Mario Balotelli

Watch all 11 Puskás Award finalists right here, right now

I don't mean to brag, I don't mean to boast, but if you've been following The18 for the past year then you've already seen all 11 FIFA Puskas Award nominees. We have exquisite taste like that. 

But in case you can't remember the strikes — arriving as early as Apr. 2 and as late as Kylian Mbappé's side-volley against Argentina in the World Cup final on Dec. 18 — here's a trip down memory lane with videos that you can watch right here, right now. I've also included a link to what The18 said at the time.

What Are The Best Football Boots For Strikers?

What are the Top Cleats For Your Position? In this video, we rank the Best Boots for Strikers, show positives and negatives and which professional players wear them. We cover classics like the Nike Vapor, football newcomers like the Phantom GT and Adidas X and hidden gems like the Puma Ultra. Which one is going to be crowned our best football boot for strikers? 

Nike Mercurial Superfly

Soft upper out of the box

Synthetic multi-layer upper “vaportised”

Decent foot lockdown

Stiff and responsive outsole

Nike Phantom GT

7 Stepovers And A Rabona — Mario Balotelli What Have You Done?!

Mario Balotelli went off on the final day of the Turkish Super Lig on Sunday. The Italian scored five goals, but it was the final Balotelli goal vs Goztepe that set the internet on fire.

Balotelli’s Adana Demirspor crushed relegated Goztepe 7-0 on Sunday in a match that meant little for either side. Demirspor was stuck in mid-table regardless of the outcome, and Goztepe had long since been relegated.

That didn’t stop the home side from putting on a show, especially Balotelli, who had a hat trick by halftime.

Mario Balotelli Returns To Italy National Team Ahead Of Vital World Cup Qualifiers

ROME — Mario Balotelli was named in the Italy squad for the first time since 2018 on Monday, as the Adana Demirspor striker joined seven uncapped players in Roberto Mancini's 35-man training camp selection.

Balotelli, who worked under Azzurri coach Mancini earlier in his career at Inter Milan and Manchester City, has not featured for the national team since September 2018.

But the 31-year-old earned a recall for this week's three-day training camp after scoring eight goals in 18 league games to fire Adana Demirspor to fourth place in the Turkish Super Lig.

Mario Balotelli Scores One Of The Best Goals Of His Career And Shrugs His Shoulders

It's been four days since Mario Balotelli last graced our pages after kicking a teammate in the head during a goal celebration. That's always one side to the 31-year-old striker's game, but the other is scoring outrageous goals.

Mario Balotelli Becomes First Player Ever To Foul The Tactical Fouler

As José Mourinho once explained, Mario Balotelli occasionally starts playing his own game with its own set of rules out on the pitch.

In the 62nd minute of Friday’s Süper Lig encounter between Balotelli’s Adana Demirspor and home side Antalyaspor, the 31-year-old striker sprinted through the midfield on a counter attack that was quickly looking like a three-on-two for the visitors. With the score level at 1-1, this represented a huge moment for Adana Demirspor.

From Showering In Champagne To Showering In Tears, Here Are The Best Euro Final Reactions

Following the Euro 2020 final where Italy narrowly defeated England on penalties, both sides displayed the true highs and lows of soccer.

Italians were put on top of the world as they secured just their second-ever European Championship and first since 1968. From their fans pouring onto the streets and erupting in joy to Italy’s team stripping down to tighty whities, Italians made sure to properly celebrate the moment.

But the spectrum of reactions following the Euro 2020 final from both squads and their fans couldn't have been further apart.

Balotelli Signs For Fifth Club In Past Three Years In His Transformation To Pure Journeyman

Mario Balotelli. Now that’s a name I’ve not heard in a long time. A long time. The Italian striker who dazzled the world a decade ago has drifted into an abyss of irrelevancy. So, where is Balotelli now? The 30-year-old signed a new contract that will see him playing in Turkey for the 2021-22 season.

Super Mario Returns, Scores Goal With First Touch In New League

The mercurial Mario Balotelli needed just four minutes to get off the mark for new club Monza against Salernitana on Wednesday in Italy's Serie B. 

Balotelli had been without a club since the summer, when his contract with Brescia was terminated as a result of several missed training sessions. Serie B side Monza swept in to offer the forward a deal until the end of the season in early December. Monza is owned by Silvio Berlusconi, who previously owned AC Milan where Balotelli enjoyed some of the strongest spells of his up-and-down career. 

Soccer Players With The Craziest Pets

During the coronavirus pandemic, many people have had to turn to their pets for social interactions. Felines and dogs make great stay-at-home buddies for playing and taking snoozes together. 

Plenty of professional soccer players like Alex Morgan, Cristiano Ronaldo and Rose Lavelle all have pet dogs to keep them company. Players like Robin Van Persie, Kevin De Bruyne and Adrianna Franch are on team cats. Some players go for the bizarre with their pets.

Here is a list of soccer players with the craziest pets.

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