Football has had its fair share of beautiful photography over the years, but what if there was a gallery of short, animated moments that illustrated the artfulness of the game? That’s where the Football In Motion Art Gallery comes into play. It’s a shitty name, but it’s one helluva art gallery.
Through the first 30 minutes of the 2016 MLS All-Star Game, there was an interesting contrast between the midfields of Arsenal and the MLS All-Stars. Andrea Pirlo anchored the setup for MLS, in tandem with Kyle Beckerman and Kaka, while Arsenal chose the strength of Francis Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny to support Jack Wilshere.
The average age of the duel was 24 for Arsenal and 35 for MLS, but one couldn’t help but be in awe of the play of MLS’s old guard — particularly the sumptuous, metronomic style of Pirlo.
Andrea Pirlo, one of the most interesting men in the world, has had a cookout. We know this because he posted a picture of it on social media, and we are sad. Not sad that he had a cookout, but sad that we weren't invited.
We’ve all heard the critique before, we’ve even been a party to it. Is Major League Soccer a retirement home for European stars seeking one final paycheck and the benefits of living in North America?
The answer to this question is clearly important with regards to the national, as well as global, perception of MLS.
The MLS regular season doesn’t begin play until March 6, but preseason preparations have begun around the league. Scavenging the social media accounts of all 20 clubs, we’ve compiled the best photos and videos from the 2016 preseason for your viewing pleasure. Smiling faces, southern sunshine and a tangible excitment surrounding the growth of MLS make the 21st season of the league the most anticipated to date.
The Best Photos and Videos from the 2016 MLS Preseason:
Andrea Pirlo doing what only Andrea Pirlo can:
In a classic derby match where rivalry and home pride is all that matters, there is no telling what fans will do to help give their club any extra boost to win the match. New York is new to the whole derby experience, but that doesn’t mean they are short of energy and passion.
The internet is flooded with highlight videos. A player simply has to be young, talented, and make a couple cool plays in a season for someone to string those plays together in iMovie, throw some banal techno music over it, and produce one of them. I say this like I hate them, and in many ways I do, but I also cannot deny that watching these videos can be about as addicting as it gets.
As Major League Soccer grows, so too do the rivalries and competitive spirit within the league. The attractiveness of MLS has grown every day since its introduction to America in the early 90s with the help of world-class players retiring to the league.
Three of the biggest names in football have been linked with moves to MLS.
Andrea Pirlo, Didier Drogba and John Tery have each either expressed interest in MLS or have had offers from MLS confirmed.