Off the Pitch

The18 and National Peanut Board’s ‘Sleeper Strikers’ unveiled! Behold the winners of The 2025 Fuel Zone

This fall The18 and the National Peanut Board toured six different college campuses to present students with exciting soccer challenges and celebrate the role peanuts play in fueling performance and recovery.

The Fuel Zone challenged students with soccer darts as well as vert jump. The goal was to find which campus had all the makings of a quality striker. Two events, all comers, highest aggregate score wins. Check out what happened.

Fuel Zone Tour 2025

Here’s what happened on Lionel Messi’s surprise midnight visit to Camp Nou

Lionel Messi shocked his fans over the weekend when he made a secret trip to Barcelona and posted a photo of himself in the club’s Camp Nou stadium. The Messi Barcelona trip wasn’t on anyone’s radar, not even the club’s, as the Inter Miami star visited the place he called home for decades.

Following his brace on Saturday during Inter Miami’s 4-0 playoff victory vs. Nashville SC, Messi and Rodrigo de Paul took a brief trip to Barcelona to see the progress on the Camp Nou which has been under construction for three years.

Watch: Lionel Messi’s finishing skills have clearly rubbed off on his bodyguard Yassine Cheuko

An incredible Lionel Messi bodyguard goal has gone viral as the Inter Miami star’s personal security man shared a video of his finishing abilities.

Cheuko posted the clip of his outside-the-box volley to his Instagram. We’re still trying to determine if the finish or the celebration is better.

Lionel Messi bodyguard goal

Lamine Yamal’s father calls 2025 Ballon d’Or ‘biggest moral damage done to a human being’

Ousmane Dembélé winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or didn’t sit right with everyone with the father of runner-up Lamine Yamal being one of the most vocal.

Mounir Nasraou, Yamal’s father, was irate that his 18-year-old son didn’t become the award’s youngest winner in history on Monday. Nasraou went as far as to say that Yamal not winning the award was incredibly disrespectful.

Lamine Yamal father reaction to Ballon d’Or

Nasraou didn’t want to say that Dembélé’s triumph was a robbery, but he may as well have said it with his fiery tirade about the 2025 award.

Cristiano Ronaldo earns ‘Best of All Time’ award from Liga Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo has a new piece of silverware to add to his gargantuan trophy cabinet as Liga Portugal named him the “Best of All Time” on Wednesday.

The GOAT debate between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi continues to rage on as the two superstars show no signs of slowing, however Liga Portugal have made their decision on the greatest.

Ronaldo’s home country unsurprisingly backed their greatest-ever play and highest international goal scorer in history as the “Best of All Time.”

Cristiano Ronaldo Best of All Time award

NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani TORCHES FIFA over dynamic pricing

Ticket sales for the 2026 FIFA World Cup officially began on Wednesday with VISA cardholders able to apply for a chance to purchase tickets. There’s plenty of controversy around the sales process and New York City mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani is taking a firm stand.

One of the chief complaints about FIFA’s World Cup tickets is the “dynamic pricing” set to be implemented. While FIFA were proud to announce that fans could attend group stage games for as low as $60, that number could change based on demand.

Iconic broadcaster Ray Hudson announces his retirement, a look back at some of his best calls

One of the world’s most unique and outgoing soccer broadcasters is hanging up the headset. The incredible Ray Hudson announced on Tuesday that he will retire from calling games.

Hudson’s passion for the game was unmatched when in the broadcast booth. If you even say the word “magisterial” to a soccer fan, their brain will go immediately to Hudson calling a Lionel Messi goal.

At 70 years old Hudson has decided it’s time for him to call it a career. And what a 23-year broadcasting career it was.

Ray Hudson retires

Tim Howard on Luis Suárez: ‘How has this guy not had his nose rearranged?’

As of Thursday, Sept. 4, Major League Soccer has yet to announce a punishment for Luis Suárez after he spat in the face of a Seattle Sounders security member following the Leagues Cup final on Sunday.

A Tim Howard Luis Suárez podcast clip saw the American inquire about why the Uruguayan hasn’t faced a more immediate… and physical consequences for his litany of shocking moments on the field.

USWNT star Sophia Wilson reveals first photo of her new baby

United States women’s national team and Portland Thorns star forward Sophia Wilson announced the birth of her baby girl along with her husband Michael Wilson, who plays as a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals.

Sophia and Michael announced in March that they were expecting their first child with the USWNT star sharing a first photo of their newborn on her Instagram story Tuesday.

Sophia Wilson baby photo

2026 World Cup ticket prices: ‘Starting at around $60,' reports suggest

UPDATE: FIFA announced on Wednesday that starting prices for group stage tickets will be $60. It was also announced that the most expensive ticket for the final will be priced at $6,730.

It's important to note that FIFA will be implementing dynamic pricing, meaning the prices could change based on demand.

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