Urrrghhh π
Urrrghhh π
"Going up the mountain" www.nytimes.com/athletic/686...
A day in the life of the worst football team in the world www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
He used to be homeless. When I was at his salon, he got a phone call. He answered like this:
"This is Mauro Shampoo from Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, broadcasting to the world. Footballer, hairdresser, man, at your service. Letβs go, show, show, show!"
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
This is Mauro Shampoo, the most iconic Brazilian footballer you've never heard of.
"PelΓ©, Maradona & Zico were all No 10s, and so was I. I played for the worst team in the world, but I was still a No 10. I was the best of the worst, show."
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
Γbis SC call themselves 'the worst team in the world'.
They once went four years without winning. Their mascot is called Little Defeat. Their biggest icon is a hairdresser called Mauro Shampoo, who only ever scored one goal for them.
So why is everyone so... happy?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
He used to be homeless. When I was at his salon, he got a phone call. He answered like this:
"This is Mauro Shampoo from Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, broadcasting to the world. Footballer, hairdresser, man, at your service. Letβs go, show, show, show!"
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
This is Mauro Shampoo, the most iconic Brazilian footballer you've never heard of.
"PelΓ©, Maradona & Zico were all No 10s, and so was I. I played for the worst team in the world, but I was still a No 10. I was the best of the worst, show."
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
Between 1980 and 1984, Ibis won none of their 55 matches. Their goal difference over that period was minus 206. Ibis say this was the longest winless run in football history.
They have attracted global fame as a result.
@jacklang.bsky.social went to Brazil to meet them.
Football in 2025 doesnβt look how we expected it to in 2000. Hereβs a list of eight things I anticipated would happen in that time, that have not happened at all.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
Γbis SC call themselves 'the worst team in the world'.
They once went four years without winning. Their mascot is called Little Defeat. Their biggest icon is a hairdresser called Mauro Shampoo, who only ever scored one goal for them.
So why is everyone so... happy?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
"I am hungrier than I was 25 years ago. I feel more alive than ever."
Why Benfica are banking on JosΓ© Mourinho, fuelled by a sense of unfinished business, to conjure a bit of the old devil magic and bring the glory days back to the EstΓ‘dio da Luz
www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...
Brazil's defeat to Bolivia last night brought the curtain down on their worst qualification campaign ever.
Lots of work for Carlo Ancelotti to do. Not much time in which to do it
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
Brazil's defeat to Bolivia last night brought the curtain down on their worst qualification campaign ever.
Lots of work for Carlo Ancelotti to do. Not much time in which to do it
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
Ecuador beat Argentina last night. That's 11 matches unbeaten. They finish second in South American World Cup qualifying, above Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia.
"The feeling among the players and staff is that we are in a position to make history"
www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...
That's true. Guess they'll have to make an impact at the actual World Cup too!
Really engaging guy. We spoke about the growing confidence of Ecuadorian players, learning from previous WC experience with Chile & Argentina, and why *not* playing at altitude highlights La Tri's "leap in quality"
www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...
Ecuador haven't lost in 10 games. Their defensive record is laugh-out-loud amazing. They qualified for the World Cup with a year to spare despite a points deduction.
I spoke to coach SebastiΓ‘n Beccacece about their rise β and their big ambitions for next summer
www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...
Watched Matheus Cunha's Manchester United debut with his old futsal mentor in Recife β and a few of the kids who hope to follow in his footsteps one day
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
βHe was a symbol of this region.β
βWe felt he was ours.β
In northern Portugal, a community mourns Diogo Jota, a blue-collar footballer who never lost sight of where his journey began
www.nytimes.com/athletic/647...
βHe was a symbol of this region.β
βWe felt he was ours.β
In northern Portugal, a community mourns Diogo Jota, a blue-collar footballer who never lost sight of where his journey began
www.nytimes.com/athletic/647...
Stand-out performer so far at this Club World Cup? Thereβs a strong case for Jhon Arias, the softly spoken, Gabriel GarcΓa MΓ‘rquez-reading dreamer who has come from relative obscurity in Colombia to bring his brand of magical realism to Fluminense π§π·π¨π΄ #Fluminense www.nytimes.com/athletic/646...
βHe will soon be seen as one of the top managers in the world.β
How βrestlessβ Filipe Luis went from novice to Brazilβs most promising coach in the space of eight months
www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
βHe will soon be seen as one of the top managers in the world.β
How βrestlessβ Filipe Luis went from novice to Brazilβs most promising coach in the space of eight months
www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
Igor Jesus is one of the breakout stars of the Club World Cup.
The most interesting thing about him?
Just over a year ago, barely anyone had even heard of him.
π @jacklang.bsky.social
Read the piece
Igor Jesus took the scenic route to the brink of global stardom. It might just have been the making of him www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
First came his opening goal, a thrilling reminder of what he can do when the service is right and he is not being double-marked.
Eight minutes later, he set up the second goal in stylish fashion, evoking Gutiβs 'Heel of God.'
www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...
Igor Jesus took the scenic route to the brink of global stardom. It might just have been the making of him www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
Thou shalt not take Guti's name in vain
www.nytimes.com/athletic/157...