fifa

The ins and outs of the international football association; the most recent news and coverage in the FIFA universe.

The Vinícius Dilemma: Real Madrid’s Left Flank No Longer Belongs to One Man
1. Comparing Vinícius and Mbappé by goals misses the point Vinícius Júnior has never been a pure finisher. In the second leg of the 2022 Champions League tie against Manchester City, he carried the ball forward on the left, drew fouls, and dragged the match into the messy rhythm Real Madrid wanted. He did not score that night. Real Madrid turned the tie around because he could take the ball under pressure and solve the next problem. The 2024 semi-final against Bayern followed a similar pattern: a one-on-one burst on the left, two or three defenders pulled toward him, space opening in the middle.
By Jin3 days ago in Cleats
Everyone Said the Jiangsu Super League Was Over. Then 62,356 People Showed Up.
The second Jiangsu Super League ended with Wuxi beating Changzhou 2-1. After the final, discussion online focused on a sharp drop in traffic. On some platforms, viewership fell by 70 percent compared with last year’s meme-driven peak. People asked whether the league had passed its prime.
By Jin11 days ago in Cleats
€1 a Vote: How the “Greatest of All Time” Award Became a Fan Wallet Contest
Maya opened the voting page at 11:40 p.m. with a cold cup of tea beside her keyboard. The page said BOAT, Ballon d’Or of All Time. Gold letters. A ribbon for the 70th anniversary. A timer. A button marked VOTE, and under it, small print: 1 EUR per vote. No limit.
By Jin14 days ago in Cleats
The LPL Didn’t Get Better. It Got Worse.
I watched late into the night and could not sleep. This bad feeling did not start today. From the first split of the year, something about LPL matches felt off. Games looked close. The camera cut around. There were plenty of kills, lively teamfights, and a busy chat. After enough matches, the pattern became clear. The closeness was not weak teams getting stronger. It was top teams losing their grip. Many games were messy brawls: unclear draft flexibility, early tempo that depended on the opponent handing things over, mid-game macro trades going back and forth, and late teamfights where whoever screwed up first lost. The games were lively. The competitive strength was thin.
By Jin20 days ago in Cleats
He Had Every Reason to Walk Away. He Signed Until 2030.
On the 2026 World Cup coaching salary table, Scaloni ranks 14th among 48 national-team managers. €2.3 million. Ahead of him is Canada's Jesse Marsch. Behind him, Mexico's Aguirre. A man with a World Cup, two Copa Américas and a World Cup runners-up medal earns less than the Canada coach.
By Jin22 days ago in Cleats
Ronaldo Suspended 30 Days and Fined After Portugal Walkout
Cristiano Ronaldo's international career has taken another dramatic turn following an official ruling from the Portuguese Football Federation. Contrary to initial reports claiming the legendary forward had permanently retired from international football, Ronaldo remains an active member of the national setup, though he must now serve a formal disciplinary punishment.
By Dadson Wanjohi 24 days ago in Cleats
Portugal Fined Ronaldo €255. He Missed Zero Games.
The Portuguese Football Federation’s Disciplinary Council spent 28 pages arguing that Cristiano Ronaldo should be punished. It then issued a 30-day suspension and a €255 fine. The numbers look serious. Applied to Ronaldo, they did almost nothing.
By Jin25 days ago in Cleats
Thomas Müller Won Everything Except the Award That Defines a Superstar
1. 756 appearances, 250 goals, 276 assists Those are Thomas Müller’s numbers at Bayern Munich. The assist total sits 26 above the goals total. For a player first sold as a scorer, that gap did not appear early. It opened after his late twenties. In 2015-16 he scored 20 Bundesliga goals. In 2016-17 he scored five. From then on, his assists usually ran ahead of his goals.
By Jin27 days ago in Cleats
Manchester United’s 1-1 Draw With Tottenham Was the Same Disaster in a New Costume
First half: a rout torn open by data In the fourth minute, Tonali collected the ball near the center circle, lifted his head, and slid a pass forward. Solanke timed his run perfectly, beat the offside trap, and went clean through. Lammens rushed out. Solanke lifted the ball over him, and over the crossbar.
By Jinabout a month ago in Cleats
Cristiano Ronaldo asked to be punished. That is not the whole story.
On September 27, 2026, at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Portugal played Norway in the Nations League group stage. In the 60th minute, Ronaldo left the bench and began to warm up. He ran for seven or eight minutes. He did a few sprints. Then he stood near the fourth official. The night was cold, under ten degrees. He wore a long-sleeved training top. His breath showed in the floodlights.
By Jinabout a month ago in Cleats
Wales's Injury Crisis Couldn't Come at a Worse Time
The Wales national football team enters an incredibly testing stretch in its UEFA Nations League campaign. Facing a combination of poor recent form and a rapidly swelling treatment room, manager Craig Bellamy must quickly find tactical answers ahead of a crucial fixture against Norway at Cardiff City Stadium.
By Dadson Wanjohi about a month ago in Cleats
Scotland's New Era Is Off to a Rough Start Under Pocognoli
The Scotland national football team has officially entered a period of major structural transition. Following the departure of long serving manager Steve Clarke, the Scottish Football Association turned to Belgian coach Sébastien Pocognoli to lead the national team into its next chapter.
By Dadson Wanjohi about a month ago in Cleats