Top 10 Best Soccer Players in the World

10. Arjen Robben
Robben has been at the top of the game for 10 years. Sadly, he had terrible injuries that took him out of the 2015-2016 & 2016-2017 season. He was the top scorer on his team. He played for the Holland team, but now for the 2017-2018 season he plays for Bayern Munich.

9. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Ibrahimovic has won league titles in Holland, Italy, Spain, and France with six different clubs. He is also known as "Ibra," which his fans call him. Ibrahimovic has won that nation's Golden Ball award for the best soccer player a record 11 times. His greatest move of all time was in England 2012 where he performed an overhead kick. He plays for Sweden & Manchester United.

8. Andres Iniesta

Iniesta is known to be one of the classiest midfielders in the game. He scored the winner in the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands. He plays for Spain, F.C. Barcelona. Iniesta is a very easy going player, always ready to work. 

7. Gareth Bale

This "Welsh attacker" is an extremely skilled dribbler and can score many goals from long distances. He made his team win the 2016 UEFA Champions League title game.He plays for Wales & Real Madrid as a forward and midfielder.

6. Manuel Neuer

Neuer is known to be the best goalkeeper in the world. When he first started in 2001 fans were not convinced he was good... until he proved them wrong. Neuer led his German national team to the 2014 World Cup title over Argentina. He plays for Germany & F.C. Bayern Munich.

5. Sergio Aguero

Aguero was part of Argentina's run to the 2014 World Cup finals. He 

 two title wins under Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, scoring that famous late winner against QPR in 2012 to seal the Premier League. He plays for Argentina & Manchester City F.C.

 

4. Neymar

Neymar has been playing pro soccer since he was 17 years old. Neymar has scored more goals than Messi and Ronaldo. He was named the captain of Brazil's soccer team at the Summer Olympics in Rio. He plays for  Brazil & F.C. Barcelona.

3. Luis Suarez

Suarez is the king of one-on-one situations. He scores great by weaving his way into the penalty box. Suarez is an excellent free-kick taker He is 100% always on his game. He plays for Uruguay & F.C. Barcelona.

2.Lionel Messi

Messi joined Barcelona when he was just 13. Messi has won seven league titles with Barcelona. In 2013, Messi scored 91 times to beat the record of 85 by Gerd Muller in 1972 in a whole year.  Messi was awarded the Golden Ball for the outstanding player of the tournament in 2014. 

1. Pele

Pele is the winner of the 1958, 1962, and 1970 World Cup. He is generally known to be the greatest soccer player of all time. Pele scored over 760 goals. In 2016 a movie was made about him called Pele: Birth of a Legend. (Click link to watch trailer). Pele's street soccer skills led him to be one of the greatest Brazilian soccer players of all time.

Cites used for info:

https://www.thoughtco.com/all-time-greatest-soccer-players-3557621

https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-soccer-players-of-all-time

Popularity: Does Social Media Affect Soccer?

No sport is talked more about on social media than soccer says Gary Parkinson, the author of the article How Social Media Marketing Helped Soccer Take Over The World. Many critics think soccer is not a very popular sport, and that it is just a game of chasing a ball all over the place. Obviously it is more than that.

Social media has changed the sports experience for fans all around the world. Conversations of MLS increased by 34% the first 5 days of the season compared to the 2014 season (ScribbleLive). MLS is featured on many social media websites from Facebook, Instagram and snapchat to Google, Twitter and TV shows. MLS also has its own YouTube channel. In addition to the main MLS YouTube channel the league also operates KickTV, with over 1 million network subscribers since March 2013. (click on links for more information) It is still currently increasing. President Trump has even made a bid on the 2026 FIFA World Cup (SBI). Morocco is the only country competing with the USA, Mexico, and Canada joint bid. A vote will take place on the 2026 World Cup hosting rights at FIFA’s general congress on June 13 (SBI). 

Question: How do you feel about Trumps involvement with MLS? Did Trump violate FIFA's rules?

Video about Trumps Bid. (Youtube)

Men's Highlights

Here are some video highlights of men's soccer.

Women's Highlights

Here are some video highlights of women's soccer.

Women's vs. Men's Soccer: Is There a Difference?

Many people believe there is a big difference between women's and men' soccer. Typically, the men are way more aggressive when they play, and women tend to not be as aggressive on the field. It is not just the game of soccer that differs between them, but also social dynamics.

Women's Soccer: According to Wes Hart, a former MLS (Major League Soccer) player who is now Director of coaching at Colorado Rush Soccer Club says, "Girls typically need to like a player in order to accept her on the team. I've seen good players  not work out on teams, because she did not fit in socially." Women who are all connected off the field tend to connect better on the field. Josh Nishimoto a varsity boys and girls soccer coach does more off-field team-bonding with his girls team because it really makes a difference when they're on the field. " I personally believe they've won games because of the stuff we do outside of soccer together." Nishimoto says.

Men's Soccer: Boys typically don't care for a strong connection. Boys care more about ability and skill.  Boys are more likely to separate their personal relationships from their soccer performance (SoccerAmerica). Team-bonding for boys is different from girls. The boys do team-bonding on the field to gain connection and trust from one another. Boys typically dont need that strong personal connection with one another to play good. They usually all have one thing in common that makes them all connect on the field, wanting to win.

Question: Do you think there are more reasons to why women's and men's soccer could be different? Do you think they are more similar or different?

                                                                     USA vs. FRANCE (womens)

                                                                USA vs. COSTA RICA (mens)

Soccer Overview

What is soccer?- Soccer is a sport played by two teams of eleven players with a ball that cannot be touched with your hands or arms during the play except by the goalkeepers. The object of the game is to score goals by kicking or heading the ball into the opponents' goal.