Fútbol

As a player, I grew up sprinting down the wings and scoring hattricks as a striker, able to use my raw speed and athleticism to break away from the YMCA Mighty-Mites pack.  The inevitable jump from rec-league to select soccer, though, proved a humbling, learning experience as I joined the best travel team in the state at the age-group above me, full of bigger, faster, and more serious players, who, along with my first coach not named "Dad," showed me that although I had talent and decent skills, I would need to develop my game (and my left foot!) if I wanted to continue playing at a high level.  Coincidentally, the older and bigger I got, it became clear that my body type and personality were a better fit for a more central position where I could use my brain as much as my legs, so a very smart coach of mine switched me to Defensive Centermid.  Here, in the middle of everything--with the game all around me like a quarterback in the pocket--I learned to utilize my height, strength, and long legs to win loose balls in the midfield, provide the critical link between defense and attack, and orchestrate scoring chances with my passing and vision.  This change worked out pretty well for me, earning me a spot on the Georgia ODP State Team, an invitation to Super-Y National Camp with only the very best players in the country, the captain's armband during my senior year of high school, and a scholarship to play Division I college soccer for the Virginia Tech Hokies.  Unfortunately, that's where my dream of playing professionally fizzled out, leaving me with a void in my life that I have since filled with kick-arounds "just for fun," borderline obsessions with my favorite team (F.C Barcelona) and favorite player (Lionel Messi), and shameless daily viewings of Ronaldinho highlights.  Simply put, The Beautiful Game's impact on my life and identity can not be overstated (just ask Diana, who has said to me more than once while watching Barcelona games by my side, "I just wish you would look at me the way you look at Messi."), which is why I still spend so many hours thinking, watching, playing--even dreaming about futbol...  

With that, I now give you the ever-growing collection of videos and reading material below related to my personal favorite teams, players, and moments throughout the history of the world's most popular sport.  I feel it's important that I make clear, however, that my Barcelona allegiance leaves me horribly-biased and snobbishly-partial to what I believe to be the best club and team in the world, the best tactical philosophy and playing style in existence, and the Greatest Player of All Time (G.O.A.T.), while additionally stating that Real Madrid and Chelsea are the general worst and that Cristiano Ronaldo is disgustingly overrated.  So if any of this bothers you, I encourage you to please just scroll past all of the Barça highlights and videos of Messi making your favorite players look stupid and check out the throwback Nike Soccer commercials at the bottom that any fan of the game should remember and enjoy.  Brazil Airport, anyone?  The Secret Tournament?  Footballitis?



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2/23/18

Crazy soccer fight in Ecuador, using the corner flag as a spear!  "Nooooo" say the commentators!


David de Gea INSANE saves vs. Sevilla in the Champions League


Mohamed Salah 2018 Highlights



Messi Interview: "The Balon d'Or is not my goal."



2/15/18

Messi with the quickness at age 30!

Messi Talking with Kids in FC Barcelona's Youth Academy

Messi is the only player in the world who can WALK with the ball during a match!

Ter Stegen vs. Getafe

Messi Nasty Nutmeg vs. Valencia

2/8/18

Geoff Cameron Lays into Bruce Arena! DESERVED!


Messi at his best vs. Real Betis (1/21/18)

Cristiano with a DISGUSTING Reverse Elastico in Real Madrid Rondo

Neymar Killin' It in France

Messi Doing Weird, Amazing Things for Japanese TV

Messi and Suarez Juggling 50m Passes!

Messi - 12 Years Old

Dribbling Gods: Messi, Maradona, Fenomeno

Messi as a Winger in 2018 (Best in the World)

Messi as a Centermid in 2018 (Best in the World)

Messi Highlights just from JANUARY 2018

Messi SINGLE-HANDEDLY sends Argentina to the 2018 World Cup!

The real reason Argentina lost three straight finals!  Don't blame Messi!


1/30/18
FC Barcelona - This Is Football

FC Barcelona - Tiki Taka

FC Barcelona - Pregame Rondo

FC Barcelona - Greatest Comeback Ever vs. PSG

Ronaldinho - Moments Impossible to Forget

25 Players Destroyed by Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho - Greatest Ball Controls

Ronaldinho - Magical Passing

Ronaldinho - Perfect Touch

Ronaldinho Assist for Messi's First Barca Goal

Ronaldinho - Respect

10 Times Lionel Messi Decided The Game Alone

Trying to Stop Messi in 2018

Messi Highlights 2018 part 1

Messi Highlights 2018 part 2

Messi Highlights 2017

Messi - Highlights from 2015 Treble Year

Messi Bossing at the Santiago Bernabeu

18 Year Old Messi in His First El Clasico

Messi - Footwork

Messi - Nutmegs

Messi's Favorite Victims

Messi Destroying Great Players

Messi Beating 100 Players in 13 Minutes

10 Differences Between Messi and Cristiano

Messi vs. Cristiano

Messi vs. Neymar 2018

Messi - Never Dive

Messi - Motivational

Messi - Destined to Be The Best

Messi - 10 Skills That Were Too Good for His Age

Messi - Making Defenders Run Into Eachother

Messi - Getting Out of Tight Spaces

Messi - Skills Without The Ball

Messi - Set Pieces

Messi - World Cup Qualifying 2018

Messi - Crazy Goals in Training
Messi - Age 16


MSN - The Greatest Attacking Trio Ever

Messi - Best Almost Goals

Messi - Best 25 Solo Goals

Messi vs. Maradona Identical Goal

Messi - The Best Passer of All Time

Messi - Playmaking


Xavi - The Maestro

Iniesta - The Magician

Sergio Busquets - Best Defensive Mid in The World

Neymar - Dribbling

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ball Control Mastery

Zidane - Player of the Decade

Ronaldo R9 - O Fenomeno

Pele

Maradona

Cruyff

Beckenbauer



SOCCER COMMERCIALS


Ronaldinho - Brazilian Tennis

Brazilian Airport

Footballitis

Good vs. Evil

Soccer Ninjas

Portugal vs. Brasil

Henry's House

Nike vs. Adidas

Beckham vs. Sumos

Medieval Showdown

Adidas Impossible Team

Messi, Kaka, Lampard, Drogba in Africa

Brasil vs. Brasil

Beach Soccer

Plastic Bag Soccer Ball

Write The Future

The Cage

Winner Stays On

Joga Bonito Compilation

Take It To The Next Level

World Cup 2014

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