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

Billy Haisley

Phil Foden of Manchester City and Rayan Cherki of Manchester City celebrate 4th goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Sunderland at Etihad Stadium on December 6, 2025 in Manchester, England.

Soccer

Rayan Cherki’s Pass Was A Thing Of Beauty

Jeremy Doku of Manchester City holds off the challenge of Leny Yoro of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Manchester, England.

Jérémy Doku Could Be More Than Just A Killer Wiggle

Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona reacts during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio de la Ceramica, August 27, 2023, Vila-real, Spain.

Barcelona Has Found Another One In Lamine Yamal

Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi and NY Red Bulls' Colombian defender #04 Andres Reyes (R) vie for the ball during the Major League Soccer 2023 match between Inter Miami and New York Red Bulls at the Red Bull arena in Harrison, New Jersey, August 26, 2023.

Everyone Wants To Watch Lionel Messi

Liverpool's Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara shoots to score their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on November 27, 2021.

Everything Thiago Does Is Perfect

Lisandro Martínez of Argentina competes for the ball with Vinicius Junior of Brazil during a match between Argentina and Brazil as part of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifiers at San Juan del Bicentenario Stadium on November 16, 2021 in San Juan, Argentina.

It’s All Coming Together For Vinícius

Phil Foden of England celebrates after scoring their team's third goal during the UEFA Nations League group stage match between England and Iceland at Wembley Stadium on November 18, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in fixtures being played behind closed doors.