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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.

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Defector

Enter Our Raffle To Win A Visit And Home-Cooked Meal From Drew Magary

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Sporting Lisbon's players celebrate after Swedish forward #09 Viktor Gyokeres scored his team's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 4 football match between Sporting Lisbon and Manchester City at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on November 5, 2024.

TOPSHOT-FBL-EUR-C1-SPORTING-MANCHESTER CITY

Soccer

The New Champions League Format Actually Rocks

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Billy Haisley

Manchester City's Spanish midfielder Rodri (L) receives the Ballon d'Or award from former President of Liberia and former Liberian football player George Weah (2L) as he wins in front of second-placed Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior and third-placed Real Madrid's English midfielder Jude Bellingham during the 2024 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 28, 2024.

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The Best Isn’t Always Enough For The Ballon d’Or

Raphinha of FC Barcelona celebrates 0-4 with Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid v FC Barcelona at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 26, 2024 in Madrid Spain

Real Madrid v FC Barcelona – LaLiga EA Sports

Barcelona Has Put It All Together

Antonio Rüdiger of Real Madrid celebrates with team mates their team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid CF and VfB Stuttgart at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 17, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid CF v VfB Stuttgart – UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1

Real Madrid Must Learn How To Walk Before It Can Run

Scarves of Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr.hang in a souvenir stall outside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between Real Madrid CF and RB Leipzig at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 06, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid CF v RB Leipzig: Round of 16 Second Leg – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Real Madrid Plays Itself

Real Madrid's Spanish defender Nacho Fernandez (C) and Real Madrid's players lift the trophy to celebrate their victory at the end of the UEFA Champions League final football match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom on June 01, 2024.

Real Madrid win 2024 UEFA Champions League trophy, beating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in final

Real Madrid Is Bulletproof

Joselu Mato of Real Madrid celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi-Final second leg football match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain on May 08, 2024.

Real Madrid v Bayern Munich – UEFA Champions League

Real Madrid Did It Again

Toni Kroos of Real Madrid gestures during the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid at Allianz Arena on April 30, 2024 in Munich, Germany.

FC Bayern M√ºnchen v Real Madrid: Semi-final First Leg – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Real Madrid Goes Where Toni Kroos Leads

Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Manchester City score goals in their Champions League quarter-finals.

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This Was The Champions League At Its Dramatic Best

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Albert Burneko

Vinicius Junior left winger of Real Madrid and Brazil celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between CA Osasuna and Real Madrid CF at Estadio El Sadar on March 16, 2024 in Pamplona, Spain.

CA Osasuna v Real Madrid CF – LaLiga EA Sports

Get A Load Of This Outrageous Vinícius Jr. Goal

PARIS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 14Kylian Mbappe of PSG celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Sociedad at Parc des Princes on February 14, 2024 in Paris, France.

Paris Saint-Germain v Real Sociedad: Round of 16 First Leg – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Maybe Kylian Mbappé Really Is Leaving This Time?

Brahim Diaz of Real Madrid CF celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between RB Leipzig and Real Madrid CF at Red Bull Arena on February 13, 2024 in Leipzig, Germany.

RB Leipzig v Real Madrid CF: Round of 16 First Leg – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Everybody’s A Star At Real Madrid

Real Madrid players celebrates after Daniel Carvajal goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and UD Almeria at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 21, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid CF v UD Almeria – LaLiga EA Sports

Real Madrid Is The Good Guy

Real Madrid players celebrates after scoring a goal during Real Madrid CF v Atletico Madrid - Super Copa de España Semi-Final on January 10, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Real Madrid CF v Atletico Madrid – Super Copa de Espa√±a Semi-Final

The Saudi Supercopa Is Great In Spite Of Itself

Caroline Graham Hansen FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the Liga F match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid Femenino at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on November 19, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid – Liga F

Barcelona Rules Spain With A Golden, Five-Fingered Fist

Francisco 'Isco' Alarcon of Real Betis celebrates a goal during the Spanish league, La Liga EA Sports, football match played between Real Betis and CA Osasuna at Benito Villamarin stadium on October 29, 2023, in Sevilla, Spain.

Real Betis V Ca Osasuna – La Liga Ea Sports

Isco’s Career Renaissance Is Better Late Than Never

Jude Bellingham player of Real Madrid celebrates his goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on October 28, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid CF – LaLiga EA Sports

Jude Bellingham Has Already Made Madrid His Own

Johan Bakayoko of PSV celebrates 0-1 with Sergino Dest of PSV during the UEFA Champions League match between RC Lens v PSV at the Stade Bollaert Delelis on October 24, 2023 in Lens France

RC Lens v PSV – UEFA Champions League

The Champions League’s ‘RedZone’ Had Its Crowning Moment

Belgium's forward Eden Hazard celebrates during the Russia 2018 World Cup quarter-final football match between Brazil and Belgium at the Kazan Arena in Kazan on July 6, 2018.

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Eden Hazard Deserved A Better Ending

Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring their sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid CF and 1. FC Union Berlin at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on September 20, 2023 in Madrid, Spain

Real Madrid CF v 1. FC Union Berlin: Group C – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Jude Bellingham Is Real Madrid’s Newest Savior

Kylian Mbappé laughs while watching PSG from a skybox

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After All That, Kylian Mbappé Will Stay At Paris Saint-Germain

Kylian Mbappé alone against a blue background

mbappe

What The Hell Is Going On With Kylian Mbappé?

Real Madrid's Vinícius Jr. reacts to being sent off against Valenica CF after incidents of racism from fans

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La Liga

La Liga’s Racism Problem Boils Over

Bernardo Silva of Manchester City celebrates with teammates Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish after scoring the teams second goal during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg match between Manchester City FC and Real Madrid at Etihad Stadium on May 17, 2023 in Manchester, England.

Manchester City FC v Real Madrid: Semi-Final Second Leg – UEFA Champions League

It Sure Feels Like It’s Manchester City’s Time

Frank Lampard, Caretaker Manager of Chelsea, looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg match between Real Madrid and Chelsea FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 12, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid