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Articles on Soccer

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On the occasion of a 2011 match between Portugal and Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Lionel Messi (right) show off a pair of high-end watches. The riches have only continued to flow in. Fanny Schertzer/Wikipedia

Top football stars: famous because they’re rich, or rich because they’re famous?

A new study explores the how the celebrity and status of professional footballers in the “Big Five” European leagues can affect both performance and pay.
Super League plans have fans screaming into the void, like soccer star Lionel Messi here. Josep Lago/AFP via Getty Images

The ups and downs of European soccer are part of its culture – moving to a US-style ‘closed’ Super League would destroy that

More competitive games between top soccer clubs is desirable but creating a ‘closed’ system would harm a soccer culture built on dreams, says the man who predicted the Super League two decades ago.
A new documentary explores the life of Brazilian legendary soccer player, Pelé against the backdrop of the country’s politics. But the doc fails to ask the right questions about race and class. Here Pelé is shown in 1971, in Paris. (AP Photo/Levy)

‘Pelé’ doc kicks up questions on race, violence and democracy in Brazil

Although Brazil is formally a democracy, the practice of torture is ongoing, especially for Black Brazilians. Soccer creates an illusion of fairness is which is increasingly hard to sustain.
Here the goalie’s view is obstructed by the wall of his teammates but also attacking player from the other team, Jon Super / EPA

Football: ‘The wall’ can make it harder to save free kicks – new research

While a line of defensive players complicates a free kicker’s task to shoot on target, new research suggests it could also impede the goalie.
Ryan Pierse/AAP

Why does crowd noise matter?

Why are sport broadcasters using fake crowd noise? It might be because crowd noise can help us bond with our tribe and acts as a psychological cue for when to pay attention.

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