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World Soccer: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
Greatest Soccer Players of all
Ten of the greatest soccer players of all time.
Ten of the Best Goalkeepers in
Best Goalkeepers - A Look at 10 of the World's Best Goalkeepers
Ten of the Best Midfielders in
Best midfielders - A look at 10 of the world's best midfielders.
Ten of the Best Defenders in t
Best defenders - A look at 10 of the world's best defenders.
Ten of the Best Strikers in th
Best strikers - A look at 10 of the world's best strikers.
Champions League
A look at what European teams have to do to get through Champions League qualifying.
Who Invented Soccer?
The question of who invented soccer is a complicated one and there are a number of conflicting beliefs about how the beautiful game started out.
Messi v Ronaldo
A comparison of the two best players in the world: Messi vs Ronaldo.
The Rules of Soccer
The rules of soccer come in the form of 17 laws from world governing body FIFA.
Ballon d’Or Winners
A list of Ballon d’Or winners since the inaugural award in 1956.
Best Soccer Players in the Wor
The Best Soccer Players in the World.
A Soccer Player's Diet
A soccer player's diet plays a big part in what they achieve out on the field. Here is a guide to what to eat and drink.
Jose Mourinho
A look at the career of manager Jose Mourinho.
Soccer Positions
A description of the various positions on a soccer field.
The Fifa World Ranking
The best soccer teams in the world according to the official Fifa ranking.
Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich & Netherlands)
Best wingers - A look at 10 of the world's best wingers.
Ten of the Best Defensive Midf
Best defensive midfielders - A look at 10 of the world's best defensive midfielders.
Transfer Records
A list of the ten most expensive players in history.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi Profile - A Look At The Career of Barcelona playmaker Lionel Messi
Sergio Canales (Valencia)
A look at 10 of the best young players currently playing in Europe.
The Soccer Field
There are very few fixed dimensions for soccer fields, even at the highest level. The sport’s world governing body, FIFA, only stipulates that for professional 11-versus-11 competition, they must be between 100 yards and 130 yards and the width between 50 and 100 yards. Still, some elements remain constant on full-size fields throughout the world.
Offensive Game Plan: The 4-3-3
The Attacking 4-3-3 Formation - A Guide to the Offensive Soccer Game Plan
Fouls in Soccer
An explanation of why referees award direct free kicks, indirect free kicks, and penalty kicks and what constitutes a foul in soccer.
Ten of the Best Playmakers in
Best playmakers - A look at 10 of the world's best playmakers.
Ten of the Best Players in the
Best Premier League Players - A look at 10 of the Best Premier League Players.
4-2-3-1
The 4-2-3-1 formation - A guide to the soccer game plan
Arsenal Club Profile
A profile of Arsenal F.C. with history and quick facts.
Offside
An explanation of the offside rule in soccer.
Record Champions League Scorers
The 10 Record Champions League Scorers.
Best Free Kick Takers
Ten of the best free kick takers in the world.
Premier League Guide
A quick guide to the Premier League, how it works, and what to watch for in the league table.
best managers
A look at the best football managers in the world and their achievements.
The Andres Escobar Murder
The Andres Escobar murder and how his fate was linked to drug baron Pablo Escobar.
Barcelona Club Profile
A profile of Barcelona, the best soccer team in the world.
Eden Hazard (Chelsea & Belgium)
Best wingers - A look at 10 of the world's best wingers.
4-4-2
The 4-4-2 formation - A guide to the common soccer game plan
Pele
Pele Profile - The Career of Brazil Striker Pele, Regarded As The Best Soccer Player Ever
Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich & France)
Best wingers - A look at 10 of the world's best wingers.
real madrid formation
A look at the Real Madrid formation employed by coach Jose Mourinho.
Nani (Manchester United & Portugal)
Best wingers - A look at 10 of the world's best wingers.
Gareth Bale (Tottenham & England)
Best wingers - A look at 10 of the world's best wingers.
wenger
This Arsene Wenger profile looks back on his career, achievements and philosophies.
Real Madrid top 10
A look at 10 of the best Real Madrid players to have donned the famous white shirt.
Ashley Young (Manchester United & England)
Best wingers - A look at 10 of the world's best wingers.
Hand of God
Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal
Best African Players
A look at 10 of the Best African Players.
Pedro (Barcelona & Spain)
Best wingers - A look at 10 of the world's best wingers.
Real Madrid Club Profile
A club profile including Real Madrid history, with squad and quick facts.
Manchester United Club Profile
A profile of Manchester United with history and quick facts.
The About Soccer Glossary
A soccer glossary including rules, positions and equipment.
The Officials
A description of each of the four officials' functions during the course of a soccer match, from the referee, to the linesman, and the fourth official.
Barcelona top 10
A look at 10 of the best Barcelona players to have donned the famous blaugrana shirt.
Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid & Argentina)
Best wingers - A look at 10 of the world's best wingers.
Best Paid Players
A look at the 10 highest paid soccer players in the world.
Jesus Navas (Sevilla & Spain)
Best wingers - A look at 10 of the world's best wingers.
Understanding Italy’s Serie A
Your guide to understanding Serie A rules, including format, the points system and the league table.
A Guide to Formations
Five of the most common soccer formations and how they are implemented.
Bojan Krkic (AS Roma)
A look at 10 of the best young players currently playing in Europe.
Best Full Backs
Best full backs - A look at 10 of the world's best full backs.
Cristiano Ronaldo Profile
Cristiano Ronaldo Profile - A Look At The Career of Real Madrid Midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo.
Chelsea Club Profile
Chelsea roster, with club profile, history and quick facts.
Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao)
A look at 10 of the best young players currently playing in Europe.
Mario Balotelli Stories
A selection of the best Mario Balotelli stories.
Passing
Learn how to master the art of passing in soccer.
Messivid
Best Lionel Messi Videos - A Look at Five of the Best Lionel Messi Videos On Youtube
4-5-1
The 4-5-1 formation - A guide to the soccer game plan
man united formation
A look at the Manchester United formation employed by manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Offside Trap
The offside trap consists of defenders stepping higher up the field at the right moment, leaving attackers in an offside position just before their teammates pick out a pass to them. Properly executed, the offside trap allows defenders to win the ball back without having to make so much as a tackle.
Messi vs Real Madrid
A look at the goals Lionel Messi has scored against Real Madrid.
Alexandre Pato (AC Milan)
A look at 10 of the best young players currently playing in Europe.
The Zidane Headbutt
The 2006 World Cup final will always be remembered for the Zinedine Zidane headbutt on Marco Materazzi.
Miralem Pjanic (AS Roma)
A look at 10 of the best young players currently playing in Europe.
Soccer 101: Basic Equipment
Soccer requires much less equipment than most sports, with correct footwear being the only absolute necessity. The idea is to keep your gear light in order to allow for the widest possible range of movement and comfort over the whole 90 minutes. Here is a quick guide to what you will need to wear from head to toe.
Rafael da Silva (Manchester United)
A look at 10 of the best young players currently playing in Europe.
Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal)
A look at 10 of the best young players currently playing in Europe.
Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
A look at 10 of the best young players currently playing in Europe.
Jack Rodwell (Everton)
A look at 10 of the best young players currently playing in Europe.
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane Profile - The Career of France Playmaker Zinedine Zidane
Davide Santon (Newcastle)
A look at 10 of the best young players currently playing in Europe.
Iker Casillas
Iker Casillas Profile - A Look At The Career of Real Madrid Goalkeeper Iker Casillas
Number of Players in a Soccer Match
The Number of Players in a Soccer Match
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid & Portugal)
Best wingers - A look at 10 of the world's best wingers.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Profile - A Look At The Career of Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Throws, Goal Kicks and Corners
The different ways the ball is put back into play after it has left the soccer field.
Legends: Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona Profile - The Career of Argentina Striker Diego Maradona
Spain Euro 2012 Squad Profile
The predicted Spain Euro 2012 Squad also featuring analysis, predictions and a player to watch for the tournament.
Jose Mourinho Quotes
Portuguese tactician Jose Mourinho is not a man to keep his opinions to himself. Here is a selection of some of the best Mourinho quotes
Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)
A look at five of the best young strikers in the world.
Ten of the Best Players in Ser
Best Serie A Players - A look at 10 of the best Serie A Players.
Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard Profile - A Look At The Career of Chelsea Midfielder Frank Lampard
Soccer Magazines
A look at five of the best soccer magazines in the world.
Ten of the Best Wingers in the World
Best wingers - A look at 10 of the world's best wingers.
Ronaldo Step Over
The Cristiano Ronaldo step over skill is one reason he is such a great player - learn how to do it with this step by step guide.
The Throw In
Learn how to take a throw in soccer.
World Cup Qualifying
The road to the most popular sporting event on the planet is a long one. The World Cup is not just a 32-team soccer extravaganza, which takes place over the course of roughly four weeks every four years. It is the end product of nearly two years’ worth of qualifying tournaments, preliminary matches, and eliminations.
Sir Alex Ferguson
This Sir Alex Ferguson profile includes teams managed, trophies won and the story of his career
Africa Cup of Nations Winners
A list of previous Africa Cup of Nations winners.
5-3-2
The 5-3-2 formation - A guide to the soccer game plan
goalkeeper tips
Five goalkeeper tips to help with ball distribution, communication, one on one situations and command of the area.
Celery Tradition
Celery Throwing - A Guide to a Chelsea Tradition
arsenal formation
A look at the Arsenal formation employed by manager Arsene Wenger.
Kaka Profile
Kaka Profile - A Look At The Career of Real Madrid Midfielder Kaka
Germany Euro 2012 Squad Profil
The Germany Euro 2012 Squad also featuring analysis, predictions and a player to watch for the tournament.
Best Young Midfielders
These players were all born in the 1990s and look to have outstanding careers ahead of them. Here is a look at five of the best young midfielders in world soccer.
Samuel Eto'o
Samuel Eto'o Profile - The Career of Anzhi Makhachkala Striker Samuel Eto'o
The First Touch
The first touch is arguably the most important skill in soccer. Without a good one, you won’t ever have the opportunities to use your other skills because a defender will have already closed in.

Unfortunately, the first touch is also one of the most difficult skills to learn — it makes the difference between good players and great ones. While these tips won’t necessarily turn you into Cristiano Ronaldo, they will tell you what you should be looking to do every time the ball comes to you.

Italy Euro 2012 Squad Profile
The Italy Euro 2012 Squad also featuring analysis, schedule and a player to watch for the tournament.
Holding Midfielder
An explanation of the soccer term holding midfielder.
Who Is Lionel Messi?
Who Is Lionel Messi? Learn All About Messi, The Best Soccer Player In The World.
Box-to-Box Midfielder
An explanation of the soccer term Box-to-Box Midfielder.
Fan Tradition
Youll Never Walk Alone - A Guide to a Liverpool Tradition
How to Take a Direct Curling F
Free kicks are a valuable route to goal. Learn how to curl a free kick with this step by step guide.
Nani
Nani Profile - A Look At The Career of Manchester United Winger Nani
Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie Profile - The Career of Manchester United Striker Robin van Persie
Arsene Wenger Quotes
French manager Arsene Wenger will always give his opinion on a subject. Here is a selection of some of the best Wenger quotes
Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil Profile - A Look At The Career of Real Madrid Midfielder Mesut Ozil.
La Masia
The Barcelona academy La Masia is regarded as the best in the world and was the cornerstone of Spain's 2010 World Cup victory.
Ronaldovid
Best Cristiano Ronaldo Videos - A Look at Five of the Best Cristiano Ronaldo Videos
Andres Iniesta
Andres Iniesta profile - A look at the career of Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta.
one-on-one striker tips
Tips For Strikers in a One-On-One Soccer Situation.
Galácticos
A look at Florentino Perez's policy Los galacticos at Real Madrid.
Back-Pass Rule
An explanation of the soccer term back-pass rule.
Hooliganism Films
A review of five of the best known football hooligan films.
Yellow Card
An explanation of the soccer term yellow card.
Xavi Hernandez
Xavi Profile - A Look At The Career of Barcelona Midfielder Xavi
Confederations Cup

The FIFA Confederations Cup is an eight-team international tournament held every four years. Though it lacks the prestige of a World Cup or a confederation championship, like the European Cup or the Copa America, it provides meaningful competition for national teams during an off-summer. The eight teams always include the reigning champions from the six FIFA confederations, the host nation, and the holders of the World Cup.

Ten of the Best Young Players in Europe
A look at 10 of the top young players currently playing in Europe.
Neymar (Santos)
A look at five of the best young strikers in the world.
Fernando Torres Profile
Fernando Torres Profile - A Look At The Career of Chelsea Striker Fernando Torres
Gareth Bale Profile
Gareth Bale Profile - A look At The career of Tottenham Hotspur Winger Gareth Bale.
Red Card
An explanation of the soccer term red card.
Brian Clough Quotes
Brian Clough was a manager who always said exactly what was on his mind. Here is a selection of some of the best Clough quotes
Argentina International Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi Photos - A Look at the Career of Lionel Messi in Photos
Counterattack
An explanation of the soccer term counterattack.
Marc-Vivien Foe death
In 2003, Marc-Vivien Foe tragically collapsed and died while playing for Cameroon against Colombia.
La Liga
Your guide to understanding La Liga rules, including format, the points system and the league table.
Italian Rivalries
The wonderful thing about Serie A is that there is never any shortage of bitter local rivalries. Every week, it seems, two halves of a city are at each other’s throats, ready to duke it out for three points and — more importantly — local bragging rights. The three most important splits are in the cities of Turin, Milan, and the capital, Rome.
Shooting
A step-by-step guide on how to take a soccer shot.
Euro 2012 Top Scorers
The Euro 2012 Top Scorers in Poland and Ukraine.
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney Profile - A Look At The Career of Manchester United Striker Wayne Rooney
Defensive Heading
A guide to good technique in defensive football heading.
Luc Castaignos (Inter Milan)
A look at five of the best young strikers in the world.
Ronaldinhovid
Best Ronaldinho videos - A Look at five of the best Ronaldinho videos on you tube
Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba Profile - The Career of Galatasaray Striker Didier Drogba
Tottenham Hotspur Club Profile
A profile of Tottenham Hotspur F.C. with history and quick facts.
Goal From The Halfway Line
David Beckham Photos - A Look at the Career of David Beckham in Photos
Manchester City Club Profile
A club profile including Manchester City roster, with history and quick facts.
Erick Torres (Guadalajara)
A look at five of the best young strikers in the world.
Soccer Scouts
What is a soccer scout? This article looks at the role of talent scouts and tactical scouts in soccer.
Liverpool Club Profile
A profile of Liverpool with history and quick facts.

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