Mexico enter their final two games of the fourth round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying assured of their place in the fifth and final round, the ‘Hex’. However, their matches against El Salvador and Honduras will not be taken lightly by Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio, for whom they present something of a poisoned chalice. 

Two victories are expected, but any slip-up against the sides ranked 137th and 84th in the world would only magnify the hurt of Mexico’s last competitive match — that 7-0 defeat to Chile in the Copa America Centenario quarter-finals.

The Netherlands used to be really good. I solemnly swear it. At the 2014 World Cup, Robin van Persie made us believe in the possibility of the human body achieving flight. At the 2010 World Cup, Wesley Sneijder demonstrated everything that is possible in an impeccable Dutch playmaker.

It just had to be, didn’t it? Lionel Messi announced his return to the Argentina fold by scoring the game-winning goal for La Albiceleste against Uruguay, catapulting his country to the top of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table in the process.

While Messi’s international retirement resulted in him missing zero action for Argentina, it was still an emotional return for the Barcelona man at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, Argentina.

Alright, who’s ready to feel sick and ill at the same time? You? Let’s go. FIFA is cleaning up its act. FIFA is getting its s*** together. That’s hard work — they were mired in metaphorical defecation up to the neck following the reign of corruption’s Sepp Blatter. It’s such a grind piecing together the fallen remnants of football’s global governing body that newly elected FIFA president Gianni Infantino will receive $1.52 million, a car, housing and a monthly expense limit of $2,025 for his troubles.

Having fallen down the midfield pecking order at Arsenal, Jack Wilshere reportedly demanded a loan move during crisis talks with manager Arsene Wenger. Dropped from the England squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers by recently appointed manager Sam Allardyce, Wilshere rightly realized that he needed more minutes to win back his international place.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the UEFA Player of the Season, much to the chagrin of one Antoine Griezmann, who thought he merited the win.

Here's what Griezmann told World Soccer earlier this week:

"Without being big-headed, I think I deserve it because I had a great season with my club and with the national team. Maybe I deserve to win the award.

Hungarian goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly, famous for wearing sweatpants during Euro 2016 and therefore becoming international soccer's official Dad, has won the UEFA Save of the Season Award for denying a Kevin de Bruyne free kick during Hungary's 4-0 loss to Belgium in the round of 16.

Esta es la parada de Gabor Kiraly que se lleva el premiopic.twitter.com/ahyzpZYgCo

Scotland national team and Celtic captain Scott Brown announced his retirement from international competition on August 19th. However, the pit bullish midfielder retires from Scotland manager Gordon Strachan’s side having left behind some famous memories for supporters of the Tartan Army. While he’s still busy cementing his legacy in Glasgow’s East End, this is the perfect moment to highlight some of the 31 year olds finer achievements. 

Here are some of the finest highlights from Brown’s 50 appearances for Scotland as well as his most notable moments for Celtic:

Diving in soccer certainly predates the 1974 FIFA World Cup final, but on no other occasion has the ramifications of a flop been so clearly encapsulated and amplified.

The 1974 World Cup in West Germany served as a pageant for the Netherlands technique of Total Football, the tactical theory envisioning a side in which any outfield player can quickly take over the role of any other player on the pitch.