Spain

NEW STARBOY — USMNT’s Johnny Cardoso has Real Betis fans going crazy over latest performances

Johnny is off to an impressive start with his new club in Spain and his most recent performances have made fans go crazy for the USMNT midfielder.

Playing his whole career in the Brasileirao, Johnny’s big-break transfer to Europe seemed like a big jump in competition level, subject to months of adaptation to a new league, new language and new country.

Madrid’s iconic Santiago Bernabéu set to host regular season NFL game in 2025

Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu will host a National Football League (NFL) game in 2025, the league said on Friday, marking the first-ever regular season game played in Spain.

A total of 50 regular season NFL games have been played internationally so far, with Madrid becoming the fourth European city to host one after London, Munich and Frankfurt.

Real Madrid NFL game

Dear fans, please don’t finger players in the bum during throw-ins

Sevilla’s Lucas Ocampos was the victim of a fan poking him in the butt inappropriately during Monday’s LaLiga game between Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano.

In the first half a young Rayo Vallecano supporter crossed the line when he was seen putting his finger in Ocampos’ backside. Ocampos immediately turned around and informed the referee of the fan’s gross act.

Ocampos finger incident

LaLiga hiring a lip reader to see if Jude Bellingham called Mason Greenwood a rapist

A viral video during Real Madrid’s 2-0 win vs. Getafe on Thursday appears to show superstar Jude Bellingham calling Mason Greenwood “rapist” during the game.

LaLiga said on Friday that the league is looking into the incident after Getafe filed a complaint.

The two English players were battling for possession near the sideline. When the ball went out of play the cameras zoomed in on Bellingham’s face where he clearly says something. The lip readers of the internet believe he said “rapist” while looking in Greenwood’s direction.

NWSL expansion team Bay FC sign Barcelona and Nigeria superstar Asisat Oshoala

The greatest African women’s soccer player is coming to play in the NWSL. Six-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala will join new expansion side Bay FC for the 2024 season.

Oshoala has spent the last five years with the mighty Barcelona Femení where she’s been unstoppable. In her time with Barcelona she won 14 trophies and scored 117 goals in 162 appearances. She became the first African women’s player to win the UEFA Champions League.

Bay FC have signed themselves a superstar.

Bay FC Oshoala signing

FIFA reveals that clubs spent nearly $10 billion on transfers in 2023

DOHA — Clubs worldwide spent a record $9.63 billion on international transfers in 2023, an increase of nearly 50% compared to 2022, world soccer's governing body FIFA said in its Global Transfer Report published on Tuesday.

After transfer spending fell in 2020 and 2021 due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, outlays on players have only increased, with last year's total spend seeing an increase of 48.1% compared to 2022.

FIFA dismisses Luis Rubiales appeal against three-year ban over World Cup kiss

World soccer governing body FIFA's appeal committee confirmed on Friday its three-year ban on Luis Rubiales after dismissing an appeal by the former head of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

Rubiales was banned for three years from all football-related activities on Oct. 30 after kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips, allegedly without consent, following Spain's Women's World Cup final win over England in August.

USMNT's Johnny Cardoso has impressive LaLiga debut in heart-breaking loss vs. Barcelona

Johnny Cardoso had a solid debut performance for Real Betis in their 4-2 LaLiga loss against FC Barcelona this Sunday at the Estadio Villamarín.

The 22-year-old American was included in the Seville club’s starting XI without any prior minutes on the pitch for Betis since signing for the club last December.

Real Madrid and VAR mount crazy comeback against bottom of LaLiga Almería

MADRID — A Dani Carvajal strike in the ninth-minute of stoppage time rescued Real Madrid, earning them a 3-2 comeback win at home against bottom side Almeria on Sunday in a frantic LaLiga tussle that was marked by VAR controversy.

Real climbed to the top of the LaLiga standings on 51 points, two ahead Girona who host Sevilla later on Sunday.

Watch: USMNT midfielder Luca de la Torre scores stunning backheel goal in Copa del Rey

United States men’s national team midfielder Luca de la Torre scored his first goal of the 2023-24 season in style on Wednesday with a disgusting backheel goal.

De la Torre opened the scoring of Celta Vigo’s 3-1 Copa del Rey victory vs. Valencia in the 13th minute off a corner kick.

Valencia goalkeeper Jaume Doménech failed to punch the ball out of his box and some quick pinball action inside the 18-yard-box resulted in the ball heading straight for the 25-year-old American.

De la Torre only had a second to react and he turned the chance into an amazing goal.

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