defector-orange-no-empty-space

lede_post_card_default

lede_post_card_stacked

lede_post_card_featured_post

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero

lede_post_card_featured_posts_sidebar

lede_post_card_highlighted_post

lede_post_card_horizontal_a

lede_post_card_horizontal_c

lede_post_card_related_post

lede_article_featured_16x9

lede_article_featured_3x2

lede_article_featured_flexible

lede_article_content

lede_article_content_wide_width

lede_article_content_full_width

lede_byline_avatar_post_card

lede_byline_avatar_highlight

lede_profile_coral_avatar

lede_logo

lede_logo_banner

lede_logo_footer_banner

lede_logo_simple_header

lede_sponsorship_logo

lede_sponsorship_logo_river_card

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card_logo

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card

Footer Legal

Header - Categories

Header Menu

The last good website.

Topics

This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

defector-no-empty-space

Defector

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On May 16

10-minute-quarters-3-2-fix (1)

Live Event

bh def prof pic

Billy Haisley

Barcelona's Dutch coach Ronald Koeman stands on the pitch before the start of the Spanish League football match between Rayo Vallecano de Madrid and FC Barcelona at the Vallecas stadium in Madrid on October 27, 2021.

FBL-ESP-LIGA-RAYO VALLECANO-BARCELONA

Soccer

Barcelona Has Hit The Reset Button

Real Madrid's Austrian defender David Alaba celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Spanish League football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on October 24, 2021.

FBL-ESP-LIGA-BARCELONA-REAL MADRID

Real Madrid Beat Barcelona In The Least Classic Clásico In Ages

Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United celebrates after scoring their side's third goal during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Manchester United and Atalanta at Old Trafford on October 20, 2021 in Manchester, England.

Manchester United v Atalanta: Group F – UEFA Champions League

Cristiano Ronaldo Has Returned, And The Clock Is Ticking

Trevoh Chalobah of Chelsea clears the ball off the line to prevent a goal during the Premier League match between Brentford and Chelsea at Brentford Community Stadium on October 16, 2021 in Brentford, England.

Brentford v Chelsea – Premier League

Brentford Can Win Even When It Loses

Manchester City's English midfielder Phil Foden (C) scores his team's equalisier during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, northwest England, on October 3, 2021.

FBL-ENG-PR-LIVERPOOL-MAN CITY

It Doesn’t Get Better Than Liverpool And Manchester City

Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi, Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar and Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe celebrate at the end of the UEFA Champions League first round group A football match between Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) and Manchester City at The Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on September 28, 2021.

TOPSHOT-FBL-EUR-C1-PSG-MAN CITY

PSG Is A Work In Progress

Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Ansu Fati (TOP) celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Spanish League football match between FC Barcelona and Levante UD at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on September 26, 2021.

FBL-ESP-LIGA-BARCELONA-LEVANTE

Ansu Fati Is Renewing The Faith

Trevoh Chalobah of Chelsea celebrates with teammate Cesar Azpilicueta after scoring their side's third goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on August 14, 2021 in London, England.

Chelsea v Crystal Palace – Premier League

Fans Make It All So Much Better

Paris Saint-Germain's Qatari President Nasser Al-Khelaifi (L) and Paris Saint-Germain's Sporting Director Leonardo Nascimento de Araujo (R) pose along side Argentinian football player Lionel Messi (C) as he holds-up his number 30 shirt during a press conference at the French football club Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on August 11, 2021. - The 34-year-old superstar signed a two-year deal with PSG on August 10, 2021, with the option of an additional year, he will wear the number 30 in Paris, the number he had when he began his professional career at Spain's Barca football club.

FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-PSG-MESSI-PRESSER

A Thing Of Beauty Is A Joy Forever, My Man John Keats Said That

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona shows his dejection during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona and RC Celta at Camp Nou on May 16, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors.

FC Barcelona v RC Celta – La Liga Santander

Lionel Messi Is No Longer Barcelona’s

Crystal Dunn #2, Rose Lavelle #16, Christen Press #11, Megan Rapinoe #15 and Alex Morgan #13 of Team United States celebrate following their team's victory in the penalty shoot out after the Women's Quarter Final match between Netherlands and United States on day seven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at International Stadium Yokohama on July 30, 2021 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.

Netherlands v United States: Women’s Football Quarterfinal – Olympics: Day 7

Olympics

The USWNT Struggled, Scrapped, And Survived

Italy's defender Giorgio Chiellini raises the European Championship trophy during the presentation after Italy won the UEFA EURO 2020 final football match between Italy and England at the Wembley Stadium in London on July 11, 2021.

FBL-EURO-2020-2021-MATCH51-ITA-ENG-TROPHY

Italy Deserved It

Harry Kane of England is congratulated by Phil Foden after scoring the second goal during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Semi-final match between England and Denmark at Wembley Stadium on July 07, 2021 in London, England.

England v Denmark  – UEFA Euro 2020: Semi-final

There’s Still Time For England To Do More Than Win

England's forward Raheem Sterling (L) celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA EURO 2020 round of 16 football match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium in London on June 29, 2021.

TOPSHOT-FBL-EURO-2020-2021-MATCH44-ENG-GER

Football Has Loaded Up The Car, Typed The Address Into The GPS, And Lads: It’s Coming Home

Spain's players celebrate their fifth goal during the UEFA EURO 2020 round of 16 football match between Croatia and Spain at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on June 28, 2021.

TOPSHOT-FBL-EURO-2020-2021-MATCH42-CRO-ESP

Spain Has Nothing Left To Fear

Belgium's forward Romelu Lukaku scores past Finland's goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group B football match between Finland and Belgium at Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on June 21, 2021.

FBL-EURO-2020-2021-MATCH28-FIN-BEL

Romelu Lukaku Can See The Future

Image of trathlete mere feet from the finish line, moments before getting beat.

Screen Shot 2021-06-20 at 6.40.01 PM

Life's Rich Pageant

Listen To This Spanish Lady Roast A Triathlete For Blowing A Race

Germany's defender Robin Gosens (L) heads the ball to score their fourth goal during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group F football match between Portugal and Germany at Allianz Arena in Munich on June 19, 2021.

FBL-EURO-2020-2021-MATCH24-POR-GER

Internationals

Robin Gosens Beheaded Portugal, But Portugal Bared Its Own Neck

Belgium's midfielder Kevin De Bruyne celebrates scoring the team's second goal during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group B football match between Denmark and Belgium at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on June 17, 2021.

FBL-EURO-2020-2021-MATCH16-DEN-BEL

The Belgians Are A Bunch Of Surgeons

Aleksei Miranchuk of Russia celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group B match between Finland and Russia at Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Finland v Russia – UEFA Euro 2020: Group B

Russia’s Spectacular Team Goal Caps Delectably Attack-Heavy Match

France's forward Kylian Mbappe celebrates after their win in the UEFA EURO 2020 Group F football match between France and Germany at the Allianz Arena in Munich on June 15, 2021.

FBL-EURO-2020-2021-MATCH12-FRA-GER

France Is What Happens When An Immovable Object Is Also An Unstoppable Force

Netherlands' defender Denzel Dumfries (R) celebrates after scoring the third goal during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group C football match between the Netherlands and Ukraine at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam on June 13, 2021.

FBL-EURO-2020-2021-MATCH05-NED-UKR

You Don’t Always Have To Be Good In Order To Be Great

A shirtless Christian Pulisic celebrates his badass, game-winning penalty goal with his USMNT teammates.

xtian-2

Even At Its Worst, Soccer Is Still The Fucking Best

Screen Shot 2021-06-06 at 1.29.37 PM

Goalkeeper Suffers Ultimate Humiliation When Chipped From The Halfway Line

Jon Rahm of Spain reacts as he walks off the 18th green after completing his third round of The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 05, 2021 in Dublin, Ohio.