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EDITOR PICKS

  • Watch: Carvajal's header delivers killer blow for Madrid in UCL final

  • An introduction to Top Soccer News on theScore ??

  • An introduction to Top Soccer News on theScore ??

  • Real Madrid beat Dortmund to win 15th European Cup

Soccer

Ranking the best Champions League goals of the 21st century (Part I)

As we await the potential return of Champions League football, we’re looking back on the 20 greatest goals scored over the past 20 years in Europe’s premier club competition. Given our 21st century cut-off line, some spectacular strikes, unfortunately, miss out; Lars Ricken’s classy chip, Jean-Pierre Papin’s sweet volley, and arguably the best goal in tournament history, Mauro Bressan’s audacious overhead kick, are out of contention. But the turn of the century has delivered a series of memorable goals to carry the torch.

Honorable mentions: Alessandro Florenzi vs. Barcelona (2015); Marc Overmars vs. Liverpool (2001)

20. Mesut Ozil vs. Ludogorets (2016)

With the caveat that, yes, it was Ludogorets, Mesut Ozil showcased his trademark tranquility on the ball when he left a goalkeeper and two defenders reeling in Bulgaria. The calm demeanor makes it all the more disrespectful.

Mesut Özil’s wonder goal against Ludogorets wins this season’s Champions League Goal of the Tournament!

What a goal! #AFC pic.twitter.com/UMR5AN4L0T

— TheArseneView (@TheArseneView) June 2, 2017

19. Ramires vs. Barcelona (2012)

Ramires? Ramires! There’s something special about spectacular goals coming from unlikely sources, especially in crucial moments. The Brazilian’s triumphant chip against Barcelona in 2012 is an all-timer for Chelsea fans.

Ramires’ goal against Barcelona at the Nou Camp. Special memories. #CFC pic.twitter.com/MPfxvms7f6

— Chelsea FC News (@Chelsea_FL) March 24, 2017

18. Thierry Henry vs. Real Madrid (2006)

Grace. Pace. Poise. Power. This memorable Thierry Henry tally against Real Madrid had it all. The Arsenal icon bounced off of two defenders, dribbled past another, and outran all of them before sliding the ball into the bottom corner.

#OTD in 2006: Arsenal beat Real Madrid 1-0 at the Bernabéu thanks to an exceptional Thierry Henry solo goal. pic.twitter.com/GNXOu4R50X

— Throwback Arsenal (@ThrowbackAFC) February 21, 2020

17. Amantino Mancini vs. Lyon (2007)

This dizzying array of stepovers will leave you seeing stars. Poor Anthony Reveillere is still spinning after Roma’s Amantino Mancini put him in a blender before lashing home one of the tournament’s most satisfying goals.

Lyon v Roma in the #UELdraw…

Reminds us of this cracker from Amantino Mancini in 2007. You can never have enough stepovers: pic.twitter.com/hTLo8dXcmX

— LateTackleMagazine (@LateTackle) February 24, 2017

16. Hugo Almeida vs. Inter Milan (2005)

Hugo Almeida couldn’t have hit this any sweeter. It’s a perfect free-kick, and one of the most audacious in tournament history, too. The sound when the ball smacks the mesh is so damn pleasing.

Who remembers when birthday boy Hugo Almeida did THIS against Inter? ?pic.twitter.com/ITNYtWKRzQ

— Goal (@goal) May 23, 2019

15. Hernan Crespo vs. Liverpool (2005)

Liverpool’s surreal comeback in the 2005 final has largely made this goal a forgotten artifact, but it’s worth celebrating, both for Hernan Crespo’s clever little dink and, more impressively, Kaka’s obscene pass.

Crespo Goal vs Liverpool in 2005. #OldFootyClips pic.twitter.com/IgLHNv2FUw

— Old Footy Clips (@OldFootyClips) March 18, 2020

14. Michael Essien vs. Barcelona (2009)

It was rendered moot by Andres Iniesta’s last-gasp strike, but Michael Essien etched his name on lists like this forever by uncorking a seething volley with his weaker foot. Going bar down is just the cherry on top.

Year – 2009.

Chelsea v Barcelona.

Goalscorer – Michael Essien. (@MichaelEssien) pic.twitter.com/n61YEMIxwS

— EuropeanGoals. (@ThrowbackUefa) September 5, 2019

13. Juninho vs. Bayern Munich (2003)

A true free-kick master. Any number of efforts from dead-ball wizard Juninho Pernambucano could be singled out for praise, but doing this to Oliver Kahn – while making him crash into the post – is quite the feat.

5 Novembre 2003 : bayern 1 OL 2
WHAT A FABULOUS FREE-KICK ! JUNINHO !@Juninhope08 and @OliverKahn pic.twitter.com/Pg7b3AwYPP

— Stephane (@OL_HISTOIRE) November 5, 2016

12. Cristiano Ronaldo vs. FC Porto (2009)

If this ball didn’t hit the back of the net, it would still be traveling. Cristiano Ronaldo, the Champions League’s all-time top scorer, had no business beating the ‘keeper from another area code like that. What a rocket.

?? Cristiano Ronaldo with THAT strike against Porto.

Iconic. ?pic.twitter.com/oaoB9kSicV

— TEAMtalk (@TEAMtalk) April 2, 2020

11. Lionel Messi vs. Bayern Munich (2015)

This will forever be remembered as the day Jerome Boateng ceased to exist as a professional footballer. Lionel Messi, who will appear again on this list, snatched another man’s soul at the Camp Nou. The finish wasn’t bad, either.

?#NesteDia em 2015…

Baile de Lionel Messi deixou Jerome Boateng de rastos ??#UCL | @fcbarcelona_br @FCBayern pic.twitter.com/TgifXGaTAh

— UEFA.com em português (@UEFAcom_pt) May 6, 2019

NFL

Bucs' new uniforms pay homage to glory years

TAMPA, Fla. — The “alarm clock” uniform numbers are no more for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are going back to their roots in 2020 with a new uniform that pays homage to their best years and adds a futuristic twist, the team announced Tuesday.

Allow us to show you the future ?#GoBucs pic.twitter.com/naURTtwkZ3

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) April 7, 2020

They won’t be wearing the “creamsicle” colors from their earliest days — as some fans have called for — but have gone to a look that most closely resembles the threads from their winningest era of football from 1997-2013 and their Super Bowl XXXVII title.

“This new but familiar look is a direct result of the valuable feedback we received from our fans,” Buccaneers owner/co-chairman Ed Glazer said in a statement. “We are excited to return to our classic Super Bowl era uniforms while also introducing a sleek Color Rush uniform that showcases our signature pewter in a new and dramatic way. The refreshed classic design of our home and away combinations bridges our past with our exciting new future, and we are confident it will resonate with our fans.”

The Bucs spent two years creating their previous uniforms, which they unveiled in 2014, but they were never a hit with the fanbase, who complained that they were “too busy” and that the numbers were too difficult to read.

The Buccaneers unveiled new uniforms that pay homage to their best years. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL rules mandate that uniforms can only be changed every five years though. Wearing the previous uniforms until 2019, the Bucs went 34-62 (.354), third-worst in the NFL, and did not reach the postseason.

From 1976 to 1996, the Bucs wore orange and white “creamsicle” uniforms with red trim and a winking pirate known as “Bucco Bruce.” Then in 1997, under their current ownership — the Glazer family — the Bucs unveiled a totally new color scheme that featured red, black, white and pewter and replaced Bucco Bruce with a menacing skull and swords logo. They kept that look for 17 years, going 133-139 and 5-6 in the postseason.

There are differences between the new uniforms and those from the Super Bowl era, though. The fit of the jersey and pants are sleeker with less sheen and more of a matte finish. And they have three different color combos instead of two — red, white and an all-pewter uniform for Color Rush games. They had previously worn all red for Color Rush games.

Their pewter helmet with the oversized logo that made its debut in 2014 will remain, but instead of chrome will have a black face mask.

The Buccaneers made the decision to change uniforms before

Soccer

U.S. prosecutors: FIFA execs took bribes for Russia, Qatar World Cup votes

Several FIFA executives received bribes for voting in favor of Russia and Qatar as respective hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, federal prosecutors alleged in an indictment unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn.

According to documents obtained by Ronald Blum of The Associated Press, the former vice president of FIFA and president of CONCACAF, Jack Warner, received approximately $5 million to vote for Russia’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

Warner received more than two dozen separate money transfers from 10 shell companies, several of which were based in the U.S. and “performed work on behalf of the 2018 Russia World Cup bid,” according to the documents.

Warner hasn’t held office with FIFA since May 2011 after the organization’s ethics committee provisionally suspended him and Mohammed bin Hammam for corruption allegations. FIFA announced Warner’s resignation from all football-related posts in June 2011.

Additionally, prosecutors on Monday charged two former 21st Century Fox Inc. executives, Hernan Lopez and Carlos Martinez, for allegedly paying CONMEBOL officials to obtain information on the bidding for broadcasting rights from an unnamed co-conspirator.

ESPN held the United States’ English-language broadcasting rights for the World Cup from 1994-2014, but FOX won a bid in 2011 to broadcast the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

The indictment unsealed Monday also alleges that Rafael Salguero, a Guatemalan former member of the FIFA executive committee, was promised $1 million in exchange for a vote in support of Russia.

It is also alleged that Ricardo Teixeira, the former president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Nicolas Leoz, the late former South American football federation (CONMEBOL) president, and one unnamed individual all received bribes to vote in favor of Qatar as host of the 2022 World Cup.

In 2017, Alejandro Burzaco, the former head of Argentine marketing company Torneos y Competencias, testified that all three South American individuals on FIFA’s 22-person executive committee took million-dollar bribes to support Qatar.

Qatari officials “strongly” denied allegations of wrongdoing on Tuesday.

“Despite years of false claims, evidence has never been produced to demonstrate that Qatar won the rights to host the (World Cup) unethically or by means that contravened FIFA’s strict bidding rules,” read a statement from Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy.

There have been 26 known guilty pleas since the initial indictments stemming from a massive corruption investigation were first announced in 2015. Late ex-CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer was among those who pled guilty, while former CONMEBOL chief Juan Angel Napout and CBF president Jose Maria Marin were both convicted.

NFL

McShay's All-Satellite team: The NFL draft's best playmakers in space

You’ve all heard about the ridiculous talent in the 2020 NFL draft’s wide receiver class, and the running back class has plenty of playmakers too. But when we are talking about ability in the open space on the field, a few prospects stand out as extremely dangerous weapons for any offense.

That brings us to my 2020 All-Satellite team, featuring a handful of elite playmakers who will be drafted on Days 1 and 2 at the end of the month. This year marks the 11th edition of the list, dating back to C.J. Spiller and the 2010 class. It has included the likes of Odell Beckham Jr., Brandin Cooks, Christian McCaffrey, Lamar Jackson and Tyler Lockett. Most recently, Marquise Brown and Kyler Murray headlined last season’s team.

Each name on this year’s list could teach us all a little something about social distancing — they find open space and turn it into chunk plays. Here is my All-Satellite team for 2020, starting with a speedy receiver out of Alabama.

2 Related

Man, this was a tight race for the No. 1 spot on the list.

play

1:04

Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III is called the fastest player in the 2020 draft class by Todd McShay, and he’s ready to bring it in the NFL.

If it weren’t for the jet-engine speed of Ruggs, Oklahoma receivers would have taken the top spot on this list in back-to-back years (Brown). And it wasn’t easy putting one over the other here. Lamb ran a solid-but-not-eye-popping 4.50 in the 40 in Indianapolis, but when you watch his tape you see plenty of speed and instant acceleration in his game. In fact, his 1.46-second 10-yard split was the second-best number behind Ruggs. But even without the stopwatches, you see that acceleration on tape. He gets up and goes off the line. His 26 catches for at least 20 yards were No. 2 in the nation last season behind only LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase, another potential future member of this list.

Lamb excels in finding soft spots in zone coverage and has great hands to go make the catch. But it’s all about the YAC with Lamb. No receiver in this year’s draft class forced as many missed tackles as Lamb did. His ability to stop and start, along with good size, wheels and instincts, helped him post 11.1 yards after the catch in 2019, among the best in the nation.

play

1:10

Oklahoma wideout CeeDee Lamb can play both slot and outside and is considered one of the most evasive offensive players in the 2020 NFL draft.

Aiyuk matched Lamb’s 4.50 in the 40-yard dash, which again is a very solid time, but his game is more about fantastic vision and feel with the ball in his hands. In 2019, he averaged 18.3 yards per catch, 16.1 yards per punt return and 29.7 yards per kickoff return. And his average of 10.5 yards after the catch was in the top 10 in the country among wide receivers.

The Arizona State wideout can make defenders miss and break tackles after the catch. The speed is there to challenge defenses vertically, and he certainly has plenty of explosion in his game — he posted a very good 40-inch vertical jump at the combine. Aiyuk had nine catches go for at least 40 yards in 2019, tied for fifth most in the FBS.

play

1:25

Jayden Daniels connects with Brandon Aiyuk down the sideline for an 81-yard touchdown.

You just don’t see running backs average north of 2,000 yards rushing over three full college seasons, so it’s no surprise to see Taylor make this list. He isn’t the shiftiest of backs, but the speed is real, and the acceleration matches that of some of the elite wide receivers. Taylor’s 4.39-second time in the 40 was the best among running backs this year, and the third fastest among running backs listed at a minimum 225 pounds at the combine since 2006 (Knile Davis and Mario Fannin). And his 1.46 10-yard split was the same as Lamb’s. Taylor absolutely flies if he gets a crease.

I really like his patience, vision and burst. A sudden runner, Taylor shows the ability to make sharp cuts on the move and string together multiple dekes in tight spaces. And in the open field, it’s lights out thanks to his breakaway speed. Sure, he has fumbling issues and some concerns in pass protection, but neither matters when we are strictly talking about game-breaking ability out in the open. And Taylor has that.

play

1:57

Jonathan Taylor catches two touchdown passes and runs for two more as Wisconsin rolls past South Florida.

Honorable mentions

TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor is super quick, will make guys miss and can break tackles after the catch. The vertical speed is definitely there, even though he didn’t scorch in the 40 at the combine as we thought he might (4.47), and he likely will develop above-average separation ability.

KJ Hamler, a wide receiver out of Penn State, also just missed the list. He plays with great burst, and his top-end speed will make him a threat in multiple facets of the game.

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Soccer

  • Watch: Carvajal's header delivers killer blow for Madrid in UCL final

  • An introduction to Top Soccer News on theScore ??

  • An introduction to Top Soccer News on theScore ??

  • Real Madrid beat Dortmund to win 15th European Cup

  • Police arrest dozens of ticket-less fans at Wembley final

  • Dortmund boss Terzic lauds 'brilliant' Sancho after UCL defeat

  • Modric, Kroos among Madrid stars to make history with latest UCL triumph

  • Madrid's inevitability is a superpower no rival can match

  • Transfer window preview: 50 players who could move this summer

  • Vinicius Jr. named Champions League Player of the Season

“If you think about it, I've never held a job in my life. I went from being an NFL player to a coach to a broadcaster. I haven't worked a day in my life.”
-John Madden


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