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Luis Paez-Pumar

Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Declan Rice during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between Real Madrid C.F. and Arsenal FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 16, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.

Arsenal Was Perfect When It Had To Be

Italian goalkeeper #01 Gianluigi Donnarumma saves a shot from Aston Villa's English striker #09 Marcus Rashford during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second-leg football match between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on April 15, 2025.

Paris Saint-Germain Escaped Its Past, For Now

Tottenham Hotspur's Greek-Australian Head Coach Ange Postecoglou gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on April 13, 2025.

Tottenham Has One Last Chance To Avert Disaster

Patrick Redford

Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce during the Adobe Women's FA Cup semi-final match at the Joie Stadium, Manchester. Picture date: Saturday April 12, 2025. (Photo by Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images)

Phallon Tullis-Joyce Makes Her Case As The USWNT Holds First Keeper Tryout In 30 Years

Billy Haisley

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne (centre left) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game from a free-kick during the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester.

Kevin De Bruyne Has One More Job

Desire Doue of Paris Saint-Germain salutes the fans as he exits the match during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa FC at Parc des Princes on April 09, 2025 in Paris, France.

Désiré Doué Is The Coolest Of The Cool

Mikel Merino of Arsenal celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 3-0 during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between Arsenal FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Arsenal Stadium on April 8, 2025 in London, England.

Arsenal Stepped On Real Madrid’s Neck

Arsenal striker Alessia Russo celebrates during the UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter Finals Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and Real Madrid CF on March 26, 2025 in London, England.

Alessia Russo Smashed The Real Madrid Pumpkin

Ray Ratto

A screenshot from the Boston Legacy's website, black letters on a green background reading "It's a great day to start a new legacy. Boston Legacy FC."

From The Group That Brought You BOS Nation, It’s An Even Worse Team Name

Caroline Weir scores during the match between FC Barcelona Women and Real Madrid CF Women in week 23 of the Liga F, played at the Olympic Stadium Lluis Companys in Barcelona, Spain, on March 23, 2025.

Real Madrid Is Finally Becoming Real Madrid

Tom Ley

Lauren James #10 of Chelsea F.C. women crosses the ball during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, on March 23, 2025.

Chelsea And Manchester City Are Delivering The Goods

<p>Lesley Ryder is a writer and a host covering the Chicago Red Stars. She co-created <a href="https://galpalsports.com/">Gal Pal Sports</a>, a platform that lives to make women’s sports fun for everyone.</p>


Lesley Ryder

Detail of the Bedazzled NWSL ball prior to the NWSL match between Angel City FC and San Diego Wave at BMO Stadium on March 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

NWSL Soccer Is Back, But The Scandals Haven’t Gone Away

Alexander Isak of Newcastle United F.C. celebrate with fans after scoring the second goal during the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England.

Newcastle Exposed The Cracks In Liverpool’s Armor

Real Madrid players celebrate at the end of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second-leg match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain on March 12, 2025. Real Madrid won in a penalty shootout.

Real Madrid Is A Monster, And Every Derby Is Halloween

Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between FC Barcelona and SL Benfica at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on March 11, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.

Lamine Yamal Wows On Accident And On Purpose

Jan Paul van Hecke of Brighton &amp; Hove Albion celebrates after he scored his side's first goal for 1-1 during the Premier League match between Brighton &amp; Hove Albion FC and Fulham FC at Amex Stadium on March 8, 2025 in Brighton, England.

The Premier League’s Tightest Race Is For Fifth Place

Liverpool's Brazilian goalkeeper #01 Alisson (C) dives to punch the ball during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) and Liverpool (ENG) at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on March 5, 2025.

Liverpool Pulled Off The Heist Of The Season

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

USA's forward #9 Ally Sentnor celebrates scoring her team's first goal during the SheBelieves Cup football match between USA and Japan at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, on February 26, 2025.

Emma Hayes Shows Us The USWNT She Believes In

Pedro Gonzalez 'Pedri' of FC Barcelona competes for the ball with Julian Alvarez of Atletico de Madrid during the Copa del Rey semi-final Leg One match between FC Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on February 25, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.

Pedri’s Got The Whole World At His Feet

Newcastle United's Alexander Isak celebrates scoring his side's fourth goal from the penalty spot during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Nottingham Forest FC at St James' Park on February 23, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Alexander Isak Has Reached The Mountaintop

Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United, reacts during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Manchester United FC at Goodison Park on February 22, 2025. He has his hand over his mouth and looks aghast.

Does Manchester United Exist? Its Manager’s Answer May Surprise You

Michael Olise of Bayern Munich controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany.

At Bayern Munich, What Michael Olise Says Goes

Albert Burneko

Ex-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales arrives at the Audiencia Nacional San Fernando de Henares on February 13, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.

Luis Rubiales Found Guilty Of Sexually Assaulting Jenni Hermoso

Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid celebrates his second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between Real Madrid C.F. and Manchester City at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 19, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.

This Is Why You Spend So Much Money On Kylian Mbappé

Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United reacts after a missed chance during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Manchester United FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 16, 2025 in London, England.