended 2024 with their unlikeliest win of the calendar year on Tuesday with a 2-1 victory vs. Netherlands despite being dominated most of the game. The game was played in Hague.
In what was Alyssa Naeher’s final game with the Stars and Stripes the 36-year-old goalkeeper had one of her busiest 90 minutes. The Dutch had total control of the first half outshooting the USWNT 14-1 and opening the scoring in the 15th minute.
USWNT vs Netherlands highlights and takeaways
This Thanksgiving PSV will be thankful for their American players as United States men’s national team stars Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi recorded three goals in eight minutes for a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory vs. Shakhtar Donetsk.
Tillman, who started the game, recorded a brace with goals in the 87th minute and 90th minute to bring PSV level. The 22-year-old’s first goal saw him sneak the ball across the line at the near post with goal-line technology helping determine the goal.
Christian Pulisic’s incredible form this season was on full display during AC Milan’s 3-2 Champions League victory against Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday. A Pulisic goal vs Bratislava opened the scoring in the 21st minute.
The United states men’s national team star was used as a substitute during the 0-0 draw against Juventus on Saturday as he wasn’t fully fit after the international break. On Tuesday he was back in the starting XI and doing what he does best… scoring goals.
Tammy Abraham found the American with a great ball that got Pulisic 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper.
FC Cincinnati acquired striker Kevin Denkey on Thursday for a reported MLS record transfer fee of $16.2 million.
That would break the MLS record of $16 million that Atlanta United paid for Thiago Almada in February 2022.
Kevin Denkey breaks MLS record transfer fee
FC Cincinnati officially acquire Togo int'l forward Kevin Denkey from Cercle Brugge.