CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

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

Luis Paez-Pumar

Norway's forward #09 Erling Braut Haaland celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between Norway and Senegal at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 22, 2026.

Soccer

The Golden Boot Race Has Already Gotten Ridiculous

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Manchester, England.

Manchester City Helpfully Extends Arsenal’s Freefall

Norway's team players ans staff celebrate their victory at the end of the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification football match between Italy and Norway, at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, on November 16, 2025.

Norway Is So Much More Than Just Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates scoring the first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium on November 2, 2025 in Manchester, England.

Erling Haaland Has Taken Control

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

Goncalo Ramos of Paris Saint-Germain reacts after scoring during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City at Parc des Princes on January 22, 2025 in Paris, France.

Paris Saint-Germain Revived Manchester City’s Woes

Mateo Kovacic of Manchester City reacts after they lose the match during the Premier League match between Brighton &amp; Hove Albion FC and Manchester City FC at Amex Stadium on November 9, 2024 in Brighton, England.

Manchester City Is Stuck In The Mud

Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Manchester City at Brentford Community Stadium on February 05, 2024 in Brentford, England.

Manchester City Is Ready To Pounce

Albert Burneko

Erling Haaland of Manchester City next to a desperately diving Janis Blaswich of RB Leipzig in Champions League round-of-16

Champions League

Erling Haaland Is A Bolt, Or Five, Of Lightning

Martin Odegaard of Arsenal looks dejected during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on February 15, 2023 in London, England.

Arsenal Found Out Just How Hard It Is To Topple Manchester City

Patrick Redford

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal celebrates scoring their 3rd goal with Martin Odegaard during Pre-Season Friendly, The Emirates Cup match between Arsenal and Sevilla at Emirates Stadium on July 30, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Why Can’t This Be Arsenal’s Year To Win The League?

Billy Haisley

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates his hat trick during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace at Etihad Stadium on August 27, 2022 in Manchester, England.

The Erling Haaland Show Has Only Just Begun

Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Manchester City at the London Stadium, in London on August 7, 2022.

Manchester City Is Already Evolving Around Erling Haaland

Tom Ley

The Race For Erling Haaland Just Gets Crazier From Here

Norway's forward Erling Braut Haaland lays on the field during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification football match between Gibraltar and Norway on March 24, 2021 at the Victoria Stadium in Gibraltar.

The Stage Is Set For The Summer Of Haaland

Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund scores their side's third goal during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match between Sevilla FC and Borussia Dortmund at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on February 17, 2021 in Seville, 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.

Erling Haaland Is Scary

Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund battles for possession with Dayot Upamecano, Amadou Haidara, Marcel Sabitzer and Willi Orban of RB Leipzig during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund at Red Bull Arena on January 09, 2021 in Leipzig, Germany. Sporting stadiums around Germany 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.

Erling Haaland Is Still Growing

Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund scoring his teams second goal of the game during the UEFA Champions League Group F stage match between Club Brugge KV and Borussia Dortmund at Jan Breydel Stadium on November 04, 2020 in Brugge, Belgium.