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2021 Major League Soccer

No owner, no coach, no star: RSL are MLS playoffs' team of destiny

Real Salt Lake have been for sale for a year, their coach walked out in August and their captain is out with COVID.

3dCaitlin Murray
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    TOP SCORES AND FIXTURES

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    Soccer

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    REAL MADRID

    SOCCER

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    Luka Jovic scores crucial goal as Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad

    1h
    0:40

    GERMAN BUNDESLIGA

    BAYERN BEAT DORTMUND IN DER KLASSIKER

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    Lewandowski's brace leads Bayern to thrilling Der Klassiker win

    3h
    3:04

    Do Borussia Dortmund let Bayern Munich get in their heads?

    3h
    1:11

    BARCELONA

    SOCCER

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    Barcelona falls to late defeat vs. Real Betis

    6h
    2:10

    Michallik: Barcelona still a team in progress under Xavi

    4h
    1:31

    TRANSFERS

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    LIVE Transfer Talk: Man United to beat Barcelona for Chelsea's Werner

    Manchester United are the favourites to sign Chelsea forward Timo Werner ahead of Barcelona. Transfer Talk has the latest.

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    Alternative free agent options to superstars like Mbappe, Pogba, Dybala

    Outside superstars like Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba, clubs have some intriguing options for players who can be picked up for nothing in the summer.

    3dTor-Kristian Karlsen
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    CHELSEA

    SOCCER

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    West Ham defeat exposed weaknesses that could harm Chelsea's title challenge

    Edouard Mendy will get his share of the blame, but West Ham exposed defensive lapses in Chelsea that have been adding up over the past few games.

    7hJames Olley
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    Did Arthur Masuaku mean to score against Chelsea?

    8h
    0:49

    MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

    STREAM LIVE PLAYOFF GAMES ON ESPN+ (U.S.)

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    Conference finals preview: Who's going to MLS Cup?

    The MLS playoffs have been full of upsets, so who's now poised to make it to MLS Cup? We break down the conference finals and make our predictions.

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    Top Headlines

    • Must-Watch Video

      Should Arsenal have given Man United a goal back when David de Gea was down injured?

    • Courtesy of Barcelona residency academy

    • The battle to sign young American players

      Americans are making an impression on the global game, and Europe's biggest clubs are now rivaling MLS for the country's most gifted young players.

    • Illustration by ESPN

    • Battle of the Leagues: The final!

      Who will be crowned champions of ESPN's Battle of the Leagues, presented by EA Sports FIFA 22? Will Ligue 1 or the Premier League reign supreme?

    • Peter Powell Powell/EPA

    • The fight for the soul of Manchester United

      Cristiano Ronaldo is back and the club is one of the biggest in the world. But what does that mean to local fans, pushed out by the global game?

    • Brent Humphreys for ESPN

    • Ricardo Pepi has unstoppable dreams

      After a superb start for the USMNT, Ricardo Pepi is ready to take on the world. Wherever he goes, he will carry his borderland hometown with him.

    • Illustrations by Freak City

    • Which LaLiga team should you root for?

      Spain's top flight has arrived on ESPN+ and, if you do not have a favorite team from LaLiga, here is a handy guide to all 20 to help you decide.

    • Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images

    • How Man Utd got Cristiano Ronaldo to return

      In the span of 48 hours, Cristiano Ronaldo left Juventus and, after seemingly agreeing a move to Man City, went back to Man United instead.

    • Tim Clayton/Corbis/Getty Images

    • How Diego Simeone became King of LaLiga

      Simeone embodies everything that is cool about Atletico Madrid: Gritty, intense and a LaLiga champion, he tells ESPN what makes him tick.

    • ESPN Illustration

    • Premier League 2021-22 kit power ranking

      It's time to dive into the most exciting thing about the 2021-22 Premier League season: the kits each club will be wearing.

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    • How Messi came to leave Barcelona for PSG

      As August began, everyone thought Lionel Messi would remain a Barcelona player. Before the month reached its halfway mark, he was unveiled by PSG.

    • Alexander Wells

    • Messi at Barcelona: The ultimate history

      The unthinkable happened: Lionel Messi left Barcelona. But as this interactive timeline shows, he will be known as the club's greatest-ever player.

    • JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images

    • Denmark sends emotional message to Eriksen

      Following the national team star's shocking cardiac arrest, Denmark rallied in support of Christian Eriksen with a tribute-filled Copenhagen mural.

    • JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images

    • Mara Gomez: 'Football saved my life'

      In 2020, Gomez became the first transgender woman to play professionally in Argentina. She talks to ESPN about her remarkable journey.

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    • The 39 best male players age 21 or under

      Welcome to the next generation! Players from 15 countries and six leagues are named by Tor-Kristian Karlsen, a former scout and sporting director.

    • Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

    • Stories from the pandemic season

      The 2020-21 Premier League campaign was unlike any other. ESPN talked to people around the game about their experiences and lessons learned.

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    • The 21 best female players age 21 or under

      Welcome to the next generation of women's stars. With Catarina Macario leading the way, our list is dominated by players from the U.S. and England.

    • Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images

    • Joe Bryan on anxiety, fear and wanting to help

      The defender tackled his anxiety and mental health head-on at Fulham. Now he wants to help others do the same and normalise the conversation.

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    • FC 100: Messi top, Ronaldo drops, U.S. stars in

      ESPN's annual ranking was selected by 65 global experts and is broken down into Top 10s for every position on the pitch as well one for the managers.

    • Mary Beth Koeth for ESPN

    • Beckham's Miami could be great, but has to win

      After a disappointing first year for Inter Miami in MLS, David Beckham risks the one thing he's spent a career trying to avoid: public embarrassment.

    • ESPN

    • ESPN FC Women's Rank: The 50 best players

      An American World Cup winner is No. 1, followed by an Australian star forward, in an ESPN FC and espnW celebration of the sport's elite.

    • Marcelo Boeri/El Grafico/Getty Images

    • How Barcelona signed Messi, 13, with a napkin

      On Dec. 14, 2000, Barcelona agreed a deal that would take Lionel Messi to Spain and change the course of soccer history. Here's how they did it.

    • ESPN

    • Why Haaland can become the world's best

      Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland is writing history with every game he plays, and he is only 20 years old. But the Norwegian wants a lot more.

    • Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images

    • Trinity Rodman set to make her name in soccer

      "Moving forward, it's going to be nice to distinguish that yes, [Dennis] was a successful NBA player, but I am going to be a successful NWSL player."

    • ESPN Illustration

    • Who is your country's greatest male player?

      Messi or Maradona? Is Pele Brazil's No. 1? Dempsey or Donovan in the U.S.? What about England? We try to settle the debates.

    • AP Photo/Carlo Fumagalli

    • Maradona, though flawed, was one of the best

      Diego Maradona is gone, but as Lionel Messi put it, "he'll be with us for eternity." As well as his legacy, the scope of his talent and humanity will endure.

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    • They wore that? All-time worst kits, ranked

      Man United's invisible grey, Liverpool's 'Crystanbul' attire, Barcelona's Tequila Sunrise; there have been some shockers. But only one had tassels...

    • David Inderlied/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images

    • Gio Reyna is U.S. soccer's next superhero

      The son of 'Captain America' and a USWNT international, the teenage midfielder is a rising star for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.

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    • Football can drive the social justice message

      My message is simple, writes Shaka Hislop: Whether you speak out or stay silent, show up and be a part of the movement.

    • Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

    • Oral history: USMNT's most famous moment

      On its 10th anniversary, Landon Donovan and others relived the goal that beat Algeria and took the U.S. to the 2010 World Cup knockout rounds.

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    • The worst Premier League transfers of all-time

      Look away now, Fernando Torres, Mario Balotelli and Bebe; Bill Barnwell is back to reveal the worst moves in Premier League history.

    • Matthew Ashton/EMPICS via Getty Images

    • Reliving the 'Wild West' of MLS's first season

      In 25 seasons since the league began, MLS has come a long way. We reflect upon the its early days with those who were there.

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    • Upcoming fixtures

      What's ahead in the Premier League, Champions League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS and more.

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    • Latest scores

      Updates, results from Premier League, Champions League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS and more.

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    • League tables

      Updated standings from the Premier League, Champions League, LaLiga, MLS and more.

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