[FM22] Sophara United v2.0

[abulezz]

Heartbreaking.

[abulezz]

Mission accomplished - these boys wanted it baaaad. This was our last match and we only needed a draw to guarantee 2nd Place. They left nothing to chance, lol.

 

[abulezz]

[abulezz]

I think I deserve it!

[abulezz]

THE SOPHARA JOURNAL

SEASON REVIEW 2025/2026 

 

TEAM REVIEW

Last year, Sophara United lost in heart-breaking fashion to Bournemouth in the Playoff Finals, relegating themselves to a third year of Championship football. Well third time is a charm, because this year, the upstart club – which came into existence a mere five years ago – sealed an automatic promotion after finishing in 2^nd Place behind Nottingham Forest. Sophara United is going to be playing in the Premier League just a few years after starting out in the League Two and will be doing so without a single player over the age of 22. The footballing word was abuzz after the team not only won their final match to confirm their promotion, but did so in incredible fashion, destroying Portsmouth 5-0 and playing with such intensity that it was clear how bad they wanted it. Five years ago, no one believed in the idea, the concept, or the team. Today, a bunch of teenagers recruited from all over the UK and Ireland managed to get promoted to the most competitive league on the planet. The incredible thing is that none of them are even remotely close to the prime of their careers yet.

The team spent most of the season as the leaders but could not keep it up until the end. They dropped down to 2^nd Place and were battling during the last few games with West Brom before ultimately winning the second automatic promotion spot. They were, once again, the best offensive team in the Championship, leading the league with 95 Goals. Reardon, who had won the league’s Top Goalscorer award for the past two seasons, came in behind Luton’s Wesley this season despite scoring the name number of goals (25) – the difference was the Luton’s Brazilian striker had played one game less. That did not stop the Sophara United striker for taking home his second consecutive Championship Player of the Year, however,           becoming the only player in the league’s history to win the award twice in a row. Abul Ezz, the team’s owner/manager, captured the league’s Manager of the Year and five of Sophara’s players were named in the 2025 Championship Select Team of the Year, including two defenders. Speaking of the defense, they were ranked 8^th of 24 teams, playing solid football at the back and holding it together well enough for the offense to take care of business. For comparison, the defense conceded 67 Goals last year and ranked in 12^th Place while this year they conceded 58 Goals as they improved four spots. The emergence of Akim Lawrence certainly played a role – he was recently ranked 6^th in the NxGn Top 50 2026 list for players aged 19 and younger. In the domestic cups, it was yet another season of disappointment, however – the FA Cup saw a Fourth Round exit to Huddersfield and the Carabo Cup saw Sophara get knocked out in the Second Round to Luton – both of those matches were winnable and had Sophara as the favorites.

Moving into the Premier League has been a dream of Ezz and the players for the past five years. The starting eleven that lined up during Sophara United’s first ever match remains almost the same now, with the exceptions of a couple of notable absences in CJ Beech and John Smith. The team has grown up together and the introduction of new, even younger talent like Lawrence has been done organically. With the new promotion there has been calls across the squad for new, richer contracts and for the most part, Ezz seems to be ready to respond positively to the request. The new Sophara United Stadium will be commissioned next summer and will boost the attendance up to just under 30,000 – almost double the size Sophara Park currently seats. The finances took a hit since the approval of the stadium came but with the move up to the Premier League and fallout that comes with it, there will be no issues with the bank account going into next season.

The young Sophara United Lions stars have done the unthinkable – never in history as a team of young players moved up the ranks so quick and without buying any player. Through the past five years, Abul Ezz has stayed true to his word – only products of the Sophara Youth Academy have played on the team and what was considered a detrimental transfer policy has begun showing positive results. With the team having played together for so long, the cohesion and understanding between each other is unlike any other, and their loyalty to the club that has brought them all this fame and attention has continued to be unwavering. Exciting times are ahead.

 

 

GOALKEEPERS

ELVIS KOZIC (Sweden: 6 U21 Caps) – Age: 22 – Position: GK

The Swedish U21 international was impressive in his fifth season – he played in all 46 Games and registered 1.24 Con/90, 7.05 AR, and 14 Clean Sheets, his highest since the club started playing in the Championship three years ago. What was not impressive was a drastic change in his off-field behavior – his focus and determination have faded this year and he seems less motivated to improve than he was before. Whether it is complacency because of the lack of competition and talent at the GK position on the squad or whether the limelight has gotten to his head, there has been a shift in attitude. He remains as professional as can be in terms of his punctuality and workplace demeaner, however. His PA was formally at 5/5 but has now been downgraded to 3.5/5 as he has just now shown the kind of progress in his ability that was expected, but his 3/5 CA rating is the most on the squad by a wide margin. He is the club’s record holder with 229 all-time Appearances, having missed just a single league game over the course of the past five seasons.

 

 

FULLBACKS

DREW DOWELL (England) – Age: 22 – Position: DL (DC, DR)

His 2.5/5 CA is the lowest on the starting eleven but the club captain – the only one Sophara has ever known – remains perhaps its most influential player off the pitch. He played in 37 Games, registering 5 Assists (career-high), a league-leading 97 Blocks, 92% Passes Completed, a team-leading 2.21 TpG, and 6.96 AR, up from 6.83 AR and his highest since his rookie season. There are doubts from the around the league as to whether Dowell has the talent to compete in the Premier League but given that the prospects at the DL position – such as 17-year-old Congolese Patrick Bola – are not yet ready to handle being starters, Dowell will be in the starting eleven come the first match of the Premier League in August.

 

 

GER LENNON (Ireland: 14 Caps) – Age: 21 – Position: DR (DL)

The youngest out of the original starting eleven that stepped out into Sophara Park that faithful afternoon in August 2021, he has now become one of the Irish national team’s most important and highest valued players at £10M. Chief Scout Badra – whose contract is up this summer and most likely will not be renewed – did a magnificent job recruiting from Ireland for the initial setup because other than Lennon, he also brought on board Tom Horgan and former first team members CJ Beech and Jesse Cummins all together. As for Lennon, he still holds his 5/5 PA rating with an improvement to 3.5/5 CA after playing in 35 Games and registering 92% Passes Completed, 1.65 TpG, and 6.91 AR, the same as last season. Injuries and stamina remain a concern, which is why he never played in over 37 Games during his career thus far despite the team having to play 46 Games in each of its five seasons. Consistent, hardworking, smart, and possessing good technical skills, Lennon is being counted on to be able to manager Premier League level of football come next season.

 

 

PATRICK BOLA (D.R. Congo) – Age: 17 – Position: DL

Having just turned 17 a couple of months ago, Bola is one for the future but has already made his debut in what was his rookie season. He played 9 Games (8 Starts), but was woefully overmatched, registering 6.51 AR. He did show solid footing on the basics of his position – 1.66 TpG and 94% Passes Completed – but Ezz slowed down his push into the first team’s rotation after seeing Bola overmatched on several occasions. That does not dim the excitement around his potential, however – his official rating is 5/5 PA and his coaches have a firm belief that he has the right attitude, work ethic, and talent foundation to be a highly successful LB. He is weak in the air and has work to do with the ball at his feet, but he has been labeled as a ‘Promising Full-Back’ and possesses a fair amount of speed along with decent passing ability. How often he will be utilized during the team’s first season in the Premier League where surviving the drop will be of the utmost priority is yet to be seen, but with a value north of £8M, his coaches’ eyes will not be the only one on him as the club has fielded numerous enquiries from PL clubs about his availability.

 

 

CENTRAL DEFENDERS

TOM HORGAN (Ireland: 1 Cap) – Age: 22 – Position: DC

One of the most accomplished players in the club’s short history, Horgan earned his first Cap for Ireland this season, joining his teammate Ger Lennon in representing the club in the Irish national team. He had another fantastic season and was one of the five Sophara players to be selected to the 2026 Championship Select Team of the Year. In 45 Appearances, he led the league with 542 Clearances and was amongst the leaders with 59 Key Headers (2^nd), 555 Headers Won (2^nd), 166 Interceptions (4^th), 29 Shots Blocked (2^nd), and 7.31 AR (7^th) – he also registered 61.38 PC/90 and had an incredible 97% Passes Completed. Without a doubt one of the best defenders in the Championship over the course of the last three years, the 2023 Sophara United Player of the Year has been recognized as one of the hardest working players in the league. Doubts about his overall ability persist but he has constantly exceeded expectations and has been a star in every league he has played in. Whether he will be in the Premier League amongst the world’s best attackers remains to be seen, but he has earned the respect and trust of both his manager and his teammates.

 

 

AKIM LAWRENCE (England: 4 U21 Caps) – Age: 18 (’23 Youth Class) – Position: DC

The first player to graduate from the SYA to get the ‘Wonderkid’ designation, he moved up from 14^th to 6^th Place in the NxGn Top 50 list this year. In his third year with the club, Lawrence was so impressive that Ezz made him the squad’s full-time starter alongside Horgan in the center of the defense, effectively relegating James Burgess to a rotation role. He is the team’s highest valued defender at £13M and has been sought out and the subject of transfer bids from major Premier League clubs such as Man City, Liverpool, and Chelsea. He deserved the attention – he played in 45 Games, registering 482 Clearances (4^th in league), 52 Key Headers (5^th), 10 Key Tackles (9^th), 507 Headers Won (7^th), and a career-high 7.11 AR. He has played for the Dominica national team but declared for England when he turned 17 and how now become a member of the national U21 team with is eyes on becoming a full-fledged international for the nation. There continues to be an impasse between the player and club regarding a new contract, but he does have an extension clause that his manager will no doubt trigger this summer that will keep him at the club for another three years. He is the highest player on the team with 4.5/5 CA and 4.5+/5 PA (+ representing a white star) and is considered the only Premier League-level defender on the squad.

 

 

JAMES BURGESS (England: Capped at U19) – Age: 22 – Position: DC (DR)

Despite conceding his starting place at DC alongside Horgan to Akim Lawrence, it was Burgess – and not the English/Dominican – who made it to the 2026 Championship Select Team of the Year, surprisingly enough. His 7.04 AR was actually a career-low, which speaks volumes on just how good Burgess has been over the past five years. He played in 39 Games (28 Starts) at both DC and DR, registering 1.46 TpG, 92% Passes Completed, and 118 Interceptions, as well. The backroom staff at the club generally think Burgess has a higher ceiling than Horgan but given than the latter is pretty untouchable this days by his manager, it was Burgess who found himself in a demoted – sort of – role as opposed to the Irishman. Despite that, his role at the club remains vital, especially considering Lennon’s fragility and his ability to comfortably play at the DR position.

 

 

 

CENTRAL/ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS

JOE SHEPPARD (England: 9 U21 Caps/1 Goal) – Age: 22 – Position: MC

What a season for Sheppard. He did exceptionally well and earned his first call-up to the Championship Select Team of the Year – in 45 Appearances, he registered 13 Goals, 18 Assists (tied for 1^st in the league), 4 PoMs, 12.83 xG, 162 Key Passes (3^rd), 3.95 KP/90 (5^th), 43 Clear-Cut Chances (1^st), and 7.27 AR (11^th), living up to his reputation as perhaps the best playmaker in the league this season. He was as clutch as they come, scoring important goal after important goal and delivering chances like no one else in the league. What he brings to the team is clear for everyone to see which is why he is currently the highest valued player on the team at over £20M. His 4.5/5 CA is equaled only by Lawrence and his 4.5/5 PA is bested only by the young defender. His 222 all-time Appearances are second only to Kozic and his 66 all-time Goals are third only to Holland and Reardon. If this young squad is to have a chance in the Premier League next season Sheppard will have to be in top form. He is a big fan of his manager Abul Ezz but that won’t stop other teams from snooping and seeing if there is a chance to buy him.

 

 

RONNIE FLOOD (England: Capped at U19) – Age: 22 – Position: MC

Ronnie Flood finally got the credit he was due, making the 2026 Championship Select Team of the Year as people started recognizing just how good of a player he is. He is as consistent as they come – in 43 Appearances, he registered 3 Goals, 8 Assists, and 7.08 AR, almost matching is career-average of 7.07 AR. He played his way into a new contract that will be the richest in club history at £24.5k per week, although it is expected that some other players will be offered similar or larger sums. That being said, he is the second highest valued player on the club after Sheppard at £15M thanks to his never-ending motor – in fact, his 59.89 PC/90 was the highest of any player that was not a defender on the team. His manager tipped him to do well in the Premier League, saying he is one of the most ready players on the squad and will count on him to lead by example during their first season.

 

 

MITCH LEWIS (England) – Age: 19 (’23 Youth Class) – Position: MC (SC)

Mitch Lewis bounced back from a disappointing debut season to give Sophara United an extra lift off the bench that ended up being the difference maker in quite a few games. In 27 Appearances (6 Starts), he registered 4 Goals, 4 Assists, 2 PoMs, and 7.00 AR as he became somewhat of a fan favorite. He has a similar game to Sheppard with a lot of the same strengths – his passing ability has been of note recently. A driven, focused individual whose ball control and dribbling has shown improvement, Lewis has been given a 4/5 PA as the club’s staff believe he could have the potential to be a good Championship player. Whether he will be able to hold his own in the Premier League, however, is a question that the same staff don’t seem too sure of. In any case, Lewis has earned his place in the rotation and will continue to be in this upcoming year.

 

 

TOMMY SULLIVAN (Ireland: 2 U21 Caps) – Age: 18 (’24 Youth Class) – Position: MC

Mitch Lewis plays similarly to Joe Sheppard and Tommy Sullivan is a similar player to Ronnie Flood, again with similar traits and strengths. This was Sullivan’s debut season – he spent last year with the U23 and U18 teams – but he proved himself capable and willing, if inconsistent. His work in training has the club’s staff speaking very highly of him, especially when it comes to his passing ability – he has shown immense improvement in that ability. They predict that he could be a Premier League-level midfielder in a few years if he keeps up his development, and his manager has stated publicly he intends to utilize Sullivan a lot and give him a spot in the rotation next season. Rumors have circulated that Newcastle and Rangers have an interest in the youngster and might be ready to make bids for him this coming summer.

 

 

WINGERS

STAN DRUMMOND (England: 2 U21 Caps/1 Goal) – Age: 22 – Position: AMR (AML)

Considering how high his assists numbers have been through the past few years, it was strange seeing Drummond deliver only 5 Assists this season. Overall, though, it was a tough season in general for the RW – he suffered a double hernia injury that ruled him for almost two months, limiting him to only 29 Games. Still, he did not play bad in those games, registering 9 Goals, 5 Assists, 4 PoMs, and 7.16 AR, up from 7.07 AR last year. With the lack of talent available down the LW, he spent some time there, as well, playing in a familiar that was a bit unfamiliar to him. He was one of the best players on the team and while he his maturity might make him seem older than he really is, the determined winger is still only 22. The injury does not seem to have affected his speed, which has always been one of his strongest abilities. Not one to shy away from speaking his opinion, he is one of his manager’s favorite players nonetheless and will be relied upon heavily next season.

 

 

LYNDON DSANE (England: Capped at U18) – Age: 19 (’22 Youth Class) – Position: AML (AMR, SC)

Dsane is the default starter at LW but he is by no means guaranteed a starting spot. While the attitude is great and the professionalism is outstanding, the talent simply is not there to be competitive in the Premier League. He played in 33 Games (18 Starts), registering 4 Goals, 4 Assists, 2.00 TpG, 83% Passes Completed, 2.82 DpG, and 6.85 AR, which is just around his career-average of 6.83 AR. He has decent speed and has the ability to get up and down the pitch, but the ball skills are lacking, and he has shown inefficiency going forward. He tries hard and fights on defense quite often, with his TpG numbers telling that story. The best player from what has been a weak ’22 Youth Class.

 

 

JAKUB BERKOVEC (Czech Republic: Capped at U20) – Age: 17 (’25 Youth Class) – Position: AMR

The young Czech winger was the reason Abul Ezz was able to experiment with Drummond down the left wing this season – he finally had someone to man the other flank and actually add positivity to the team’s game flow. The rookie had a fantastic first season – in 31 Games (24 Starts), he registered 10 Assists, 2.09 TpG, 87% Passes Completed, 3.78 DpG, and 6.94 AR. Outside of Drummond, he is the fastest player on the team and the second highest valued at £14.5M. Born in Touzim, a town of around 4,000 people in the western part of the Czech Republic, he came to London as a child with his parents and then came up through the SYA before making his debut last season. There is little doubt from the team’s coaching staff that Berkovec could become a PL-level winger and he carries a 4+/5 PA rating to prove it. He is definitely one of the most exciting prospects on the team and will be one to watch next season.

 

 

FORWARDS

JOE REARDON (England: Capped at U19) – Age: 22 – Position: SC (MC)

Not only was there no better player on the team, but there no better in the Championship, period. For the second straight year, Reardon took home the Championship Player of the Year award after registering 25 Goals, 11 Assists, 6 PoMs, 21.61 xG, 84 Key Passes, 49% Shot Target, and a league-leading 7.39 AR in 45 Appearances. He has been an incredible asset and player over the past five years for the club. With a combination of good pace and fantastic ball technique, Reardon has carried the team across the finish line in numerous games, scoring important goals and guiding the team on the pitch as a leader. He has the makings of a future captain and his influence on the rest of the team cannot be underestimated. He will need to continue playing at the same level next season as he has been – without a doubt – Sophara United’s most important player the past three years, winning the team’s Player of the Year for the third consecutive time this season.

 

 

ANDY HOLLAND (England: Capped at U20) – Age: 22 – Position: SC (AML)

The vice-captain of the squad, Holland has become a respected figure in the locker room. He has backed that up with some fantastic play on the pitch – he played in all 46 Games, registering 21 Goals, 9 Assists, 5 PoMs, 1.57 DpG, 56% Shot Target, and 7.17 AR. In four out of the five seasons he has been with the club, he has failed to score at least 20 Goals just once, which was the club’s first in the Championship. Next season, however, Holland is going to be a Premier League striker and he will get to test himself against the world’s best. He has publicly stated he is relishing the chance to play at such a high level and he certainly carries the right mentality and attitude to succeed. His value has reached £15M and while those who have been following the club will be more excited about seeing some of the other players, Holland remains one of his manager’s most trusted players. He has the opportunity – and the potential – to surprise a lot of people with his play next season.

 

 

BEN SMITH (England) – Age: 19 (’23 Youth Class) – Position: SC (AMR)

Although he has not been developing quite as well as the Sophara staff would have hoped, Ben Smith remains an intriguing player within the ranks of the club. He carries a 4.5/5 PA and played in 39 Games (7 Starts), so he was a big part of the rotation. He has the ability to play off either foot and is comfortable playing down the right wing as he is playing striker, so his versatility gives his manager an added touch from the bench. With a few very talented prospects such as Celik coming through, however, Smith might find it difficult to get the playing time he is looking for unless he improves significantly.

 

 

BEKIR CELIK (Turkey: Capped at U20) – Age: 16 (’25 Youth Class) – Position: SC

A couple of years ago, there was a buzz around another rookie (Huw Sagoe) – unfortunately for him, first team football was too overwhelming at his young age and he is now in the U23 team. There was no repeat of that with Celik, who had an outstanding rookie season. The numbers speak for themselves – in 17 Games (11 Starts), he registered 8 Goals, 5 Assists, 3 PoMs, 58% Shot Target, and 7.21 AR. The Turkish striker thrived under the pressure, a testament to his resolute personality. Born in Mugla, Turkey, a city of 75k people in the southwest of the country about an hour’s drive from the Aegean coast, Celik carries an English second nationality. He is eyed by numerous Premier League clubs and he will undoubtedly be the target of numerous bids this summer. His pace is developing and he already has good technical and attacking ability despite being only 16. One to watch.

 

 

END OF SEASON REVIEW

[deez0r]

Berkovec developing really nicely! 

[abulezz]

7 hours ago, deez0r said:

Berkovec developing really nicely! 

I have three really exciting prospects - Akim Lawrence from the '23 Youth Class, and Berik Celik and Jacub Berkovec from the '25 Youth Class. 

Jury is still out on Patrick Bola and Ben Smith, but Tommy Sullivan is starting to show some real progress that could also turn him into one my prized prospects.

Thanks for reading up!

[deez0r]

5 hours ago, abulezz said:

I have three really exciting prospects - Akim Lawrence from the '23 Youth Class, and Berik Celik and Jacub Berkovec from the '25 Youth Class. 

Jury is still out on Patrick Bola and Ben Smith, but Tommy Sullivan is starting to show some real progress that could also turn him into one my prized prospects.

Thanks for reading up!

Yes it's aways one of the stories I look forward to! Back when it was Kafra and now Sophara. Looking forward to starting my youth only create a club save when I return! 

[abulezz]

MAJOR LEAGUES REVIEW 2025/26

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Winner: MANCHESTER CITY

For the third consecutive time, an English Premier League team captured the coveted Champions League trophy – this time, it was Manchester City, who had won it two years ago for the first time in their history….They replaced Chelsea, who fell to defeated Finalists Juventus in the Semi-Finals, as the champions….Juventus made their first Finals appearance in ten years, but were on the wrong end of a 1-0 result at the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid….This makes it six Finals in a row for the Italian team that they have lost – their last win came in 1996 when they defeated Ajax Amsterdam in Rome….The German Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich, had made it to the last four Finals prior to this year – they won their first two and lost their last two - and were generally considered the strongest team in Europe but fell victim to Man City in the Semi-Finals….The Germans and Chelsea were repeated Semi-Finalists from last year….Erling Haaland won the CL Top Goalscorer award for the third time in his career (previously having won it in 2021 with Dortmund and in 2024 with Man City when he equaled Ronaldo’s 17 Goals) although the 7 Goals he registered this season were the lowest since Real Madrid legend Raul scored 7 Goals during the 2000/01 season….There was no standout players in this year’s version of the competition, with Haaland generally considered the best this season.

 

 

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Winner: MANCHESTER CITY

It was a season of destiny for Manchester City as they won their second consecutive Premier League title (their 10^th overall and 4^th in the past six years) as well as their second over Champions League title….As in the CL, Erling Haaland (35 Apps, 22 Gls, 5 PoMs, 7.59 AR) was the best player in the league as he won the PL Footballer of the Year and Top Goalscorer both for the second time in his career….Arsenal (2^nd) had their highest finish in ten years as 24-year-old Bukayo Saka (37 Apps, 12 Gls, 9 Asts, 7 PoMs, 7.55 AR) continued to elevate his game to new heights….Save for Haaland, Saka was the finest player in the league this season….Liverpool (3^rd) finished in the same place as last season, with Chelsea (4^th) grabbing the last Champions League spot ahead of Manchester United (5^th) and Tottenham (6^th)….Newcastle (8^th), despite spending several hundred million pounds over the past few seasons, have not yet achieved their goal of qualifying to the Champions League….Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, now in his 7^th year with the club, won the PL Manager of the Year award for the first time in his career.

 

 

SPANISH LA LIGA

Winner: REAL MADRID

Led by the world’s best player currently Kylian Mbappe (35 Apps, 21 Gls, 8 Asts, 10 PoMs, 7.69 AR), Real Madrid won their second title since the French megastar joined the club four years ago….He was not the La Liga Player of the Year this season, however – that distinction went to Barcelona’s (2^nd) own homegrown star Pedri (36 Apps, 8 Gls, 11 Asts, 14 PoMs, 7.84 AR)….The 23-year-old midfielder set new Spanish La Liga records with his 14 PoMs and 7.84 AR as he threw his name into the mix for the title of world’s best player….The 2025 champions Real Sociedad (3^rd) did well even though they were unable to defend their title – they will get another round in the Champions League and have proven over the past few years that the team built around 29-year-old Mikel Oyarzabal (32 Apps, 16 Gls, 7.32 AR) and 25-year-old Rodrygo (37 Apps, 8 Gls, 12 Asts, 6 PoMs, 7.52 AR) is capable of success….Atletico Madrid (4^th) beat out Valencia (5^th) for the last Champions League spot this season.

 

 

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA

Winner: BAYERN MUNICH

An incredible 14^th straight title for Bayern Munich was in the works this season and again, it was not even close….The defending champions held a 17 Point advantage on Leipzig (2^nd), who themselves have had their own streak going of finishing in 2^nd Place for the past four seasons….The champions were led by their new star, 23-year-old German sensation Jamal Musiala (34 Apps, 16 Gls, 10 Asts, 6 PoMs, 7.52 AR), who is now designated an ‘Elite Attacking Midfielder’ by experts….Borussia Dortmund (3^rd), who advanced to the Quarter-Finals of the Champions League before losing to Bayern Munich on penalties, finished in 3^rd Place for the second consecutive year, while Wolfsburg (4^th) grabbed the final CL spot.

 

 

ITALIAN SERIE A

Winner: JUVENTUS

It is now four straight titles for Juventus, who also made the Champions League Finals but ultimately fell to Man City….They have two stars who dominated the Italian Serie A this season – this year’s Serie A Player of the Year Frederico Chiesa (36 Apps, 14 Gls, 10 Asts, 11 PoMs, 7.96 AR), who has now won the award three times in his career, and 26-year-old former Player of the Year Dejan Kulusevski (18 Apps, 4 Gls, 12 Asts, 7 PoMs, 8.02 AR), who was headed for a record-breaking season had he not broken his leg in November and got ruled out for the next four months….Roma (2^nd) reclaimed 2^nd Place from AC Milan (3^rd) after finishing second to Juventus in 2023 and 2024….Lazio (4^th) took the last Champions League spot, making it five times in a row they had qualified.

 

 

 

FRENCH LIGUE 1

Winner: PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

Paris Saint-Germain made it five in a row this season, but just barely….Both Monaco (2^nd) and Lille (3^rd) finished only one point behind the defending champions, making life a lot more anxious that they would have liked it to be especially considering all the star power….Monaco were led by 30-year-old Russian winger Alexandr Golovin (32 Apps, 1 Goal, 16 Asts, 8 PoMs, and 7.73 AR) as he nearly led them to their first title in ten years….Not surprisingly, Golovin took home the 2026 Ligue 1 Best Player award for the first time in his career….The PSG dream team were led by £127M man Ansu Fati (34 Apps, 15 Gls, 6 PoMs, 7.46 AR), who has now taken two titles in the two seasons he has been with PSG.

[abulezz]

33 minutes ago, deez0r said:

Yes it's aways one of the stories I look forward to! Back when it was Kafra and now Sophara. Looking forward to starting my youth only create a club save when I return! 

Definitely will be following! I am genuinely looking forward to it

[abulezz]

[deez0r]

5 hours ago, abulezz said:

Nice! 

[abulezz]

USA/CANADA/MEXICO 2026 – WORLD CUP

 

INTRO/GROUP STAGES

Hosted by a trio of nations for the first time, the 2026 World Cup was set to be played in the USA, Canada, and Mexico…..The last time the tournament was hosted in North America it was in 1994 with Germany as defending champions…..That was the tournament that made legends out of players such as Romario, Bebeto, Roberto Baggio, and Hristo Stoichkov…..The first Matchday kicked off on the 11^th of June with Brazil and Qatar 2022 Finalists England winning both their respective games…..Belgium started their tournament off with a bang with a 6-0 victory over Benin, and in the same night Holland destroyed South Africa 5-0 – Africa was off to a bad start…..Sweden took a 7-1 victory over Thailand thanks to four goals by Newcastle striker Alexander Isak…..Ghana became the first team get knocked out as they lost both their matches against Denmark and Brazil, who in turn became the first two teams to qualify coming out of Group B…..France equaled Sweden’s feat and nailed Haiti with a 7-1 result, with 26-year-old Atalanta striker Amine Gouiri scoring a hat-trick…..Defending champions Spain ended the Group Stages with an empathic 6-0 win over Syria, with their 23-year-old star striker Ansu Fati scoring a hat-trick to seal qualification to the Second Round.

 

SECOND ROUND

Led by Tottenham’s 29-year-old striker Harry Wilson, Wales defeated Colombia 3-0 in the first match of the Second Round in a surprising result. Wilson, who scored the second goal, goes into the Third Round having scored 4 Goals and recorded 2 Assists and 8.30 AR while being one of the World Cup’s best players so far…..The first real shock of the tournament came with Turkey defeating Brazil 2-1 – the five-time champions exited at the same stage as Qatar 2022, where they lost to the Czech Republic on penalties. The two Second Round exits in a row sent the country into a mini-panic and calls for manager Fernando Diniz, who took over just after the last World Cup, to be sacked have grown very loud…..It took penalties for Denmark to defeat the USA, who had gone perfect in the Group Stages. The 0-0 draw was a generally drab affair but at the end, the favorites took home the victory…..Qatar 2022 Finalists England did the job against Morocco, taking a 3-1 victory in convincing fashion. Tottenham’s 32-year-old legendary striker Harry Kane scored a brace, bringing his total to a record 92 Goals for his country.

The second day of action from the Second Round bought with it the second shock of the tournament, with Ukraine defeating Argentina 2-1 in extra-time. It was a match of intense drama – Argentina had a player sent off in the 29^th minute before scoring the first goal of the match at the beginning of the second half. One minute before the 90^th, Ukraine equalized and then went to score the only goal in extra-time to advance to the Third Round…..The South Americans were not the reputable team to fall as Belgium lost 2-1 to South Korea. The match had less drama than the first, but it did also feature a red card for the Belgians, who will be sorely disappointed in their performance at World Cup 2026…..Norway, led by 2026 English Premier League player of the Year Erling Haaland and PSG star Martin Odegaard, defeated Senegal 2-1 to advance to the next round. The Norwegians had not made the World Cup since France 1998, where they lost to Italy in the Second Round…..Memphis Deepay, Holland and Barcelona’s 32-year-old striker, scored a brace to give his nation the victory over Japan in the last match of the second day. Holland defeated the Asian nation 3-2, although it also featured a red card like three of the four matches from the day.

The surprises continued on the third day of Second Round matches as Uruguay defeated four-time champions Italy 2-1 to buck the trend of top South American teams getting knocked out. The 2006 champions looked disinterested and it came as no surprise that they ended up losing the match…..No such attitude was present from France as they got the job done against a tough Mexican side, defeating them 4-1 in a resounding victory. This brought their total goals scored to 13 Goals in their three World Cup 2026 matches thus far…..Jamaica defeated Iran to advance to the Third Round for the first time in their history in a low-key 1-0 affair. The Jamaicans were impressive in their Group K match, defeating China and drawing with Italy…..Nigeria upset Sweden 1-0 as they became the first African team to make it to the Third Round of USA/Canada/Mexico 2026. The Swedish team have been considered one of the more talented generations in their national history, but ultimately fell to a strong and pacey Nigerian squad in the last match of the day.

In the final day of Second Round matches, it took Portugal penalties to finally push past a resilient Venezuelan team. The match ended in a 2-2 draw before going to spot kicks, where Portuguese experience played a big part in winning the match…..Defending champions Spain got the job done in a tricky tie against the Czech Republic, winning the game 3-1 to advance. Two first half goals sent them up 2-0 at half-time and then they proceeded to frustrated the Czechs for the rest of the match…..Germany took a 2-0 victory against Algeria in their predictably efficient manner. The Germans, who took the bronze at Qatar 2022, continued their record of 0 Goals Conceded at the tournament thus far, setting up a dream matchup against Spain in the Third Round…..The final match of the Second Round saw Canada defeat the Ivory Coast 3-1 after scoring three first half goals. The Canadians, whose only other appearance in the World Cup was at Mexico 1986, have now reached the Third Round, the furthest they have gone at the tournament.

 

THIRD ROUND

The run continued for Wales as they qualified to the Quarter-Finals for the first time in their World Cup history after their impressive 4-1 victory over Denmark. Matt Smith, Norwich’s 26-year-old striker, was the hero, hitting a hat-trick that brought his total at the tournament to 4 Goals…..England had a tougher time in the first day of Third Round matches but ultimately pulled through, grabbing a 2-1 victory against Turkey. Marcus Rashford, now 28, scored the first goal for England and has now scored 3 Goals to lead his nation…..Norway continued their march through the knockout stages, defeating South Korea – who took out Belgium in the previous round – 3-2 as Martin Odegaard continued to be one of the best players at the tournament. This will be the first time Norway reach this stage of the World Cup…..Holland embarrassed the Ukraine with a strong 4-0 win as they advanced to the Quarter-Finals for the first time since Brazil 2014. Their victory sets up a fantastic matchup against England in the next phase.

The second half of the Third Round started with perhaps the biggest shock of the tournament thus far as Jamaica defeated France on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The Jamaicans equalized in the 90^th minute and held out against a barrage of French attacks, ultimately taking the victory and advancing to the Quarter-Finals for the first time in their history…..Nigeria will be the open team representing Africa in the Quarter-Finals after their 1-0 victory over Uruguay. An own goal by the South Americans succumbed them to a somewhat surprising defeat as the Nigerians have now not conceded a goal in their last three matches…..In the most anticipated match of the Third Round, Spain outlasted Germany to take home the victory on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The match ended 0-0 after 90 minutes and went to extra-time, where Germany struck first at the 105^th minute. It was Spain’s destiny to win the match, however, as the equalized in the dying seconds of the match before they took the victory on penalties…..The last match of the Third Round saw Portugal dismantle Canada’s defense to the tune of a 5-1 result. That set up a favorable matchup for them – on paper – against the Jamaicans in the Quarter-Finals.

 

QUARTER-FINALS

ENGLAND vs. HOLLAND: Two of the best offenses in at World Cup 2026 collided in the first Quarter-Finals matchup, which was the most anticipated of the round. England had won all four of their matches thus far scoring 10 Goals, while Holland had won three and drawn one while scoring 13 Goals. Both teams were at Qatar 2026 with the former advancing to the Finals before losing out to Spain, while Holland were disappointingly knocked out in the Second Round by Germany. Although Holland struck first, it was England that ran out 3-1 winners with Marcus Rashford scoring his 4^th Goal of the tournament to lead his nation. This meant that England were now advancing to their third consecutive Semi-Finals appearance at the World Cup, something they have never done before. RESULT: England 3 – 1 Holland

WALES vs. NORWAY: Both nations had never been to the Quarter-Finals before in their history, and one of them was going to walk out of the match having booked a place in the Semi-Finals for the first time in their history. As destiny would have it, that team ended up being Norway, who defeated Wales 3-1 thanks to brace for megastar Erling Haaland. The Man City striker propelled his nation to the Semi-Finals in what has become a legacy-defining tournament for him, proving himself capable of carrying his team at the most difficult level internationally. Haaland now goes into the Semi-Finals having scored 4 Goals and registering 7.70 AR in his 5 Games thus far in the tournament. RESULT: Norway 3 – 1 Wales

JAMAICA vs. PORTUGAL: The biggest underdogs of the tournament, the Caribbean nation of Jamaica had yet to lose in their four matches leading to this one, including a draw with Italy in the Group Stages and a win over France in the previous round. The Portuguese, who last advanced to this round at Germany 2006 twenty years ago, had been ruthless in the previous matches but also had not faced strong competition. The fairytale run for Jamaica ended here, however, as Portugal took a home a convincing 2-0 win, with Rafael Leao scoring the team’s first goal of the game and his 4^th of the tournament. The 27-year-old AC Milan striker, who is coming off a season where he won the Italian Serie A’s Top Goalscorer award with 23 Goals as well as the 2026 European Golden Shoe, has been Portugual’s best player and has now set them up with a matchup against Norway and Erling Haaland in the Semi-Finals. RESULT: Portugal 2 – 0 Jamaica

NIGERIA vs. SPAIN: The only African nation remaining at World Cup 2026 had perhaps the toughest matchup of any team in the Quarter-Finals. The Nigerians had played solid defense thus far having none conceded a goal in their last three games but did not have the look of a team capable of dethroning the defending champions going into the match. As for Spain, who knocked out Germany in the previous round, they were now the bookkeeper’s favorites to win the entire tournament for a second consecutive time. There were no surprises as Spain won 3-0, setting up a rematch of the Qatar 2022 Finals against England. Ferran Torres, Napoli’s 26-year-old winger, scored a brace to bring his total to a team-leading 3 Goals. RESULT: Spain 3 – 0 Nigeria

 

SEMI-FINALS

ENGLAND vs. SPAIN: The rematch to the Qatar 2022 Finals in which Spain defeated England took place at the MetLife Stadium close to New York City. It was being billed the finals before the actual Finals as they were the two teams voted most likely to lift the trophy from this point out. Both teams had reached the Semi-Finals as a result of strong teamplay as opposed to having stars carry them, but Spain had a new legend overnight as Ferran Torres, scorer of a brace against Nigeria, nailed a sensational hat-trick to help Spain defeat England for the second consecutive World Cup, registering a 3-1 win that is sure to ring in their memories for a while. The Napoli winger was incredible, and with his hat-trick elevated himself to the top of the World Cup 2026 scoring charts with 6 Goals. Spain were now looking to be the first repeat champions since Brazil did it in 1962, an immense 64 years ago. RESULT: Spain 3 – 1 England

PORTUGAL vs. NORWAY: Led by Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, Norway had made the World Cup Semi-Finals for the first time in their history. The two national legends had proven to the world that they indeed were amongst the best of their generation. On the other side of the pitch sat Portugal, the Euro 2016 champions whose golden generation – the one previous to the one currently playing – was defined by one name: Cristiano Ronaldo. They had stopped one fairytale run in the Quarter-Finals after defeating Jamaica, and they stopped another one against Norway as they defeated the Scandinavians 2-0 to make it to the first World Cup Finals in their history. Chelsea’s £64M winger Goncalo Guedes, who was signed from Valencia last summer and enjoyed a successful first season in England, scored a brace in his only start of the tournament thus far. With this win, Portugal were now one win away from bettering the accomplishments of the Ronaldo-led teams of the 2000s and 2010s. RESULT: Portugal 2 – 0 Norway

 

FINALS

PORTUGAL vs. SPAIN: An all-Iberian Peninsula World Cup Finals was in the works for the first time in the tournament’s 96 year history. This was Spain’s third appearance in the Finals and they were looking to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to repeat as champions, a feat accomplished only by the South Americans and Italy in 1938. The Portuguese were making their first Finals appearance but were heavy underdogs – as opposed to the defending champions, who had to defeat the likes of Germany and England to make it here, Portugal’s highest profile match during their entire World Cup run was against Norway in the Semi-Finals. What were two of the best offensive teams in the tournament ended up playing in an anti-climactic match that featured zero Clear-Cut Chances from either side for the full 120 minutes of action before Portugal managed to win their first World Cup on penalties. The MetLife Stadium saw the Portuguese team lift their first ever World Cup trophy in their first ever Finals, 96 years after the first World Cup was played in Uruguay. Spain would not be the first team to repeat as champions since 1962 with this generation of Portuguese players accomplishing what the teams of their two greatest players in history could not – the Eusebio teams of the 1970s and the Ronaldo teams of the 2000s and 2010s. RESULT: Portugal 0 (p) – 0 Spain

 

 

AWARDS

 

BEST PLAYER – Rafael Leao (Portugal)

There was no real surprise as AC Milan’s 27-year-old striker Rafael Leao (6 Apps, 4 Gls, 2 Asts, 7.92 AR) won the 2026 World Cup Best Player award….Throughout the tournament, he had been the new champion’s most consistent and best player and his 7.92 AR was the highest of any player on a team that made it at least to the Quarter-Finals….He has had a spectacular season from start to finish – he started the 2025 summer off having won the Europa League with his club, was then named the 2025/26 Italian Serie A Top Goalscorer with 23 Goals and the 2026 European Golden Shoe winner before finally taking home the ultimate prize in football….He has become an instant legend in Portugal after leading them to the World Cup trophy for the first time in their history and a global star after this tournament – his value is now at an incredible £250M, making him the highest valued player in the world currently.

 

 

BEST YOUNG PLAYER – DAVID VIDEIRA (Portugal)

A common sight on the NxGn Top 50 list over the last couple of years, David Videira (5 Apps, 1 Goal, 1.23 TpG, 7.32 AR) did a wonderful job under intense pressure….Bought by Bayer Leverkusen for £35.5M last season, he played in 28 Games and registered an unspectacular 6.72 AR….The talent is undeniable, as he showed at World Cup 2026….He was also named to the 2026 World Cup Dream Team, a champion at the age of 19….He is considered a perfectionist and has earned the label ‘Wonderkid’ with his value now around £75M.

 

 

BEST GOALKEEPER – DIOGO COSTA (Portugal)

Keeping with the theme of Portuguese award winners, the World Cup’s Best GK went to Bayern Munich and Portugal GK Diogo Costa (7 Apps, 4 Con, 4 Clean Sheets, 7.23 AR)….The 26-year-old won the Bundesliga championship this year and was named in the league’s Team of the Year….He has now won with the Portuguese national team on three levels – the Euro U17 Championship (2016), Euro U19 Championship (2018), and now the World Cup….The 2025 Champions League GK of the Season, Costa is considered amongst the most talented at his position the world….His value is now approaching £70M making him amongst the highest-valued GK in football today.

 

 

GOLDEN BOOT – MARCUS RASHFORD (England)

The top goalscorer at the World Cup with 8 Goals in 6 Appearances, Rashford was one of the main players that took England all the way to the Semi-Finals….They lost to Spain but got the bronze medal as a consolation….The 28-year-old Manchester United striker is considered an elite player and was given a freer reign by his national team manager Sean Dyche than he normally got from his now sacked manager Carlo Ancelotti….Considered an Icon at the club, Rashford is entering the prime of his career and now will be etched in football history forever….His 8 Goals were the highest of any player since Ronaldo (Brazil) scored 8 Goals on his way to the World Cup title at Japan/South Korea 2002.

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SUMMER 2026

 

EURO U19 CHAMPIONSHIP: GREECE TAKES FIRST TITLE ON HOME SOIL

After the surprising win by Denmark last season, many expected a return to norm this year….Instead, Greece won its first ever title, succumbing Italy to their second straight Finals loss….Greece, who were playing the hosts for the third time in the tournament’s history, defeated Portugal in the Semi-Finals while Italy won against France in extra-time….The Euro U19 Golden Boot award went to Italian striker Rossano Franchellucci, who scored 3 Goals in his 4 Appearances….The 18-year-old Sassuolo forward was overpowering in the air, but ultimately could not lead Italy to the title….The new champions did not have any standout players, but great teamwork led them to their first ever title.  

 

 

NOTABLE TRANSFERS

YUSUF DEMIR, 23 (Austria: 45 Caps/17 Goals) - £79M (£98M) from AC Milan to Manchester City: Demir was the first big transfer of the summer, with the 23-year-old Austrian winger making the move to England after spending four years in Italy with Milan….Bought from Rapid Vienna four years ago for £9.25M after spending a year on loan at Barcelona, his best season with Milan was 2023/24 when he scored 11 Goals and registered 7.03 AR….That was the only season out of the four where he hit the 7.00 AR mark, however….His price tag is one based on his potential as opposed to his form on the pitch, which has been steady but unspectacular….He is labeled an ‘Elite Attacking Midfielder’ and his talents are clear as day so his new coach Jurgen Klopp will be hoping to bring the best out of him in England.

 

 

YEREMY PINO, 23 (Spain: 4 Caps) - £74M (£89M) from Villareal to Rennes: Pino broke into the Villareal first team two years ago and has been solid for them since….The winger registered 6 Goals, 8 Assists, 6 PoMs, and 7.34 AR in 35 Appearances last season….He part of the Spanish squad the made the World Cup 2026 Finals although they ended up losing to neighbors Portugal….He moves to the Ligue 1 with Rennes, a team that has been on the cusp of qualifying for the Champions League the last few years….He was part of the Villareal squad that lifted the Europa League trophy in 2021, although he was a bit player for the first team at the time….Rennes have paid a premium for the Spanish winger in hopes that he will be able to provide them with the kind of quality that can push them over the edge.

 

 

JENS PETTER HAUGE, 26 (Norway: 42 Caps/2 Goals) - £62M from Frankfurt to Liverpool: Part of the Norwegian team that made the Semi-Finals of the World Cup 2026 alongside Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland….After spending the 2021/22 season on loan with Frankfurt from Milan, the Bundesliga club bought him from £6M in the summer of 2022….He has been a revelation for them since, with the winger winning the Bundesliga Newcomer of the Year award in 2022….He has also won the Frankfurt Player of the Year award in four of the five years he was with the club (2022, ’24, ’25, ’26)….As with the a lot of members of the Norwegian team, his value has shot up and Liverpool will look to bring him along quickly….He is considered an ‘Elite Winger’ and his value now stands north of £140M.

 

 

VALENTIN ELM, 19 (Germany: 1 Cap) - £58M from Leipzig to Tottenham: The newly-appointed Germany U20s captain, Elm leaves Bundesliga runners-up Leipzig for the greener pastures of the English Premier League….He made his debut for his former club last season and went on to impress….In 23 Appearances, he registered 10 Goals and 7.17 AR, winning the 2026 Bundesliga Newcomer of the Year award….He was also voted the 2026 German U19 Player of the Year and earned his first cap for the German national team….Labeled a ‘Wonderkid’, he has fantastic pace to make his already good and improving ball technique….Comfortable playing down either wing, he identifies as a left winger first although he has also shown the ability to be a good striker….Tottenham have a lot of talent down the flanks so he will have to battle for his playing time.

 

 

LUKA ROMERO, 21 (Argentina: Capped at U21) - £55M (£80M) from Lazio to Real Madrid: The Spanish winger had a fantastic season for Lazio and will now head back to Spain after spending five years in Italy….He signed with Lazio on Free during the summer of 2021, but it was his season on loan with Genoa in 2023/24 that brought him to the limelight….He has been a starter for Lazio the past two years, but last season can be considered his breakout year….In 37 Appearances, he registered 13 Goals, 12 Assists, 5 PoMs, and 7.38 AR, winning the 2026 Serie A Best Young Player of the Season award….Already considered an ‘Elite Attacking Midfielder’ by the experts, he has all the tools to be a great player at one of the world’s biggest clubs.

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GOAL 50 2026

WINNER

KYLIAN MBAPPE (France: 108 Caps/39 Goals) – Real Madrid, 27-years-old, SC/AMR (Previous: Winner)

Despite a lackluster showing by France at the World Cup 2026 – a shocking Third Round exit at the hands of Jamaica – Mbappe led Real Madrid to their second Spanish La Liga title since he joined in 2022….He was the 2026 La Liga Top Goalscorer for the 4^th year in a row, but gave up the Best Player award, which he had won for three consecutive seasons, to Pedri last year….There is no doubt he is the biggest name and star in football today, and this was the 2^nd consecutive year and 3^rd in the past four he has won the Goal 50 award….Hitting the prime of his career now, it is going to be fun to see what Mbappe will accomplish with both club and country in the next few years.

 

 

2ND PLACE

ERLING HAALAND (Norway: 71 Caps/52 Goals) – Manchester City, 26-years-old, SC (Previous: 2^nd)

Erling Haaland, along with his country-mate Martin Odegaard, led Norway to the Semi-Finals of the World Cup this past year, the furthest they have ever reached….He leads and is the biggest name of the Norwegian ‘Golden Generation’ that has propelled itself into the top echelon of world football….He has been on fire since then, scoring an insane 20 Goals in just 12 Games this season for Man City….He also led his club to their 2^nd Champions League title in the past three years, reminding many of Cristiano Ronaldo and his winning ways….He won the CL Golden Boot and Striker of the Season both for the second time with Man City, having also won the former once while with Borussia Dortmund in 2020/21….The battle for supremacy between Haaland and Mbappe is a throwback to the days of the Messi vs. Ronaldo rivalry, although they don’t play in the same league.

 

 

3RD PLACE

KAI HAVERTZ (Germany: 84 Caps/34 Goals) – Chelsea, 27-years-old, MC (AMC) (Previous: 16^th)

Jumping up thirteen spots to 3^rd Place, Havertz is coming off his best season yet….In 38 Appearances, he registered 15 Goals, 13 Assists, 8 PoMs, and 7.55 AR….The 2024 German Footballer of the Year was a big part of the Chelsea team that won the 2025 Champions League title….The Chelsea Icon is labeled as an ‘Elite Attacking Midfielder’, one of the best at his position in the world today….He was disappointing, however, at the World Cup 2026 as Germany exited in the Third Round….In the prime of his career, Havertz has now won the Premier League once (2024) and the Champions League twice (2021, ’25) after joining Chelsea for £76M in 2020 from Bayer Leverkusen.

 

 

OTHER NOTABLES

Joshua Kimmich (5^th) continues to be the driving force behind the 2020s greatest team (thus far) in Bayern Munich. The 31-year-old midfielder had a bit of a down season by his standard last year but has bounced back this season – in 11 Appearances, he has 6 Assists and 7.62 AR. He has now won eleven straight Bundesliga titles and is considered a ‘Legendary Midfielder’ by experts and pundits…..Martin Odegaard (8^th) was finally validated in a big way at the World Cup 2026, as he was Semi-Finalists Norway’s best player in the tournament. The 27-year-old Paris Saint-Germain ‘Elite Midfielder’ has been fantastic for the club since they acquired him from Arsenal for £94M             in 2023, and he has already scored 7 Goals in 14 Games this season. He has had to deal with being labeled overrated and overhyped his entire career, but after his showing at the World Cup against the world’s best, he can finally lay that criticism and talk to rest as he has become truly one of the best players in football today…..Barcelona’s 23-year-old shining light Pedri (10^th) has been incredible since his former teammate Ansu Fati left for PSG. Last season, he played in 37 Games and registered 8 Goals, 11 Assists, 14 PoMs, and 7.84 AR, winning the 2026 Spanish La Liga Player of the Year for the first time in his career. He came in 2^nd Place in the World Footballer of the Year award in 2025, and this season he has been on fire – in 9 Games thus far, he has 2 Goals, 7 Assists, 6 PoMs, and an incredible 8.28 AR. A World Cup winner (2022) and Finalist (2026), he was part of the team that lost to Portugal this summer and is considered Spain’s biggest star currently.

 

 

 

 

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MID-SEASON UPDATE 2026/27

 

WORLD GOLDEN BALL/PLAYER OF THE YEAR

ERLING HAALAND (Norway: 71 Caps/52 Goals) – Manchester City, 26-years-old

Please see report under GOAL 50 AWARDS above.

 

 

WORLD GOLDEN GLOVE/GK OF THE YEAR

EDERSON (Brazil: 53 Caps) – Manchester City, 33-years-old

The undisputed best GK in the world today, the Brazilian has now become the only player in history to win the World Golden Glove and World GK of the Year awards in three consecutive years….The statistics speak for themselves: in 2026, Ederson played in 52 Games, registering 31 Clean Sheets and only 23 Goals Conceded with a 7.31 AR….He was the 2026 Champions League GK of the Season for the second time in three years as Man City won the CL title….He won the 2026 English Premier League Golden Glove for the second consecutive year and for a record 5^th time, moving past Joe Hart, who won his four awards as Man City GK in the mid-2010s, incidentally….Also, for a record 5^th time and for the third consecutive year, he was named the Brazilian Best-Europe Based player award, beating out the likes of Thiago Silva and Neymar for most times won….In other words, Ederson is an absolute legend for both club and country and the finest GK of the 2020s, without a doubt.

 

 

WORLD U21 FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR

FRANCO FRATTINI (Argentina: Capped at U23) – Manchester united, 21-years-old

He first caught attention last season, when he spent the year on loan in Scotland with Rangers….The forward was initially bought by Man United in January 2025 for £7.75M from Racing Club (ARG), and then spent the 2025/26 season having a highly successful season in Scotland….He won the 2026 Scottish Young Player of the Year and Scottish Premiership Top Goalscorer awards after playing in 34 Games and registering 18 Goals and 7.13 AR….He has had a decent season back in England this year – in 16 Games, he has 4 Goals, 2 Assists, and 6.87 AR….Born in Buenos Aires, he was scouted by Man United and subsequently bought thanks to his high skill level with the ball at his feet….Besides his fantastic dribbling ability, he has proven quite adept at finding the net, as well….He can play as either a forward or a left winger, but his preference is definitely up front.

 

 

AFRICAN NATIONS CUP – SOUTH AFRICA 2027

Nigeria won its second ANC title in a row and third of the decade, solidifying their status as the most dominant team in Africa in the 2020s….They also reached the Quarter-Finals of World Cup 2026 before getting knocked out by Spain….In the Finals in Mafikeng, Nigeria defeated Morocco 1-0 in a repeat of the 2022 Finals in Cameroon, which Nigeria also won….Morocco last won the tournament in 1976 when it was hosted in Ethiopia, defeating Guinea in the Finals….Everton’s Alex Iwobi won the 2027 Best Player award, with the 30-year-old Nigerian attacking midfielder scoring 4 Goals and registering 7.60 AR on the way to the title….The Gambia shocked the continent by advancing to the Semi-Finals before eventually falling to the defending champions….Burkina Faso fell victim to Morocco in the other Semi-Finals matchup….The hosts South Africa were knocked out by Ivory Coast in the Second Round, disappointing the home fans, who in turn fell to Nigeria in the Quarter-Finals in a rematch of the 2025 Finals….Nigeria is now only one title behind Egypt’s seven in order to equal their record for most times won.

 

 

ASIAN NATIONS CUP – QATAR 2027

For the first time in their history, Thailand lifted the Asian Nations Cup trophy after defeating Iran in Doha, Qatar 3-2 in extra-time….In a highly intense and entertaining match, the Thai team – who were underdogs the entire tournament – overcame the odds with three of the matches five goals coming in the additional 30 minutes….Led by 24-year-old Bayern Munich striker Suphanat Mueanta’s tournament-best 7 Goals, the 2027 Asian Nations Cup Golden Boot winner scored the first goal for the new champions in the Finals….The Best Player award went to Australian Deni Juric, who scored 3 Goals and had a 8.07 AR before getting knocked out by Iran in the Semi-Finals….Thailand played against equally surprising Tajikistan in the other Semi-Finals matchup, but were dominant in their 2-0 victory….The former champions South Korea were defeated by Iran in the Quarter-Finals, and many assumed that the tournament’s trophy was heading to Tehran by the time the Finals came around.

 

 

TRANSFERS

No noteworthy transfers took place during the January 2027 window.

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YOUTH INTAKE 2027

 

[deez0r]

2 big prospects with good personalities! 

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9 hours ago, deez0r said:

2 big prospects with good personalities! 

Super Intake, and I got two Ghanaian players that look like they could develop into something special. 

[abulezz]

NxGn Top 50 Awards 2027

A record three Sophara United players in the NxGn Top 50 this season, led by Jakub Berkovic at 13th and then followed by Akim Lawrence at 18th and Bekir Celik at 30th Place.

 

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THE SOPHARA JOURNAL

SEASON REVIEW 2026/2027

 

TEAM REVIEW

With the nation’s eyes squarely focused on how well Sophara United would do during their first Premier League season, the pressure on the youngest squad in league history was immense. They had risen the ranks from the League Two to the Premier League in just five years, winning the League Two and One titles one after another before grabbing 2^nd Place and an automatic promotion to the world’s most prestigious domestic league in their third season in the Championship. It wasn’t the speed in which they had accomplished that but also the manner – this was a club formed in the vision of its owner/manager Abul Ezz, one that would give young men a chance to make it without the threat or worry of having someone being bought to replace them. This was an investment in these young men, one that would improve their lives and give them every opportunity to make it. This was, in essence, a club that would put forward the results of the Sophara Youth Academy, and so far, the results were defying all the odds and predictions.

Of course, the English Premier League is a whole different animal than any other domestic competition on the planet, and the thinking was that Sophara had finally hit above its weight and were going to crash. The oldest player on the squad would be 23 by the time the season ended and not a single player had been acquired to strengthen holes in the formation and the squad. Abul Ezz had stayed true to his word and throughout the five years before their first season in the Premier League, he had not spent a single penny on buying new players. Instead, any additional income was reinvested in the SYA and the facilities to give the players the best possible environment to develop, including an on-site school for those still in High School and housing close to the home grounds. Abul Ezz also set up his first informal academy in his home nation of Ghana to recruit talented youngsters from there and give them the opportunity in England. That setup netted the club two highly talented youngsters who have now been promoted from the SYA into the Sophara United main set-up. No one had done something like this before and there was no precedence to go by, and with zero evidence such a set-up would work at the highest level of football in the world, most assumed the fall was coming.

With the way the season started, one would not have blamed the naysayers for basking and gloating in their own glory because things were rough the first couple of months. The team sank all the way to 20^th Place at one point and failed to take a single point from its first four matches, sparking a mini panic within the club itself. Abul Ezz preached patience and said once the players – the same ones who have gotten the team this far – got their bearings right and the feeling of being overwhelmed by the difference in talent subsided, the results would start coming. He was right. From mid-September onwards, the results started changing and the team started climbing up the table. By January, the were in a solid mid-table position, putting distance between themselves and the relegation zone with every passing week seemingly. As the season wore on and other teams got tired of chasing after Man City, Abul Ezz turned up the heat and Sophara United went on an impressive run – in fact, after losing to Liverpool on January 20^th, the squad did not lose another Premier League match until the last game of the season against Leicester, a full five months later. The club finished in 9^th Place with 57 Points and the 61 Goals Scored were good enough for 6^th best in the PL. The defense struggled with 74 Goals Conceded, which was 16^th of the 20 teams. It was higher than anyone’s expectations, including Abul Ezz himself, who stated that he was immensely proud of the team and their accomplishments. There was no real success in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, however, as it was a Fourth Round exit against Man City in the former and a Second Round knockout at the hands of Portsmouth in the latter.

The investment put into the SYA and the club’s youth and training facilities have paid off – they are world-class by any standard. The club will also move into its new stadium this summer – Sophara Park currently holds around 16,500 people, but the new Sophara United Stadium will be able to hold just over 25,000 spectators. The financial benefits from playing in the Premier League have had an immediate effect – by the close of the season, the club had over £60M in the bank ready to be reinvested into facilities and what not. The last test of the club – being able to compete in the Premier League – they passed with flying colors. Anyone still doubting the quality of the squad or whether Abul Ezz’s idea was feasible to implement is in the minority after this season’s impressive debut showing. The question is – can they build upon their foundation and create sustainable success?

 

 

GOALKEEPERS

ELVIS KOZIC (Sweden: 7 U21 Caps) – Age: 23 – Position: GK

The team leader with 7.23 AR, Kozic faced injury for the first time in his career, breaking his finger in April which forced him to miss the last month of action. In the five years prior, he had missed only a single match, which came during the 2022/23 season. Incidentally, while the 1.91 Con/90 and 5 Clean Sheets were the lowest of his career, the 7.23 AR was a career high. His importance to the team is clear to all, which is why he signed a new five-year contract which will pay him £28.5k per week. He was named to the PL Team of the Week three times this season, and despite some clear weaknesses (relatively poor shot-stopping and distribution abilities), his value is now at around £15M and there have been calls from the Swedish media to give him a chance with the national team. All the Sophara United backroom staff say he is nothing but a model professional, a great example for the newcomers to follow. He remains the club’s record holder for all-time appearances with 263 Games.

 

 

FULLBACKS

DREW DOWELL (England) – Age: 23 – Position: DL (DC, DR)

Not a great season for Dowell – he was replaced as captain by Andy Holland and ended up having a poor year. In 37 Appearances, he registered only 6.58 AR, down from 6.96 AR during the club’s last season in the Championship last year. Although he has the right attitude and mindset, he simply does not have the strength or speed to be able to contain Premier League wingers and strikers. What kept him in the starting lineup in the lower tiers – defensive instincts and high football IQ – are no longer enough in the Premier League, and the numbers proved just that. He was the weakest link in the starting eleven, and one has to think that Ezz will be carefully studying his options at DL this summer as he did not look like he belonged at this level of football based on his form this season.

 

 

GER LENNON (Ireland: 16 Caps) – Age: 22 – Position: DR (DL)

One of Ireland’s highest valued players at £12.5M, Lennon also struggled in his first year in the Premier League, albeit not as much as Dowell. He tore an abdominal muscle in late September which ruled him out until December, and as a result he only played in 26 Games. He registered a career low 6.69 AR, but his form towards the end of the season was better than at the beginning. He’s got decent technical ability is a fine defender – talent-wise, he has enough of it to be a decent PL-level DR. The latest report on him have him listed as a Championship-level defender, but his 3/5 CA and 3.5/5 PA is second only to Akim Lawrence out of all the starting defenders. He is one of only four players to have represented their nation at the international level, with his 16 Caps the most of any player.

 

 

HOT PROSPECTS & OTHER NOTABLES

The fullback positions continue to lack depth on the squad as the SYA has not netted out of the kind of quality required over the past few years….The best prospect is 18-year-old Patrick Bola (2025, 4+/5 PA), but he is clearly not ready for the Premier League….In 14 Appearances (4 Starts), he registered 6.33 AR, the lowest of any player on the rotation….The Congolese defender is still rated a potential Premier League talent, but he will have to make great strides to live up to that potential….He will be guaranteed playing time as there is no one else that can cover the LB, but he will have to do much better with it if he wants to keep his place in the rotation.

 

 

CENTRAL DEFENDERS

TOM HORGAN (Ireland: 1 Cap) – Age: 23 – Position: DC

A fan favorite and one his manager’s most trusted players, Tom Horgan continued his overachieving ways and ended up having a good first season in the Premier League. He led the league with 69 Key Headers and 523 Clearances, also registering 1.07 TpG, 93 Interceptions, and 7.02 AR. He loves the club, loves his manager, loves the staff, loves the fans, and always gives it his all when he is on the pitch. He won the 2026 Irish Young Player of the Year award – people tend to forget that he just turned 23 as he has been a starting on the team as a pro since the age of 16. Horgan is the ultimate team player and was rewarded with a new contract that will pay him £24k per week, highlighting his value to the team. The former League One Player of the Year (2023) might not be the most talented DC in the league, but no one can complain about his work ethic and the effort he puts in every day.

 

 

AKIM LAWRENCE (England: 8 U21 Caps) – Age: 19 (’23 Youth Class) – Position: DC

One of the team’s top players even though he spent the season moping about how he needs to be at a bigger club. He played in 36 Games, registering a team-high 63.99 PC/90, 96% Passes Completed, 112 Interceptions, and 7.07 AR, the third best on the squad. He is a great defender and retains the label ‘Wonderkid’ as his value has now shot up to nearly £70M. He is wanted by some of the continent’s biggest clubs, but he is still on his rookie contract despite constantly being offered a new one nearly every month. He is still under contract for the next three years so there is no urgency in the matter, but his manager remains committed to keeping the defender at the club. Perhaps the greatest prospect that the SYA has developed in its short history, he was most recently ranked 18^th in the NxGn Top 50 list, a testament to his potential and talent. He is a potential England national team call-up now that he is a starter in the Premier League, proving he can handle some of the world’s best.

 

 

HOT PROSPECTS & OTHER NOTABLES

Although there are a number of DCs on the team that could potentially become a member of the first team, none have taken that step yet….As such, the DC position remains void of any prospects that could contribute next year….The only player outside of Lawrence and Horgan who plays at the position is James Burgess, who turned 23 this year….He played 33 Games (26 Starts), registering 1.51 TpG and 6.79 AR as he covered both the DC and DR positions….There is a camp that believes Burgess should be starting over Lennon or even Horgan, but Abul Ezz is happy with his role off the bench.

 

 

CENTRAL/ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS

JOE SHEPPARD (England: 10 U21 Caps/1 Goal) – Age: 23 – Position: MC

An impressive first season from Sheppard in the Premier League, despite some inconsistent form. He played in 31 Games, registering 8 Goals, 5 Assists, 4 PoMs, and 6.99 AR. He was named in four PL Team of the Weeks this season, and his shirt remains the highest selling number of anyone on the squad. He is one of the most popular players on the squad and is indispensable in the Ezz’s setup as his main player in the middle of the pitch. The third-highest valued player on the squad at £46M, his assists number was down from a career-high 18 last year in the Championship to only 5 as the manager gave his partner in the middle, Ronnie Flood, more freedom to be creative this year. As a result, Sheppard – who was the club’s only playmaker in the middle – had some of the pressure alleviated from his shoulders. Next season, his aim will be to cross the 7.00 AR barrier, something that should happen as he will be more acclimated with Premier League football.

 

 

RONNIE FLOOD (England: Capped at U19) – Age: 23 – Position: MC

No longer the underrated and underappreciated MC partner of Sheppard, Ronnie Flood did well this season despite getting hit with additional responsibilities in the middle of the pitch. He went from being a defensive-minded MC whose focus on stopping the opponents and getting Sheppard involved moving forward to a more rounded MC who took chances to push the pace himself. In 35 Games, he registered 3 Goals, 7 Assists, 2 PoMs, and 6.95 AR, earning himself several fans around the league who were impressed with his motor and work ethic on the pitch. His manager might be his biggest fan, and he regards him as one of his most important players thanks to how smart he is and the decisions he makes on the pitch. He is a fantastic role model for the younger players and his form has been consistent regardless of the league the teams plays in. He was offered a new contract after the season ended that will pay him £31k per week going forward for the next five years.

 

 

HOT PROSPECTS & OTHER NOTABLES

Unlike the defensive positions, there is quite a few prospects who are already part of the rotation at MC….Irish midfielder Tommy Sullivan (2024, 3.5+/5 PA), 18, was the most utilized, playing in 24 Games (8 Starts), registering 6.63 AR in a tough season for the youngster….His improvements have come as a result of hard work in training, and he definitely puts in the effort….His passing has seen tremendous improvement, something which is sure to benefit him as he grows accustomed to Premier League football….Mitch Lewis (2023, 2.5+/5 PA), who turned 20 this year, played in 10 Games and registered 2 Assists and 6.92 AR….He saw his playing dwindle as he just did not show the kind of improvement needed in terms of his ability….Still, he continued to prove he was reliable when called upon, and with Sullivan gave the club a decent rotational lineup at the MC position….Neither Sullivan nor Lewis seem like they will be able to unseat either Sheppard or Flood from their starting positions, however.

 

 

WINGERS

STAN DRUMMOND (England: 2 U21 Caps/1 Goal) – Age: 23 – Position: AMR (AML)

The club’s all-time assists leader went back to his old ways after an off-season last year that saw him only deliver 5 Assists. This season, however, he registered a team-leading 11 Assists while also recording 4 Goals, 50 Key Passes, 1.81 TpG, 2.85 DpG, and 6.82 AR in 33 Games. He actually spent a lot of time playing down the left wing thanks to a combination of the emergence of Berkovec and the lack of talent at LW, and although it is not his favored position, he managed to do a decent job. He is now only 10 Assists from hitting the 100 Assists mark for his career and is only 2 Goals away from getting to the 50 Goals mark. The coaching staff think he has hit his full potential and consider more suited for Championship football than the Premier League, but as long as there is a lack of talent down the left flank, Drummond will be an automatic starter for the club. Both his manager and the player stated that they believe he will be in better next season.

 

 

JAKUB BERKOVEC (Czech Republic: 4 U21 Caps) – Age: 18 (’25 Youth Class) – Position: AMR

The Czech winger has officially become the club’s most valuable player after his impressive season at just under £80M, not that Ezz would think about selling him. Although his form and consistency were not impressive, it was the flashes of brilliance that has everyone buzzing about his potential. He debuted at 13^th Place on the NxGn Top 50 list this year, the highest of all three players from Sophara who made it. In 33 Appearances, he registered 2 Goals, 7 Assists, 85% Passes Completed, a team-leading 3.42 DpG, and 6.74 AR. His progress was fantastic – he was a better player at the end of the season than he was when it first started. He has gained speed, becoming one of the fastest players in the Premier League today, but his main improvement came with his decision-making and his and dribbling ability. A hugely exciting prospect, he is sure to have gained the attention of several of Europe’s big clubs, who will be watching with high interest come next season.

 

 

HOT PROSPECTS & OTHER NOTABLES

The squad has a very clear depth and talent problem at LW, but the other flank also has its issues….Simply put, there is simply no decent talent behind the starters at either wing, and Ezz again had to rely on Lyndon Dsane (2022, 2+/5 PA) to cover and play in the rotation….Dsane simply does not have enough talent to be playing regularly in the Premier League, and there might be relief in the form of Ghanaian rookie Ahmed Razak next season….In any case, Dsane’s greatest strength is that he can cover both wings when need be, although his form and talent leave a lot to be desired.

 

FORWARDS

JOE REARDON (England: Capped at U19) – Age: 23 – Position: SC (MC)

The Sophara United Player of the Year for the fourth season in a row, Reardon was the reliable figure that Ezz could always call on this season. In 32 Appearances, he registered 13 Goals, 10 Assists, 5 PoMs, 19 Clear-Cut Chances, and 7.14 AR, second only to Kozic on the team. The outspoken striker, while his goals were down significantly, was the club’s most dangerous weapon up front with the midfield constantly looking to feed him. His passing skills were also part of the push forward as Reardon was able to deliver passes to the open man in or around the box, resulting in his second straight 10+ Assists season. It is unlikely Reardon will get considered for an England call-up and there is currently no talk about including him, but if he continues to be the best player in one of the Premier League’s better offenses it will be hard for England manager Sean Dyche to not at least make note of him. He is currently the only person who has earned the right to be called an ‘Icon’ of the club – that’s how loved he is by everyone associated with Sophara, whether staff or fans.

 

 

ANDY HOLLAND (England: Capped at U20) – Age: 23 – Position: SC (AML)

The new captain of the club, Andy Holland led the team with 14 Goals in 32 Appearances, registering 1.51 DpG and 6.89 AR. He spent some time playing down the left wing, as well, but playing as striker has proven the best position for him. He now has 134 League Goals for the club over his career in 252 Appearances, and he continues to be perhaps the club’s most influential player in the locker-room. One of the coaches called him a “complete role model for the younger players”, and he is now considered – by his official scouting report – a player that is a decent player for most Premier League clubs’ standards. He has obviously endeared himself to the fans and has displayed unwavering loyalty to the club, earning him a new contract that will pay him £38.5k per week for the next four years. The club’s all-time leading goalscorer will look to continue his contribution across the board next season, although his manager did hint that he will attempt to use Holland more as a facilitator as his Assists numbers dropped from 9 to just 2, something which he suggested will need to rectified.

 

 

HOT PROSPECTS & OTHER NOTABLES

The largest contract in club history was given to 17-year-old Turkish striker Bekir Celik (2025, 4+/5 PA), who turned a number of heads during his second season with the club….In 26 Appearances (22 Starts), he registered 12 Goals, 6 Assists, 3 PoMs, 62% Shot Target, and 7.01 AR….What was most impressive about him was his rate of improvement – by the end of the season, Celik was constantly finding the net and had positioned himself as part of a three-headed attack rotation with Reardon and Holland….Talent-wise, Celik has the potential to far exceed the other two….Next season it will be sure that he will be watched by several teams, as he has the potential be something special.

 

 

END OF SEASON REVIEW

[deez0r]

Fantastic performance!

[abulezz]

12 minutes ago, deez0r said:

Fantastic performance!

Thanks! Definitely exceeded my expectations this season - I was hoping we would avoid a relegation battle, but we did so much better.

What is apparent to me now is just how important the 'Professional' personality trait is - the talent level for the squad is not high but it seems the personality plays a big part in winning. 

[deez0r]

1 hour ago, abulezz said:

Thanks! Definitely exceeded my expectations this season - I was hoping we would avoid a relegation battle, but we did so much better.

What is apparent to me now is just how important the 'Professional' personality trait is - the talent level for the squad is not high but it seems the personality plays a big part in winning. 

Yeah I think so too as well as a very high squad dynamic has a big impact! Which is very helpful in a youth only save!

[abulezz]

MAJOR LEAGUES REVIEW 2026/27

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Winner: BAYERN MUNICH

Bayern Munich dismissed all doubt about whether their dynasty was still relevant, winning their fourth title since 2020 and participating in 6^th Finals in the last 8 years….The dominant club team of the decade, this was the second time they defeat Real Madrid in the Finals – the first time was in 2023….The venue was the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, which witnessed the German Bundesliga champions defeat the Spanish La Liga champions 3-1 despite having a player sent off….Dusan Vlahovic, Bayern Munich’s 27-year-old Serbian striker, tied AC Milan striker and Portugal legend Rafael Leao – who won the World Cup last year with his nation and was voted the tournament’s Best Player – with 10 Goals to lead the competition and was Bayern Munich’s best player throughout….They defeated the defending champions Manchester City in the Second Round before running through Barcelona and surprising Semi-Finalists Porto on their way to Moscow….Real Madrid defeated Paris Saint-Germain in the other Semi-Finals, with the new champions being the only repeat team at this stage from last season….Juventus, last season’s beaten Finalists, were knocked out in the Quarter-Finals by PSG….Bayern Munich’s domination of European football continues as no one can seemingly stop them from being the clear team of the decade.

 

 

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Winner: MANCHESTER CITY

What a season it was for Manchester City, who won their third consecutive title, and their star Norwegian forward Erling Haaland, who set new English Premier League records with an impossible 48 Goals and 7.96 AR in 37 Appearances….There was no stopping Man City behind the strength of their record-breaking striker, who led Norway to the Semi-Finals of the World Cup last summer and captured his third World Golden Ball and World Player of the Year awards this season….Arsenal (2^nd) finished as Runners-Up for the second season a row, ahead of Manchester United (3^rd) and Chelsea (4^th)….Man City were not the only revelation of the season – Sophara United (9^th) made their debut in the PL after just five years of existence, having stormed up the ranks from the League Two to the PL on the backs of youngsters and an almost just-as-young manager in Abul Ezz.

 

 

SPANISH LA LIGA

Winner: REAL MADRID

The defending champions made it two in a row as Real Madrid – who lost in the Champions League Finals against Bayern Munich – finished ahead of Barcelona (2^nd) by five points….Once again, Real Madrid were led by Kylian Mbappe (38 Apps, 24 Gls, 5 Asts, 10 PoMs, 7.66 AR) who remains the biggest star in the league….The Player of the Year award went to Pedri (34 Apps, 14 Gls, 17 Asts, 12 PoMs, 7.97 AR) for the second straight season, as the 24-year-old midfielder almost singlehandedly led his club to a title….His 7.97 AR set a new La Liga record, breaking his own record of 7.84 AR set last year….Atletico Madrid (3^rd) finished ahead of 2025 champions Real Sociedad (4^th) as they took the last two Champions League spots….This was Real Madrid’s 5^th title of the decade and 4^th since bringing on Mbappe.

 

 

 

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA

Winner: BAYERN MUNICH

This season Bayern Munich won its 15^th title in a row, an absolutely incredible feat….They also won their 4^th Champions League title of the decade, as well, solidifying their status as the best club in the world over the past ten years….Winning his first German Player of the Year award was Bayern Munich’s 24-year-old midfieder Jamal Musiala (34 Apps, 18 Gls, 8 Asts, 7.51 AR) as he has becomes perhaps his club’s most important player….Wolfsburg (2^nd) had their highest finish since 2015, with Leipzig (3^rd) and Borussia M’gladbach (4^th) grabbing the final two Champions League spots ahead of Borussia Dortmund (5^th)….The champions have had no equal and with the talent on the squad, it looks like the only people that can defeat Bayern Munich will likely be themselves.

 

 

ITALIAN SERIE A

Winner: JUVENTUS

Making it five titles in a row, Juventus have become the undisputed best team in Italy in the 2020s….A big reason for that has been the play of club and country legend Federico Chiesa (23 Apps, 5 Gls, 7 Asts, 7 PoMs, 7.67 AR), who won the Seria A Player of the Year for the second consecutive year and for the 4^th time overall….This means that Juventus have now won the Serie A title in 15 of the last 17 years, with the only hiatus coming in 2021 and 2022….The 2021 champions Inter Milan (2^nd) grabbed a Champions League spot for the first time since they’re title-winning season….The two clubs based in the capital – Lazio (3^rd) and Roma (4^th) – ended up taking the last two CL spots, as the 2022 champions AC Milan (6^th) had a disappointing finish.

 

 

FRENCH LIGUE 1

Winner: PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

As close as last season was for Paris Saint-Germain – winning the title by just one point – this season was even closer against the same opponent….Monaco (2^nd) lost out on the title due to Goal Difference as they finished tied with PSG at 79 Points….Led by the 2025 World U21 Footballer of the Year Ilias Akhomach (32 Apps, 10 Gls, 5 Asts, 7 PoMs, 7.70 AR), Monaco nearly became the team to end PSG’s run of six straight titles, but it was not to be….The 23-year-old Spanish winger won the 2027 Ligue 1 Best Player award, nearly taking down the juggernaut that is PSG….Lille (3^rd) beat out Lyon (4^th) for the final Champions League spot as the season ended with the same top four as the previous year….Ansu Fati (31 Apps, 14 Gls, 6 Asts, 4 PoMs, 7.65 AR) won the Top Goalscorer award for the first time despite only scoring 14 Goals as he won his third title with PSG since joining them from Barcelona in 2024.

 

Edited November 29, 2021 by abulezz

[abulezz]

SUMMER 2027

 

U20 WORLD CUP – Mexico Win for the First Time in Honduras

Mexico won its first ever U20 World Cup, defeating Italy in the Finals in the city of San Pedro Sula in Honduras….The former champions USA showed that their win in 2025 was no fluke, making it to the Semi-Finals before losing to the eventual champions on penalties….They defeated Portugal to take home the bronze….The USA defeated Brazil in the Quarter-Finals in a big upset, while Portugal had taken out France at the same stage….There was no standout performers this year at the U20 World Cup, with no one proving that they are a potential superstar in the making.

 

 

EURO U21 CHAMPIONSHIP – France Takes Home First Title in 40 Years

An entertaining tournament that saw France lift its first title since 1988 and second overall, it was also the first time since 2007 that the hosts won the trophy….Denmark surprisingly made the Finals, led by the Best Player award winner Morten Pedersen (6 Apps, 3 Gls, 7.65 AR)….The 19-year-old Bayer Leverkusen forward nearly led his nation to the title, defeating Spain in the Quarter-Finals and Serbia in the next round….France defeated Portugal on penalties in the Semi-Finals, with the Portuguese being led by the Golden Boot award winner Jose Mora (4 Apps, 6 Gls), Benfica’s 19-year-old striker….The defending champions England topped their group but fell to France in the Quarter-Finals, who took their revenge as the 2025 Finals saw the former defeat the latter.

 

 

NORTH AMERICAN GOLD CUP – Two in a Row for Canada

In a tournament that has historically been dominated by two teams (USA and Mexico) over the course of most of its history, it was a third team in Canada that has now won it in two consecutive tries….Prior to their first title in 2025, Canada had never reached the Finals, but they defeated at-the-time defending champions Jamaica in their first go….This year, they won over Mexico on penalties after the match ended 0-0 at The Rose Bowl in Los Angeles….In the previous round, they had defeated Jamaica again in a rematch of the 2025 Finals….The USA, the second dominant power in the tournament’s history, succumbed to the Jamaicans – who reached the Quarter-Finals of the World Cup 2026 – in the Quarter-Finals….Mexico defeated Costa Rica 4-1 in the other Semi-Final matchup….With the win, Canada become the first team to repeat as champions since Mexico did it in 2011.

 

 

NOTABLE TRANSFERS

JOAO FELIX, 27 (Portugal: 86 Caps/34 Goals) - £116M (£204M) from Manchester City to Bayern Munich: The strong keep getting in stronger – in a sensational move, World Cup winnger Joao Felix made the move from Manchester City to Bayern Munich in a deal that could potentially end up being the largest transfer in football history if all the clauses are met….The current largest transfer is Neymar’s £195M move from Barcelona to PSG in 2017….Incidentally, Bayern Munich defeated Man City in the Champions League Finals this past season….Felix has been fantastic for Man City over the last two years as he was one of the club’s most important players and played well during Portugal’s title-winning run at World Cup 2026….He has become one of the game’s ultimate winners – he won the Spanish La Liga with Atletico Madrid in 2021, the English Premier title three times in a row (2025, ’26, ’27), the Champions League twice (2024, ’26), the Portuguese Premier League (2019), and the World Cup in at USA/Canada/Mexico 2026….The ‘Elite Attacking Midfielder’ is set to be paid 425k per week in Germany, strengthening the 2020s strongest dynasty even further.

[abulezz]

GOAL 50 2027

 

WINNER

ERLING HAALAND (Norway: 78 Caps/55 Goals) – Manchester City, 27-years-old, SC (Previous: 2^nd)

Since the summer of 2026 when he led Norway to the Semi-Finals of World Cup 2026, Haaland has been undisputedly the finest footballer in the world today….The biggest star in the game remains Mbappe, but in terms of actual play on the field, Haaland has no equal currently….He led Man City to their third consecutive title, shattering the English Premier League record with 48 Goals and 7.96 AR….As such, he was awarded the 2027 PL Footballer of the Year and Best Player in Europe for the second consecutive season and recaptured European Golden Shoe from AC Milan’s Rafael Leao….He is the heavy favorite to capture the World awards in a couple of months….His current season has already gotten off to a blistering start, scoring 16 Goals in just 10 Appearances….The Norwegian striker has taken the positions to unprecedented levels of form, and much is expected of him over the next five years.

 

 

2ND PLACE

KYLIAN MBAPPE (France: 119 Caps/51 Goals) – Real Madrid, 28-years-old, SC/AMR (Previous: Winner)

Mbappe was stopped by Haaland from becoming the first player to win the Goal 50 award over three consecutive years, but he still had an incredible one….He led Real Madrid to their second consecutive title and third overall since joining the club over five years ago….Since joining the club, Mbappe has won all five Top Goalscorer awards in his five seasons, scoring 24 Goals last season to take it….He came 2^nd in the La Liga Player of the Year to Barcelona’s Pedri, however, who had an incredible season in his won right….The French forward is the most popular and well-known player in football today, and his rivalry with Erling Haaland has been a natural replacement to the Ronaldo vs. Messi rivalry of the 2010s and early 2020s….He is the most naturally talented and complete player on the planet, guaranteed to become one of the game’s greatest players of all-time.

 

 

3RD PLACE

DUSAN VLAHOVIC (Serbia: 69 Caps/39 Goals) – Bayern Munich, 27-years-old, SC (Previous: 17^th)

After being Bayern Munich’s best player during their Champions League-winning title run during the 2025/26 season and grabbing his first, Vlahovic catapulted fourteen spots from 17^th to 3^rd Place in the latest Goal 50 list….The 2027 Champions League Forward of the Season and German Footballer of the Year, the Serbian is now considered a global superstar and has been labeled ‘Elite Striker’….Bayern Munich has listed his official value at close to £250M, showing just how important he has become to the greatest club team in the world of the 2020s….He moved to Bayern Munich from Fiorentina for £76M in 2023, but it wasn’t until the 2025/26 season that he truly began to make an impression….He has recorded 7.71 and 7.72 AR over the past two years, respectively, and is now entering the prime of his career.

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Wow - this is the best preview I've had yet. I hope this lives up to its expectation.

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YOUTH INTAKE 2027

This looks like an exceptional intake -  the investment in youth facilities/junior coaching/recruitment is paying huge dividends.

 

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NxGN 50 2028

A record four Sophara Players this year, and all of the top three coming from Central and South America. 

 

WINNER

LUIS ROSAS, (Mexico: 2 Caps), MC – Pachuca, 19-years-old (Previous: 2^nd)

Luis Rosas moved up from 2^nd Place during the last year’s list the winner of the award, having earned 2 Caps for his nation during this past year….He’s been a starter for his club the past two years, but this season his form has attracted the interest of some of the largest clubs in the world, including the likes of Man City and Chelsea….What he lacks in size and strength he makes up for with his fantastic technical ability as well as his tough play….Just as good defending as he is pushing forward, he is sure to have a big money move to Europe happening soon.

 

 

2ND PLACE

DEIGO CARABALI (Colombia: 6 Caps), DC – Boca Juniors, 19-years-old (Previous: 20^th)

Moving up eighteen spots, the Colombian international defender was acquired by Boca Juniors (ARG) for £1.3M from his boyhood club Atletico Nacional….The ‘Wonderkid’ has been a starter since last year for his new club and is currently wanted by Monaco and Porto….A strong defender with no real weakness, he earned his first cap at the age of 18….His official value is just under £8M, and if any team can snag for number close to that they will have gotten a great steal….He has a great attitude and is a hard-worker, potentially a future leader for both club and country.

 

 

3RD PLACE

FABRICIO CALVO (Costa Rica: 26 Caps/2 Goals), DC – Leon (MEX), 18-years-old (Previous: 26^th)

Already a full-fledged international with 26 Caps despite his young age, Calvo was acquired from Saprissa in his home nation by Leon (MEX) for £775k at the beginning of the season….The defender has been highly impressive since the move, registering 7.01 AR in 26 Games….Costa Rica produced last year’s NxGn winner in striker Juan Juarez, who is now with Fiorentina in Italy….A strong, physical player, Calvo is sure to be subject to many offers in the next couple of years as his stature grows.

 

 

OTHER NOTABLES

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THE SOPHARA JOURNAL

SEASON REVIEW 2027/2028

 

TEAM REVIEW

After what was inherently a successful first season for Sophara United in 2026/27 – where they managed to finish in 9^th Place – the team was expected falter in its sophomore campaign and enter a relegation battle as it was meant to do. The arguments remained the same – the team was too young, not talented enough, the concept of only fielding Sophara Youth Academy players was not sustainable, and so forth. What goes unsaid is because of the intense focus on player development that goes on at the Sophara United training ground, because of the amount of science and data that goes into analyzing the players and their performances, because of the concentration on specific weaknesses and strengths of the team, the players have shown unprecedented development and progress in their skills over the past few years. With no options but to develop its own players, Sophara United has been ruthlessly efficient in its player development, to the point that a few of its prospects are now considered some of the most talented players 20 and under in the world. The proof of that came in the 2028 NxGn Top 50 list, where four Sophara players were named on it.

Given all the positives, it should not have been a surprise the team did not regress – in fact, they finished in the same 9^th Place as the previous season, with the difference being having finished with 55 Points instead of 57. The offense, however, was much improved, up from 61 to 74 Goals, the 4^th best in the Premier League. The defense was still problematic (75 Goals Conceded, 19^th in the league), but even that section of the team is starting to have some potentially solid prospects coming through. The highlight of the team was Bekir Celik, the 18-year-old Turkish striker who was on fire, coming in 3^rd in the PL with 28 Goals and winning the 2028 PL Young Player of the Year award. Abul Ezz deemed it a season ‘that was pretty much the ideal year’ for the club – they maintained the status quo, stayed in the Premier League in comfortable fashion, and developed a number of young players who look like they are getting ready to contribute and play at a PL level soon. The cups were still a pain, however – both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup saw Fourth Round exits.

Like the year before, the start of the season was rough, but the ship was righted and past October the team were no where near the relegation zone. The bank account went over £100M for the first time with Ezz saying a lot of that is going to go back into reinvesting in youth academies all over the world. The first one has already been opened in Accra, Ghana, and so far, it has netted a number of prospects, including two rookies that have already made their debut for the club in Ahmed Razak and Mohammed Adu. The Sophara United Stadium – which was opened to the public just last summer – was at full capacity all season, with the Sophara United squad becoming an immensely popular team with a growing following. Can they defy the odds and push for a European place next year or are they still not good enough to push past the mid-table?

 

 

GOALKEEPERS

ELVIS KOZIC (Sweden: 7 U21 Caps) – Age: 24 – Position: GK

One of the most important and indispensable players on the team over the past seven years, the all-time league appearance record holder for the club’s time as a starter might be up. With the emergence of rookie Darrell Allen coming into play next season, the talk around the Sophara grounds is that Allen might receive the starting GK position from the get-go next year. If that is indeed true, it will be through no fault of Kozic, who has been a trooper and one the club’s finest players. In 33 Games, he registered 2.00 Con/90, 3 Clean Sheets, and 7.13 AR, just over his career average of 7.10 AR. The skill level difference between Kozic and Allen is clear, however, even if Allen is mostly potential for now and Kozic is pretty much fully developed. The Swedish U21 GK has been a ‘Model Professional’ throughout his time with the club so far but it is yet to be seen how he will respond to becoming the first choice off the bench. His contributions to the team have been undeniable, and there has not yet been an official word from Ezz about the issue, but it is well-documented that the Sophara United manager is enamored with skill and potential of his rookie GK.

 

 

FULLBACKS

PATRICK BOLA (France: 2 U21 Caps) – Age: 19 (’25 Youth Class) – Position: DL

The third year of Bola’s career was the charm – his growth both off and on the pitch has been remarkable. Case in point: last season, he registered 6.33 AR in 14 Games – this year, he earned his starting spot by registering 6.91 AR in 33 Games while his 135 Interceptions was 3^rd best in the Premier League. The change in form was immense, and he looked like a completely different player this season, playing with confidence and maturity he had not displayed yet over the course of his young career. He showed exceptional improvement in his defensive skills but also grew and matured physically, which had a lot to do with his improving confidence. His 4+/5 PA remains intact as both those inside and outside the club think highly of him – in fact, he earned his first caps for France’s U21 side this season. He was named three times to the PL Team of the Week as he had some outstanding games. Yes, he can work on his consistency more and yes, he ability with the ball at his feet is not the best, but Ezz has already seen enough to entrust him with a starting spot that replaces the club’s former captain in Drew Dowell.

 

 

GER LENNON (Ireland: 17 Caps) – Age: 23 – Position: DR (DL)

Despite being an Ireland international and generally considered one of the best players on the team, Lennon has continued to struggle in the Premier League. He failed to make an impression again this season, playing in 34 Games but only registering 6.66 AR, the lowest of his career. His was the lowest of any starter by a sizable margin, and both his CA and PA ratings have been downgraded to 3/5 – the latter is surprising as he carried a 5/5 PA up until recently. This is not to say he doesn’t have his positives – he is a complete role model for the younger players, he is smart with high football IQ, and he is an extremely hard worker on and off the pitch. That being said, there is talk that Burgess might get a run at the DR position next season if Lennon doesn’t start the season off on the right track.

 

 

HOT PROSPECTS & OTHER NOTABLES

The former and first ever captain of the club, Drew Dowell (20 Apps, 2.15 TpG, 6.39 AR), had his worst season to date….His form was compromised to the point that he was no longer a viable starting option as opposing teams constantly attacked Dowell’s flank with success….He became such a liability that Ezz was forced to throw Bola into the starting lineup despite the young French defender having an equally bad season last year….Bola responded well, and Dowell is unlikely to make it back into the starting lineup going forward….James Burgess (31 Apps, 1.23 TpG, 6.70 AR) remained the primary defender off the bench for the squad, only having 7 Starts this season….It looks like he might be in line for an extended run at DR if Lennon does not improve next season….Burgess has been with the club since its first days, playing a big role in its League Two and League One seasons….The full-back positions are void of young prospects in the U23 and U18 teams, so Dowell and Burgess will remain part of the rotation for the near future.

 

 

CENTRAL DEFENDERS

TOM HORGAN (Ireland: 1 Cap) – Age: 24 – Position: DC

This was a tough season overall for Sophara United’s defense, and Horgan’s 6.91 AR was the lowest of his career. Still, the fan favorite remained a solid contributor and was, again, one of the league’s strongest players in the air. The staff do not consider him talented enough to be a Premier League level DC, but you wouldn’t know it watching him play. His smartness, his leadership, and his ability with the ball in the air has kept him not only a viable starter, but he also leaves no large gaps to be filled due to weaknesses. He came in 3^rd Place in the 2027 Irish Player of the Year award, one year after winning the 2026 Irish Young Player of the Year. If the defense can tighten up a bit next season, surely Horgan’s numbers will reflect that and improve, as well. This year, he led the league with 58 Key Headers and 477 Clearances and came in 2^nd with 13 Key Tackles. One of the most mature players on the team, he has become one of the primary leaders for his manager Abul Ezz.

 

 

AKIM LAWRENCE (England: 14 U21 Caps) – Age: 20 (’23 Youth Class) – Position: DC

The grumbling about wanting to leave for a bigger club grew louder and more vocal this season as Lawrence continues to embroil the club in his contract drama. He is still on his youth contract of £250 per week, refusing to sign a new one despite monthly attempts by his manager to get him on the table. The ‘Wonderkid’ and ‘Model Professional’ did not let the off-the-pitch drama affect his play, however – in 37 Games, he registered 97% Passes Completed, 66.58 PC/90, 101 Interceptions, and 7.04 AR, which is right about his career average. Both seasons in the PL have seen him average over 7.00 AR, and although he is already considered a Premier League-level DC, the official report on him suggests he still has a lot of room for growth and improvement. The first ‘Wonderkid’ the SYA has ever produced, he is a consistent and highly reliable player despite his relatively young age. He is one of three players on the team that carry a 4/5 CA rating (Berkovec and Celik are the others), and Ezz understands the importance of keeping the English/Dominican defender on the team. Whether he relents and signs a new contract with the team remains to be seen, however.

 

 

HOT PROSPECTS & OTHER NOTABLES

Mohammed Adu (3 Apps, 6.27 AR) made his debut in what was his rookie season, although he failed to make an impression….The 16-year-old is very young and no judgement was passed on his poor play, with the official rating of 4+/5 PA the same as when he graduated from the SYA into the main team….He showed decent improvement off the pitch – his strength and his marking ability were noticeably better by the end of the season….His value is at £13.5M and a lot of experts around the league believe he carries the potential to be a good DC in the Premier League in the future….Currently, he is the only prospect worth reporting about in the main team, although there are some fresh blood that have come up from the SYA that will be watched with interest.

 

 

CENTRAL/ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS

JOE SHEPPARD (England: 10 U21 Caps/1 Goal) – Age: 24 – Position: MC

Sheppard had an impressive first season in the PL last year, with the only criticism being some inconsistent form that resulted in a career-low 6.99 AR. There were no complaints this year, however, as he got used to the new, higher level of football. In 37 Appearances, he registered 9 Goals, 13 Assists (2^nd in PL), 4 PoMs, 1.06 TpG, 80% Passes Completed, and 7.09 AR. Not only that, but he was 2^nd in the PL to the exceptional Phil Foden with 27 Clear-Cut Chances and 8^th in 101 Key Passes. Perhaps most impressively, his 518.70km Distance Covered was also top of the league. He was named in the PL Team of the Week four times throughout the season, and the ‘Model Professional’ has now seen his value shoot up to nearly £45M. His shirt was, again, the highest selling of any at the club as he remains arguably its most popular player. He performed well above average in all key statistics for his position this season.

 

 

RONNIE FLOOD (England: Capped at U19) – Age: 24 – Position: MC

Sheppard and Flood has become names that are synonymous with the success of Sophara United – where you find one, you will find the other. The MC partners for the club since its first game, Flood takes care of the dirty work that allows Sheppard to control the team’s offensive pushes forward through the middle. In 35 Games, he registered 6 Assists, 84% Passes Completed, 1.03 DpG, and 6.94 AR, almost the same as last year’s 6.95 AR. Because he takes on a more defensive role, his job has been tougher as the team has been considerably weaker on the defensive end than up front. One of the smartest players on the squad, his decision making out of the defensive line has been paramount in the Ezz’s gameplan. He now has 7.04 AR with 60 Assists over his career in 286 League Games.

 

 

HOT PROSPECTS & OTHER NOTABLES

With Abul Ezz’s reliance on his starting MC, there has not been a lot of opportunity for others to push into their playing time….The first name off the bench at the position this past season was Tommy Sullivan (16 Apps, 6.76 AR), with the 19-year-old Irish midfielder improving his form from 6.63 AR the previous year….Part of the ’24 Youth Class – one that initially look deep but has not lived up to expectation – Sullivan is the only player from that Intake who has made into the team’s rotation….The Ireland U21 international (16 U21 Caps) has fantastic passing ability, as his 85% Passes Completed can testify….He has now played in 61 League Games since breaking into the first team.

 

 

WINGERS

STAN DRUMMOND (England: 2 U21 Caps/1 Goal) – Age: 24 – Position: AMR (AML)

The Premier League has not been too kind to Drummond – his form has shown noticeable regression over the past two years as compared to those before. Last season, his 6.82 AR was a career-low – this season, he registered a new one with 6.81 AR in 30 Games. His 4 Goals and 4 Assists were also career-lows, although in his defense, he spent the season playing down the left wing when is naturally a right winger. A tough and fast player, he is a fan favorite and a great leader for the squad. Currently, there is no one can replace him in the starting lineup at left wing despite a few prospects starting to break into the first team rotation – it is unlikely Ezz will rely on them over Drummond. He might be the ‘Assist King’ he was a few years ago during his time in the League Two, League One, and even Championship, but he is still a player that can get the job done when called upon. The improvement expected of him

 

 

JAKUB BERKOVEC (Czech Republic: 1 Cap) – Age: 19 (’25 Youth Class) – Position: AMR

After a relatively tough first season in the Premier League, the Czech RW improved significantly this year, playing in all 38 Games and registering 4 Goals, 10 Assists, 1.52 TpG, 4.03 DpG, and 6.86 AR. He was voted the 2027 Czech Young Player of the Year before earning his first cap for his nation when they lined up against Italy. Twice voted to the Team of the Week this season, he was also named the PL Young Player of the Month for the month of April. He has become the first Sophara United player in the club’s history to receive an official value of £100M, although he has also started being vocal about wanting to leave for a bigger club. The ‘Wonderkid’ from the western part of the Czech Republic has made the RW his own, unseating Drummond from the position after showing the right dedication off the pitch and the right form on it. He does not turn 20 until the end of next season, so continued progress is expected in terms of abilities on the pitch. He is already very fast and physical and he has shown immense growth in maturity and the mental aspect of the game. Along with Lawrence and Celik, he has the potential to be the most exciting player the SYA has produced yet.

 

 

HOT PROSPECTS & OTHER NOTABLES

The only player worth noting currently is rookie Ahmed Razak (15 Apps, 2 Gls, 5 Asts, 2.10 DpG, 6.76 AR), who was one of the two players brought in from the cub’s new youth academy set-up in Ghana….Still only 16-years-old, he had a relatively impressive rookie season and is being groomed to be the club’s starting LW in the next few years….Although small in stature, he has displayed good speed and agility to even out his lack of strength….A flamboyant player, he has also displayed good team play and a willingness to pass despite his ability to dribble pass the opposition….He has a 4+/5 PA and is an exciting prospect for the team going forward.

 

 

FORWARDS

JOE REARDON (England: Capped at U19) – Age: 24 – Position: SC (MC)

For the first time in five years, Reardon was not voted the club’s best player, giving up the award to his young partner up front. That doesn’t mean that Reardon was any worse than he was before – in fact, his form was better than last season. He did, however, face injuries throughout the season that might have inhibited him, including a calf injury at the end of the March that ruled him out for the almost the entirety of the remainder of the season. He ended up playing in 29 Games, registering 14 Goals, 8 Assists, 2 PoMs, and 7.17 AR, up from 7.14 AR the previous season. He was named in the PL Team of the Week twice, and he remains Ezz’s talisman up front. Like the rest of the original squad that played in Sophara United’s first game seven years ago, he is an exceptional example for the younger players and is considered a ‘Model Professional’ who has an undying loyalty to the club and his manager and is universally loved at the club.

 

 

BEKIR CELIK (Turkey: 5 U21 Caps/5 U21 Goals) – Age: 18 (’25 Youth Class) – Position: SC

It is no easy feat to replace the club captain and legend Andy Holland in the starting lineup, but after the way Celik started the season, he left his manager no choice. The newly crowned Premier League Young Player of the Year, Celik scored 29 Goals (3^rd in the PL) in 36 Games, also registering 9 Assists, 7 PoMs, 54% Shot Target, and 7.40 AR. That kind of form earned him the 2027 World U21 Young Player of the Year and European Golden Boy awards, as well as the 2028 Sophara United Player of the Year and 2027 Turkish Footballer of the Year. There was no stopping him this season, and he broke the club record by scoring 5 Goals against Leeds in the Premier League. His improvement was beyond dramatic in all respects – physically, mentally, and in his on-the-pitch abilities. The fact that he is only 18 has turned heads all over the world, especially considering he competes in the most competitive league on the planet. Celik is a star in the making, and along with Akim Lawrence and Jakub Berkovec, represents the success of the Sophara Youth Academy and the type of quality it is producing. As for Celik, he has put himself in the conversation when it comes to the world’s greatest young stars.

 

 

HOT PROSPECTS & OTHER NOTABLES

Club captain Andy Holland (30 Apps, 7 Gls, 4 Asts, 2 PoMs, 6.77 AR) was relegated from starter to rotational player after Celik started nailing multiple goals in matches at the beginning of the season….That being said, Holland remained happy with his playing time and contributions as he remained a big part of the squad….The 24-year-old covered both striker positions as well as the left wing, but a hamstring injury in early March took him out of action for more than a month….Ezz reassured Holland that he will remain the captain and also about his playing time going into next season….Outside of Holland, however, there have not been any young prospects who have managed to crack the rotation other than Celik.

 

 

END OF SEASON REVIEW

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MAJOR LEAGUES REVIEW 2027/28

 

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Winner: BAYERN MUNICH

After years of investing literally billions of pounds into players, Paris Saint-Germain finally captured the biggest prize of them all – the Champions League trophy is now the possession of the French capital….Having made the Finals only once before (in 2020, losing to Bayern Munich), PSG were able to defeat Real Madrid 2-0 in Budapest….This was the second Finals in a row that the Spanish La Liga champions had lost – last year, it was Bayern Munich who won over them in Moscow….The French Ligue 1 champions defeated the defending Champions League champions Bayern Munich in the Semi-Finals, while Real Madrid took care of newly crowned Italian Serie A champions Inter Milan in the other tie….For the second straight year, there were no English Premier League teams in the Semi-Finals, with only Inter Milan not having gotten to this stage last season, replacing FC Porto….There were no standout performers this season in the Champions League – the new title-holder’s best player was their GK Gianluigi Donnarumma (13 Apps, 7 GC, 6 CS, 7.27 AR), who the CL GK of the Season for the first time in his career.

 

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Winner: MANCHESTER CITY

For the first time in English Premier League history, a team won the title four seasons in a row….That team, of course, is Manchester City, who were led by an explosive Erling Haaland (35 Apps, 49 Gls, 10 PoMs, 7.98 AR)….The 27-year-old Norwegian World Golden Ball and World Player of the Year broke his own records with the 49 Goals and 7.98 AR, ones which he had set last year….Haaland’s two year stretch rivals that of any player in the history of football – he has been simply unstoppable and without a doubt the finest footballer in the world….He was named the PL Footballer of the Year for the 3^rd consecutive time and the 4^th time overall....Phil Foden (30 Apps, 6 Gls, 24 Asts, 11 PoMs, 7.88 AR) would have been voted the league's best player in any other season, as the as the 28-year-old Man City 'Icon' broke the Premier League record for most assists this season….Arsenal (2^nd) and Manchester United (3^rd) finished in the same positions as the year before, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta taking home his second PL Manager of the Year award in the last three years….Southampton (4^th), who won the Europa League II this year, surprisingly took the last Champions League spot, beating out Chelsea (5^th), Tottenham (6^th), and a disappointing Liverpool (10^th) to make the competition for the first time in 45 years….Sophara United (9^th) finished in the same position as last year when many people were writing them off as a one season wonder, proving to the world that they belong after being led by the play of 18-year-old Turkish striker and newly crowned PL Young Player of the Year Bekir Celik (34 Apps, 29 Gls, 9 Asts, 7.40 AR).

 

 

 

SPANISH LA LIGA

Winner: REAL MADRID

It is now three in a row for Real Madrid, who also made the Champions League Finals and lost for the second consecutive year….Kylian Mbappe (38 Apps, 20 Gls, 13 Asts, 12 PoMs, 7.81 AR) was his usual brilliant self – the 29-year-old French forward set new career highs with his 12 PoMs and 7.81 AR….It was Barcelona’s (2^nd) 24-year-old midfielder Pedri (36 Apps, 9 Gls, 13 Asts, 11 PoMs, 7.83 AR) who beat Mbappe for the La Liga Player of the Year, however, winning it for the third consecutive season….Zinedine Zidane, in his third go as manager of Real Madrid, won his third straight Manager of the Year award, and his fourth overall….Real Sociedad (3^rd) continued their strong play, and are joined in the Champions League by Atletico Madrid (4^th), who beat out Villareal (5^th) by one point.

 

 

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA

Winner: BAYERN MUNICH

It is now an incredible 16 Bundesliga titles in a row for the ‘Team of the 2020s’ Bayern Munich….Joshua Kimmich (33 Apps, 2 Gls, 7 Asts, 7.38 AR) has handed over the reigns of superstar of the team to Jamal Musiala (33 Apps, 16 Gls, 7 Asts, 9 PoMs, 7.85 AR), who won the Bundesliga Player of the Year for the second straight season….His 7.85 AR was a career-high, as the 25-year-old has blossomed from one of the most exciting young prospects in the game during the early 2020s to one of its finest players in the late 2020s….Leipzig (2^nd) retook its Runners-Up position after giving it up last year to Wolfsburg (6^th), who could not repeat their qualification into the Champions League….Borussia Dortmund (3^rd) have finished in the same position for three of the past four years….Hoffeneim (4^th) had their best finish in five years and will be returning to the CL next season as they grabbed the last qualification spot, led by new Bundesliga Manager of the Year, the 51-year-old Wolfgang Schneider, who just completed his first year with the club.  

 

 

ITALIAN SERIE A

Winner: INTER MILAN

Inter Milan won its first Serie A title in seven years, and its 20^th of all-time….They unseated Juventus (3^rd), who had won it five straight seasons previously….Between them finished AC Milan (2^nd), with Roma (4^th) grabbing the last Champions League spot….Frederico Chiesa (35 Apps, 4 Gls, 12 Asts, 10 PoMs, 7.74 AR) won the Serie A Player of the Year again, as the 30-year-old Juventus legend continues to be the league’s biggest star….Other than Chiesa, there were no standout players this season, as Inter Milan won the title in the typical Italian way – through teamplay, strong defense, and controlled tempo….Dejan Stankovic, Inter Milan’s manager, won the Serie A Manager of the Year award for the second straight season….He has been at the helm of the club for the three seasons now, and the 49-year-old former Inter Milan and Lazio (and Serbian international) has done a fantastic job of taking the club back to the top.

 

 

FRENCH LIGUE 1

Winner: PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

It was an easier title defense this season for Paris Saint-Germain, who have now made it seven in a row, 10 in the past 11, and 14 titles in the past 16 years….This year, however, PSG got to add the Champions League title to their trophy case for the first time in their history….Mauricio Pochettino, who has been in charge of the club since 2021, has become a legend in the French capital after winning so many Ligue 1 and the CL title….Lyon (2^nd) finished ahead of last year’s Runners-Up Monaco (3^rd), making it back to the Champions League after a two years’ absence….The top three were clearly the best teams in France this season, with Rennes (4^th) finishing six points behind Monaco.

 

[abulezz]

That's the highest profile job interview I have been asked for yet in the save - PSG are the current Champions League title holders.

[abulezz]

 SUMMER 2028

 

EURO 2028  – France Makes it Two in a Row at Italy 2028

France faced off against Serbia at the Euro 2028 Finals in Milan, the defending champions against a team that had twice made the Finals in 1960 and 1968 as Yugoslavia….It was a wildly entertaining Finals that saw France come out as 4-2 winners….France went through the entire tournament winning every game, defeating England in the Semi-Finals and Germany in the Quarter-Finals….Serbia, on their part, defeated the hosts Italy in the other Semi-Finals match….Kylian Mbappe (4 Apps, 6 Gls, 2 Asts, 7.95 AR) won the Euro Best Player award despite only playing in 4 Games out of the 7 that his nation played….Serbia were led by Bayern Munich’s Dusan Vlahovic (6 Apps, 6 Gls, 7.60 AR) and Borussia Dortmund’s Filip Stevanovic (6 Apps, 2 Gls, 7.67 AR), impressing throughout their run to the San Siro in Milan….England lost to France in the Semi-Finals for the second straight tournament, while the only newcomer to that stage of the competition was Serbia….France become only the second team in the history of the tournament to win two titles in a row – the first team was Spain, who won it in 2008 and 2012….In terms of Sophara United, it had two players participating – Jakub Berkovec for the Czech Republic and Bekir Celik for Turkey, although both played bit parts and were not part of the rotation for either country.      

 

 

COPA AMERICA 2028 – Venezuela Shocks in Argentina

Perhaps the most surprising Copa America winner in the history of the competition, Venezuela defeated Uruguay in the Finals in Buenos Aires, Argentina….Despite barely qualifying from the Group Stages, Venezuela defeated the two most storied and accomplished teams on the continent in Brazil and the hosts Argentina….In the Quarter-Finals, they won Brazil 2-1 before defeating the hosts 1-0 in the Semi-Finals….Uruguay defeated Colombia and Chile in the same rounds, respectively….Julian Alvarez (7 Apps, 1 Goal, 3 Asts, 7.69 AR), Man City and Argentina’s right winger, won the tournament’s Best Player while the Top Goalscorer award went to Uruguay and Valencia’s striker Maxi Gomez (4 Apps, 6 Gls, 8.23 AR)….This was Venezuela’s first trip to the Finals, winning it thanks the tactics of manager Leonardo Gonzalez as they had no stand-out performer.

 

 

EURO U19 CHAMPIONSHIP – Ireland Play Host as Portugal Wins First Title in Ten Years

Portugal won their 5^th Euro U19 title this summer, defeating the now former defending champions Turkey in the Finals….Dublin, Ireland was the venue as the Portuguese team, who had defeated Belgium in the previous round, won a tough match 2-1 against a Turkish team who had won the tournament twice before and been to the Finals five times including this summer….They were attempting to be the first team to repeat as champions since Spain did it in 2011 and 2012….Ireland were hosting the tournament for the first time in its history….Portugal’s leading goalscorer was 15-year-old Estoril (POR) striker Flavio Magalhaes, who scored 2 Goals and is yet to make his debut for his club.

 

 

OLYMPIC GAMES – France Wins First Ever Title

 

 

NOTABLE TRANSFERS

KAI HAVERTZ, 29 (Germany: 101 Caps/38 Goals) - £146M (£216M) from Chelsea to Bayern Munich: In what was a move that has been a long time coming, Germany and Chelsea legendary Kai Havertz makes the move back to his home country after spending 8 years in England….The deal could potentially be the most expensive of all-time if all the clauses are activated….Coming just a couple of weeks after the sale of Musiala, Bayern Munich finally sealed the deal on a target they have been chasing for years….Originally a Bayer Leverkusen player, he made the move to Chelsea in 2020 for £76M after making headlines as a teenager in Germany….In his first year with Chelsea, he scored the winning goal in the Champions League Finals against Man City in Porto, Portugal, helping his new team capture the title for the second time in their history….A year later, he helped Germany capture the bronze medal at the World Cup 2022 in Qatar….Chelsea would win the English Premier League and the Europa League in 2024 as Havertz was voted the team’s 2024 Player of the Year, an award he would win again in 2026….In 2025, Havertz would capture his second CL title and then came in 3^rd Place in the World Golden Ball and World Player of the Year awards….The Chelsea ‘Icon’ leaves the club having played 276 League Games and scored 88 Goals, having won a single EPL title and two CL titles during that stretch.

 

 

JAMAL MUSIALA, 25 (Germany: 86 Caps/34 Goals) - £131M (£157M) from Bayern Munich to Manchester City: The first big transfer of the summer, Musiala has been the Bundesliga’s best player for the past two years….A product of Chelsea’s youth academy, he joined Bayern Munich in 2019 and has since won 8 Bundesliga (from 2021 to 2028) and 3 Champions League titles (2022, ’23, ’27)….He made 254 League Appearances and scored 103 Goals for the German club before his move….The ‘Elite Attacking Midfielder’ is considered one of the world’s finest players, coming in 6^th in the latest Goal Top 50 list….He is the only player to win the World U21 Footballer of the Year three times, winning them in a row from 2022 to 2024….He joins an attacking force that features Erling Haaland, Yusuf Demir, and Phil Foden, forming a formidable unit that is sure to strike fear into any opponent.

 

 

ANGELO, 23 (Brazil: 4 U21 Caps/4 Goals) - £82M (£98M) from Roma to Rennes: The Brazilian striker spent four years with Roma before making the move to France….He came up through the Santos youth system in his home nation before getting acquired by Roma in 2024 for £23.5M….Prior to his move, he had won the Copa Libertadores in 2022 with his club and the Pan American Games with Brazil in 2023….He won the Roma Player of the Year in 2026 and 2028, and was the 2027 Serie A Best Young Player of the Season recipient….He ended his Roma career breaking the club record with 9 PoMs in a season and became Roma’s most expensive sale of all-time….The Brazilian media have been clamoring for head coach Renato Gaucho to give the striker his first cap….Quick and strong with good ball technique, the winger is best known for his abrupt cuts from the right wing, where he plays….He will earn £185k per week with his new club.

 

 

RYAN GRAVENBERCH, 26 (Holland: 64 Caps/13 Goals) - £78M from Ajax Amsterdam to Inter Milan: The Dutch midfielder made his move to Italy permanent after spending the year on loan with Inter Milan….He came up through the Ajax youth system and won the Eredivisie 9 times during his time with the club….Twice voted the Dutch Young Player of the Year (2021, ’22), he won the Serie A with Inter Milan this past season and was voted to the Serie A Team of the Year….He becomes Ajax’s most expensive sale of all time at £78M….He is one of the Dutch team’s most valuable players at around £100M, and the Italian club will get to see the midfielder at his prime as he is signed on for the next five years.

 

 

MIQUEL RAMOS, 21 (Spain: 12 U21 Caps/3 U21 Goals) - £69M from Barcelona to Arsenal: The Spanish U21 international joins Arsenal after his break-out season with Barcelona….Playing down the right wing, this was Ramos’ second year as a starter for the Spanish giant….He scored 7 Goals and registered 7.34 AR in 27 Games this past season, catching the eyes of the rest of the continent….Born in Barcelona, the winger spent his entire youth and career at his hometown club and will now join the likes of Victor Osimhen and Bukayo Saka in what is looking like a lethal Arsenal attack next season.

[abulezz]

GOAL 50 2028

 

WINNER

ERLING HAALAND (Norway: 90 Caps/59 Goals) – Manchester City, 28-years-old, SC (Previous: Winner)

It is now two years in a row and four times overall for the Norwegian superstar….He broke his own records – which he had set in 2026/27 – last season, setting yet another new English Premier League record with 49 Goals and 7.98 AR….He has shown no signs of letting up this season, either, currently having scored 16 Goals and registering 8.21 AR in 10 Games….For the year, he scored an insane 66 Goals and had 7.97 AR in 49 Games….After leading his nation to the Semi-Finals of the World Cup 2026, they reached the Quarter-Finals of Euro 2028 in Italy – also the furthest they have advanced in their history at the tournament – before losing to England in a tough match….He is the current World Golden Ball and World Player of the Year, having won each award a total of 4 times.

 

 

2ND PLACE

KYLIAN MBAPPE (France: 130 Caps/66 Goals) – Real Madrid, 29-years-old, SC/AMR (Previous: 2^nd)

Haaland might now have Mbappe beat having collected the Goal 50 award four times compared to the French forward’s three, but it is Mbappe who is the current European Championship title holder….Mbappe won the tournament’s Best Player award as he led France to their second consecutive European Championship title….The only thing that still eludes is a title that Haaland has now won twice, the Champions League trophy….Mbappe again led Real Madrid to the Spanish La Liga title last year – making it three times in a row – winning it for the 4^th time since joining the club six years ago….Mbappe is still the most valuable name in football, and as such he was given a contract that pays him 550k per week by Real Madrid.

 

 

3RD PLACE

JAMAL MUSIALA (Germany: 89 Caps/22 Goals) – Manchester City, 25-years-old, AMC (Previous: 6^th)

Making his debut in the Top Three of the Goal 50 list, Musiala has started his Man City career quite well….In the summer, he was sold by former club Bayern Munich in a deal that could become worth £157M after a career year in which he registered 16 Goals, 9 PoMs, and 7.85 AR, winning his second straight Bundesliga Footballer of the Year….He left Germany having won 8 Bundesliga and 3 Champions League titles….He was a critical part of the Bayern Munich team that has already been dubbed the ‘Best Team of the 2020s’ given how dominant they have been….He nows joins Haaland, Foden, and Demir in what could be the scariest frontline in the game today.

 

 

OTHER NOTABLES

Kai Havertz (4^th) made the move from Chelsea to Bayern Munich this summer in what could potentially be the most expensive deal of all time if all clauses are met, potentially costing the German champions £216M….It was a move a long time in the making, and the player finally got his wish to return to his home nation….He moves up a few spots from 8^th last year to 4^th Place….His teammate Joao Felix (5^th) drops down one spot after making his move to Bayern Munich from Man City in 2027….Before the Havertz deal, it was Felix’s own that was potentially the largest of all-time at £204M pending all the clauses being met….While his first season in Germany was good but not spectacular, he has found his footing this year and is playing perhaps the best football of his career thus far….The youngest player to appear on the list this year is 22-year-old Manchester United DC Lars Schefczyk (19^th)….The German defender was bought by Man United this summer for potentially £68M from Bayer Leverkusen….He has earned 11 Caps for his nation and is already considered an ‘Elite Centre-Back’ by the experts.

Edited December 5, 2021 by abulezz

[abulezz]

Looks like another strong Intake.

[Netm]

Did Rennes get taken over by a tycoon/sugar daddy? They've been making some expensive transfers in the last few seasons.

Edited December 6, 2021 by Netm
Grammar.

[abulezz]

5 minutes ago, Netm said:

Did Rennes get taken over by a tycoon/sugar daddy? They've been making some expensive transfers in the last for few years.

Great observation! 

Yes, in July 2022 they got taken over by tycoon Andreas Brummer, but it wasn't until the 2027/28 season that they were able to crack the top four in the French Ligue 1. 

Looking at their squad now, they should have one of the strongest teams in the French league, potentially able to give PSG a run for their money. 

[abulezz]

MID-SEASON UPDATE 2028/29

 

WORLD GOLDEN BALL/PLAYER OF THE YEAR

ERLING HAALAND (Norway: 90 Caps/59 Goals) – Manchester City, 28-years-old

Three in a row for Haaland now – the only other players to accomplish that feat were Michel Platini in the 1980s and Lionel Messi in the 2010s….Please see report under GOAL 50 AWARDS above.

 

 

WORLD GOLDEN GLOVE/GK OF THE YEAR

GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA (Italy: 112 Caps) – Paris Saint-Germain, 29-years-old

Having won the awards two years in a row now, the Italian superstar GK has surpassed Man City and Brazil’s Ederson as the world’s best at the position….Building on a strong year that saw him capture the Champions League GK of the Season for the first time after being perhaps Paris Saint-Germain’s most important player in their first CL title-winning campaign, Donnarumma was also voted the French Ligue 1’s GK of the Season for a record 7^th time in a row….Signed from AC Milan on Free in 2021, he has been a vital part of the run PSG has made in the league having won 7 in a row, starting from the Donnarumma’s first season with the club.

 

 

WORLD U21 FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR

PATRICK WEISSMAN (Germany: 12 Caps/2 Goals) – Bayern Munich, 19-years-old

Weissman first came onto the scene with his boyhood club Stuttgart a few years ago before Bayern Munich bought him for £38M….The German Bundesliga champions put him in the first team immediately, and with the sale of Musiala this summer, Weissmann’s importance in the squad has only grown….The midfielder has been in great form this season, registering 4 Goals, 7 Assists, and 7.38 AR in 24 Games….He also captured the 2028 European Golden Boy award, taking it from Sophara United’s Bekir Celik who won it last year….His value is now approaching £140M and is already a regular for the national team.

 

 

AFRICAN NATIONS CUP – Nigeria Makes it Three in a Row

The Democratic Republic of Congo played host to the ANC 2029 tournament, with Nigeria seeing you off surprising finalists The Gambia 1-0 in the port city of Matadi….This was actually The Gambia’s second straight semi-finals appearance, losing out to Nigeria at South Africa 2027, as well….They defeated Cape Verde this time around at that stage, while the now three-time champions took care of business against the Republic of Congo….The Gambia were led by Musa Barrow (7 Apps, 4 Gls, 3 PoMs, 7.34 AR), Bologna’s 30-year-old winger, who took the tiny nation to within one game of winning their first ever title….Nigeria, however, retained their status as the continent’s most dominant team, defeating heavyweights Cameroon and Ivory Coast in the second round and quarter-finals….They were led by the tournament’s new Best Player recipient Samuel Chukwueze (6 Apps, 4 Gls, 2 PoMs, 7.62 AR)….The 29-year-old striker has spent the last 12 years at Villareal, scoring 19 Goals for them last season, and has now won three ANC titles.  

 

 

 

SOUTH AMERICAN U20 CHAMPIONSHIP – Two in a Row for Brazil

Brazil were unstoppable, winning all 5 of their matches in the final stage after finishing second to Uruguay in the group stages….Strong teamplay was the essence of Brazil’s victory, who had now made it two in a row and a record 13 titles overall….The story of the tournament, however, was 16-year-old Uruguayan winger Nicolas Hernandez (8 Apps, 2 PoMs, 3.50 DpG, 7.72 AR), who came out of nowhere and won the tournament’s Best Player award….The Penarol (URU) rookie has yet to make his debut for the club but has already been labeled as a ‘Promising Midfielder’ by pundits.

 

 

TRANSFERS

ALMIR BUDIMIR, 22 (Bosnia: 28 Caps) - £61M (£73M) from Valencia to Rennes: Budimir first came onto the scene with his original club FC Kobenhavn and debuted on the NxGn Top 50 list in 2024, coming in 4^th Place as a 17-year-old….He was bought by Valencia for £10.25M in 2025 after winning three Danish 3F Superliga titles and the Europa League II title in 2024 with his boyhood club….In 2026, he came in 3^rd Place in the NxGn Top 50 list and was appointed the Bosnian national team’s vice-captain a year later….He becomes the most expensive Bosnian player of all-time after this transfer.

[abulezz]

YOUTH INTAKE 2029

[abulezz]

NxGN 50 2028

WINNER

PATRICK WEISSMANN, (Germany: 14 Caps/3 Goals), MC – Bayern Munich, 19-years-old (Previous: 10^th)

The current World U21 Player of the Year, Weissmann has been a force in the Bundesliga this season….Moving into the starting eleven full-time, he has played in 28 Games, 5 Goals, 8 Assists, 86% Passes Completed, and 7.41 AR….He has earned a new contract worth £210k per week thanks to his sublime passing ability….Also a common name on the national team’s sheet now, Weissmann’s value is now close to £140M….In fact, the ‘Wonderkid’ was recently proclaimed undroppable from the national team thanks to his excellent form….Born in south-western Germany next to its border with France, he came through the Stuttgart youth academy, situated about an hour’s drive from his town of Rehlingen-Siersburg….The media in Germany have been proclaiming him as the hottest talent under the age of 21 that the nation has currently.

 

 

2ND PLACE

FABRICIO CALVO (Costa Rica: 33 Caps/2 Caps), DC – Leon (MEX), 19-years-old (Previous: 3^rd)

Already earning over 30 Caps despite his young age, Calvo continues to show great improvement in his ability….The main criticism about him at this point is his attitude, with many describing it as ‘Unsporting’ and ‘Confrontational’ – something which has scared off many suitors….Interest is still there, however, and it seems FC Kobenhavn will be making a bit for the DC….His talent is unquestionable – he is strong and quick with good and still improving defensive abilities….He broke the World Cup record for youngest player to play in a game in 2026, before being bought by his current club for £850K in 2027.

 

 

3RD PLACE

BEKIR CELIK (Turkey: 7 Caps/3 Goals), SC – Sophara United, 19-years-old (Previous: 16^th)

The highest ranked player on the list by a Sophara United player ever, Celik was an absolute monster last season in the world’s toughest league….He scored 29 Goals in 36 Appearances, also registering 9 Assists, 7 PoMs, and 7.40 AR….That earned him a new contract that now pays him £105k per week….He has not been in the same rich vein of form this year, scoring only 10 Goals in 30 Appearances so far, but the entire team has been performing worse than last season….Turkey’s highest valued player at over £70M, he is also the youngest player currently in the rotation for the national team….He has all the right skills to become a prominent striker and continues to show exceptional improvement in all facets of his game.

 

 

OTHER NOTABLES

[abulezz]

THE SOPHARA JOURNAL

SEASON REVIEW 2028/2029

 

TEAM REVIEW

For the first time since the creation of Sophara United in 2021, the club took a step back in the table and finished lower than its previous season. The team dropped from 9^th to 11^th Place, only garnering 49 Points compared to 55 from last year. It was, of course, inevitable – after seven straight years of improving or maintaining, there law of averages demand that there be a regression at some point. Still, this was a team that was supposed to be fighting to stay up and mired in a relegation battle, not sitting comfortably in the mid-table with full safety from the bottom three spots. For three straight seasons now, Sophara United has defied the odds and survived to play another season in the Premier League – at this point, only the hardest of doubters would believe that they are not capable of making it five.

Most of the players that took to the pitch during the club’s first ever match in August of 2021 are still at the club and approaching their mid-20s – in fact, only four players in the starting eleven are younger than 24, with the youngest being Turkish striker Bekir Celik at 19. The teenager had a tough year compared to last, but the club still managed to rank 5^th best in the Premier League with 73 Goals, just one less than last season. Abul Ezz’s 4-4-2 tactic remains the centerfold of his formation, with heavy emphasis on the wings and very advanced positions for his forwards. It does put more pressure on the defense, however – they conceded 80 Goals, 5 more than last year, although they did rank better at 15^th as opposed to 19^th Place. The FA Cup and Carabao Cup remain tough for the young squad to deal with, however – both competitions saw the squad exit in the Fifth Round.

In his exit interview, manager Abul Ezz expressed optimism for the upcoming season. He stated that the goal was to continue playing in the Premier League and that was accomplished, so he considered this season another resounding success for his young team. He suggested that the team might be ready to start changing its expectations – instead of finding success in merely avoiding relegation, perhaps it was time to aim higher and start looking towards the ambitious goal of European qualification. With the Sophara United Stadium at max capacity nearly every home game, the finances continue to be very healthy for the club and the investment in youth and training as made the SYA and Sophara United training facilities amongst the best in the world.

So far, the SYA has managed to set up three youth academies – the SYA HQ in London, SYA Ghana, and SYA France. The HQ has teamed up with Aldershot for both recruitment and loan purposes, and Abul Ezz has already utilized the partnership to send a few players out on loan to the Vanarama South club. SYA Ghana was set up in Abul Ezz’s home country and already has developed quite a few Ghanaian prospects, some of which are already part of the first team like Mohammed Adu and Ahmed Razak. The third, and most recent, setup is SYA France, which is currently affiliated and utilizes Ligue 2 club Havre AC’s setup as the club looks to discover talent in France that can become contributors to the first team back in London. Abul Ezz also mentioned he wanted to set up a base out in South America – perhaps Brazil or Argentina – as well as more SYA branches in other countries in Europe, like Spain and Germany.

 

GOALKEEPERS

ELVIS KOZIC (Sweden: 7 U21 Caps) – Age: 25 – Position: GK

The reality is, Darren Allen is already a better GK than Kozic when it comes to talent, but he is not ready to be a full-time starter for a Premier League club – not yet, anyway. As such, the Swedish GK remains Ezz’s No.1 and will likely remain so next season. He had another good season despite the defensive mediocrity of the squad – in 27 Games, he registered 2.30 Con/90 (lowest of his career), 3 Clean Sheets, 2 PoMs, and 7.02 AR. His Coach Report suggests he is more suited for League One or Championship level football, but he has been handling the Premier League just fine over the past three years. He was named to the Team of the Week twice this season, and his 323 League Appearances over his career are the most of any player in the club’s history.

 

 

DARREN ALLEN (England: 5 U21 Caps) – Age: 17 ('28 Youth Class) – Position: GK

It is an open fact that Allen is being groomed to take over the No.1 jersey at the club, and the rookie showed plenty of potential in his first season that showed he might be ready sooner than many think. Born in Woking just outside of London, Allen carries a 4+/5 PA and is already considered has considerable shot-stopping ability. He played in 11 Games, registering 1.64 Con/90, 2 Clean Sheets, and 7.05 AR while learning under a great role model in Kozic. He is the – by a wide margin – the most talented GK the SYA has turned out thus far, even at his young age. He has already been recognized as such, already earned 5 U21 Caps for England, gaining his first one at the age of 16. He was voted twice in his 11 Games to the PL Team of the Week and has saved the only penalty taken against him. Overall, it was a great first season for him and he has the Sophara United coaching staff very excited about his development and potential going forward.

 

 

FULLBACKS

PATRICK BOLA (France: 9 U21 Caps) – Age: 20 ('25 Youth Class) – Position: DL

The undisputed starter for the squad at LB now, Bola’s 4/5 CA rating is the second-highest on the team along with Akim Lawrence and Joe Sheppard. His development has been noticeable since joining the first team four years ago and his improvement in form has been remarkable. His 6.85 AR was a bit of a drop from last year (6.91 AR), but his 2.44 TpG was the highest of any qualifying member of the squad and his 75 Tackles Won – also the highest on the team – was good for 19^th in the PL. He led the entire league with 66 Blocks and also registered 96 Interceptions in his 31 Games, having dealt with a twisted ankle that kept him out from late November to early January. The reserved French/Congolese full-back has spoken about his ambition to represent France but having been born in Kanyabayonga near Lake Edward in the eastern part of the DRC, he also has a chance of being an international for the DRC. He has proven to be a strong tackler, compensating for his lack of ability in the air.

 

 

GER LENNON (Ireland: 17 Caps) – Age: 24 – Position: DR (DL)

The Irish international continues to be listed as the starter by default, but he has lost the trust of his manager and backroom staff on the pitch. This says nothing about his character as he is an excellent teammate and has an exemplary attitude – he just simply has not adjusted to the Premier League and his form continues to disappoint. His 6.57 AR speaks volumes about his struggles, even dropping from an already low 6.66 AR last season. The problem remains that outside of James Burgess, there has not been any prospects of note that have come up through the SYA that have the kind of talent or potential to be a PL-level RB. Given the circumstances, it might be that Lennon begins next season as the starter for the club still.

 

 

HOT PROSPECTS & OTHER NOTABLES

James Burgess (32 Apps (11 Starts), 6.84 AR) has been the player Abul Ezz has reached out to from his bench the most, covering both the DR and DC positions….Given Lennon’s struggles over the past three seasons, he has seen most of his playing time at right-back….He did better than Lennon and was generally more reliable, something Ezz and his staff have to consider as they go into next season….The club’s former captain Drew Dowell (13 Apps (2 Starts), 6.86 AR) continued to see less and less playing time, registering a career-low in appearances this season….He performed much better than before, however – last season, he registered a dismal 6.39 AR, but that was improved massively this year….Still, it is an open secret that the only reason he still has a place in the rotation is because of a lack of talent at the full-back positions in general.

 

 

CENTRAL DEFENDERS

TOM HORGAN (Ireland: 1 Cap) – Age: 25 – Position: DC

One of the club’s fan favorites, Tom Horgan has continued to be an exceptionally important member of the team. A team leader who has served as a complete role model for his younger teammates, he is one of the strongest DCs in the PL when it comes to aerial prowess. He always shows up for big matches and has the complete trust of his manager despite his 2.5/5 CA being the lowest of any member of the starting eleven on the squad. That has not mattered to Abul Ezz, who continues to entrust whom he considers the leader of his defensive line with the starting job alongside Akim Lawrence. In 35 Games, he registered 60.47 PC/90, 96% Passes Completed, 80 Interceptions, and 6.99 AR, up from 6.91 AR last season. He led the PL with 496 Clearances and came in 3^rd with 36 Shots Blocked. The numbers speak for themselves below – despite his apparent lack of talent, Horgan still ranked amongst the best in the league in several key categories.

 

 

AKIM LAWRENCE (England: 20 U21 Caps) – Age: 21 (’23 Youth Class) – Position: DC

The potential English international signed a new contract after literally years of negotiations with the club, putting pen to paper on a deal that will pay him £91k per week and will keep him with Sophara United until 2033. He rewarded the team with his best season in the Premier League yet – he played in all 38 Games, registering 1.07 TpG, 97% Passes Completed, 62.12 PC/90 (best on the squad), 12 Key Tackles (4^th in PL), 114 Interceptions (11^th), 55 Blocks (7^th), 444 Clearances (2^nd), 42 Shots Blocked (1^st), and 7.06 AR. Generally considered the finest defender the SYA has produced in its history, Lawrence had already earned 8 Caps for Dominica before the age of 16 but now has declared his intentional to play for England when the chance is afforded to him. His defensive abilities are top-notch and his numbers have been eye-catching, which is why his value is now nearly £100M. Highly reliable and consistent, Lawrence has become one of the club’s highest rated players and one of the league’s better defenders.

 

 

HOT PROSPECTS & OTHER NOTABLES

Mohammed Adu (7 Apps, 6.60 AR) already has a value that exceeds £30M, despite still being only 17….Born in Basingstoke to Ghanaian parents, he was actually recruited by the SYA Ghana branch as he was living in Accra at the time….Part of the ’27 Youth Class, Adu showed significant improvement in form this season from his rookie year when he registered 6.27 AR….His improvement in Marking has been especially noticeable (up +5 since joining the first team)….He technique remains poor and he is still inconsistent, but the potential is clear, as suggested by his 4+/5 PA….He currently is the only DC other than Burgess outside the starting eleven who is in the first team rotation.  

 

 

CENTRAL/ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS

JOE SHEPPARD (England: 10 U21 Caps/1 Goal) – Age: 25 – Position: MC

The winner for the first Sophara United Player of the Year award in 2022, Sheppard captured his second one this season as he delivered his finest season since his rookie year. In 33 Games, he registered 14 Goals (11^th in PL), 9 Assists (10^th), 4 PoMs, 86 Key Passes, 18 Clear-Cut Chances, and 7.30 AR. The ‘Model Professional’ earned himself a new contract with the fan favorite having been one of the Premier League’s highest scoring central midfielders this season. There was no replacing his touch for the team and their struggles pushing forward without him being on the pitch were clear. He contracted a variant of the flu in late December that kept him out for three weeks during the busiest stretch of the season and his absence left a void in the formation. He was voted to the PL Team of the Week five times this season, and now he becomes the only player other than Joe Reardon to capture the club’s Player of the Year award at least twice.

 

 

RONNIE FLOOD (England: Capped at U19) – Age: 25 – Position: MC

Sheppard’s partner-in-crime in the middle of the pitch, Flood’s focus on the defensive end and his ability to push the ball into Sheppard as they move forward have both been keys to the success the club has experienced. In 34 Appearances, he registered 8 Assists, 83% Passes Completed, 57 Key Passes, and 6.97 AR, his highest since the club got promoted to the Premier League. A smart and consistent player, his intelligence has been key to his success at this level as the main criticism about him – as it is with Tom Horgan – is that he simply isn’t talented enough to succeed in the world’s toughest domestic league. He likes to run with the ball but always seems to deliver the pass at the right time – Sheppard has grown reliant on Flood pushing the ball out of the defensive end and hitting him at the best position for him to push into the final third.

 

 

HOT PROSPECTS & OTHER NOTABLES

Improving on last season, Ireland U21 MC Tommy Sullivan (28 Apps (14 Starts), 6 Asts, 6.82 AR) has started showing the kind of talent that is required to make an impact in the Premier League….The ’24 Youth Class graduate has become its best player, and it is not even close as no one else has managed to break into the first team rotation….Strong technically with good passing ability, Sullivan has become a favorite of Abul Ezz as his manager has grown to rely on him to alleviate some of the pressure of Sheppard and Flood….He has pushed past Mitch Lewis in the rotation, but the 20-year-old is currently the only player who has enough talent and potential to make an impact on the first team.

 

 

WINGERS

JAKUB BERKOVEC (Czech Republic: 7 Caps) – Age: 20 (’25 Youth Class) – Position: AMR

Jakub Berkovec feels like a star in the making, and he is starting to play like one, too. He officially took over the starting position from Drummond last season, and the results of him getting more comfortable with Premier League football showed this year. In 36 Appearances, he registered a career-high 6 Goals, equaled his career-high with 10 Assists (6^th in PL), 31 Clear-Cut Chances (4^th), 123 Dribbles Made (2^nd), 3.92 D/90, and 7.03 AR, also a career-high. The ‘Wonderkid’ is the highest-valued player on the team at just over £100M, having been on the Czech national team that disappointingly crashed at of the Euros Group Stages at Italy 2028. His progress as a player since coming into the first team has been phenomenal – mentally, he has become a much smarter and decisive player, physically he has grown much stronger and improved on his already excellent speed, and technically he has gone from being an adequate dribbler to a weapon with the ball at his feet. He is the only player on the team that has a 4.5/5 CA and a 4.5+/5 PA, with the Coach Report on him saying he is a good Premier League-level winger who has the potential to be a world-class star. He has had a storied career so far, earning praise and popularity in his home country as its most valuable and possibly famous player currently.

 

 

STAN DRUMMOND (England: 2 U21 Caps/1 Goal) – Age: 25 – Position: AMR (AML)

Stan Drummond has finally started looking like the ‘King of Assists’ player he was in the lower leagues, delivering his finest season for the club since their promotion to the Premier League yet. In 33 Appearances mostly down the left wing, he registered 5 Goals, 9 Assists, 1.91 T/90, 81% Passes Completed, 3.09 D/90, 56% Shot Target, and 6.99 AR, his highest in three years. He made the PL Team of the Week twice this season as he had a relatively injury-free season, also for the first time in three years. He crossed the 100 Assists mark for his career (now at 103), doing so in 293 League Games while also registering 57 Goals, 28 PoMs, and 7.16 AR over the course of eight seasons. His Coach Report suggests he is better suited for Championship-level football, but he has grown to be one of the fans’ favorite players who always shows up for the big matches. He has become part of the club’s First Generation’s DNA, much like the other stars on the team.

 

 

 

HOT PROSPECTS & OTHER NOTABLES

While there are some interesting prospects on the team’s U23 and U18 teams, the only winger of note that is in the rotation with the first team is 17-year-old LW Ahmed Razak (19 Apps (12 Starts), 2 Gls, 2 Asts, 2.44 T/90, 82% Passes Completed, 2.16 D/90, 6.69 AR)….A early product of SYA Ghana, the form remains inconsistent but the talent is undeniable….Carries a 4+/5 PA, and his determined attitude has been key in his dedication to improving….He has gotten better at dribbling and also has gotten noticeably stronger….Part of an intriguing ’27 Youth Class that has already turned out two players into the first team rotation, Razak included.

 

 

FORWARDS

JOE REARDON (England: Capped at U19) – Age: 25 – Position: SC (MC)

Sheppard might have won the Sophara United Player of the Year, but Joe Reardon was still arguably the team’s most influential player this season. In 37 Games, he registered 21 Goals (5^th in PL), 3.65 Shots/90 (13^th), 6 Assists, 3 PoMs, 56% Shot Target, and 7.22 AR. He also was 9^th in the PL with 36% Crosses Completed, showcasing the ability drift down the right wing and distribute in the air into the box. He has earned himself a new contract and he will sign it this summer – he will be paid £45k per week going forward for the next five years. Other than manager/owner Abul Ezz, he is the only person considered an ‘Icon’ for the club and the only player. His 21 Goals was the first team he crossed the 20 Goal mark in the Premier League, stating with full force that he belongs amongst the top in the country. He is a complete role model and a highly influential player on the team, and his 157 League Goals is the most of any player in the club’s history. After a relatively injury-plagued season last year, he bounced back and there have been no evident effects. Without a doubt, Reardon has – so far – been the club’s greatest player in its short history.

 

 

BEKIR CELIK (Turkey: 7 Caps/3 Goals) – Age: 19 (’25 Youth Class) – Position: SC

Finally signed a new contract this summer as he went to Euro 2028 with his home nation of Turkey, reaching the Second Round, Bekir Celik’s form regressed significantly from his breakout season the year before. In 36 Appearances, he registered 14 Goals (down from 29), 5 Assists (down from 9), 0 PoMs (down from 7), and 6.99 AR, a big drop from the 7.40 AR he recorded during the 2027/28 season where he won the club’s Player of the Year award. He came in 3^rd Place in the European Golden Shoe award, behind Erling Haaland and Victor Osimhen and the 2029 NxGn Top 50 list. He was also voted PL Young Player of the Month for January and April, adding to an already impressive resume in his young career. The Turkish media have suggested he could be the next Metin Oktay, who was nicknamed ‘Tacsiz Kral’ or the ‘Uncrowned King’ by Turkish club Galatasaray fans and was one of the nation’s best footballers and goalscorers in the 1950s and 1960s. He is currently the club’s highest paid player of all-time, earning £105k per week.

 

 

HOT PROSPECTS & OTHER NOTABLES

While there have been some prospects who have made their debut and played a few games, the only name off the bench for the striker position remains club captain Andy Holland (28 Games (9 Starts), 7 Gls, 2 Asts, 2 PoMs, 59% Shot Target, 6.88 AR)….He improved on last season’s 6.77 AR and has embraced his new role in the rotation….The ‘Model Professional’ is obviously a fans’ favorite and has also played down the left wing….The leader of the club and one of Ezz’s most trusted players, the 25-year-old now has 148 League Goals in his career for the club, the second most behind Joe Reardon.

 

 

END OF SEASON REVIEW

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MAJOR LEAGUES REVIEW 2028/29

 

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Winner: BAYERN MUNICH

There is no arguing that Bayern Munich is the world’s greatest club currently, and have been throughout the 2020s….They decimated Manchester City 4-1 in the Finals at the Olimpico Stadium in Rome, with Dusan Vlahovic (9 Apps, 6 Gls, 7.43 AR) scoring an incredible hat-trick as he was awarded the 2029 CL Forward of the Season award, the second time he has won it….This was the German Bundesliga champions’ 5^th Champions League title this decade, ending it having participated in 7 of its 10 Finals in the 2020s….It was also their second title in the past three years….They defeated Ajax Amsterdam in the semi-finals, with the Dutch team having their best year in the CL in quite some time….It was an all-Manchester derby in the other semi-finals tie, with Man City defeated Man United 4-3 in a highly entertaining matchup….The former defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were knocked out in the quarter-finals by the upstart Dutch team, while Man City dominated Real Madrid 8-2 in the same round.

  

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Winner: MANCHESTER CITY

Winning a historic five titles in a row, Manchester City can safely stake claim to being the best team in the English Premier League this decade as the 2020s come to an end….They have won 7 out of 10 seasons, turning in dominant performances throughout….They also feature the PL’s best player of the 2020s in Erling Haaland (32 Aps, 43 Gls, 15 PoMs, 8.05 AR), who has won the PL Footballer of the Year award for a record 4^th straight time and the 5^th time overall and has also put in his claim for greatest PL player of all-time….For the third straight year, he scored over 40 Goals in a season, an unprecedented streak that will be very hard to repeat….They finished 9 Points ahead of Manchester United (2^nd), who finished in their highest position since they finished in 2^nd Place during the 2023/24 season….Man City also beat their bitter rivals in the CL semi-finals before falling victim to Bayern Munich in Rome….Predicted to finish in a mid-table position, West Ham (3^rd) manager Ralph Hasenhuttl won his second Manager of the Year award in three years after leading the club to a Champions League spot….Arsenal (4^th) grabbed the last CL spot, dropping two spots after finishing as Runners-Up to Man City the last three seasons....Sophara United (11^th) dropped two spots but continued to prove the doubters wrong, finishing in the mid-table despite predictions that they will be lucky to survive relegation….Speaking of relegation, it was Brighton (18^th), West Brom (19^th), and Sheffield United (20^th) – all but Brighton were back in the PL for only one year before being sent back down to the Championship.

 

 

SPANISH LA LIGA

Winner: REAL MADRID

Kylian Mbappe (38 Apps, 30 Gls, 12 Asts, 16 PoMs, 8.01 AR) set new La Liga records for PoMs and AR on his way to his 4^th Spanish La Liga Player of the Year, ending Pedri’s streak at three….With 5 La Liga titles under his belt with Real Madrid, who won their fourth title in a row, Mbappe ended the debate on whether its Pedri or himself that was the league’s finest player of the 2020s….Barcelona (2^nd) finished in 2^nd Place for the fourth season in a row, as well….Real Madrid ends the decade having won 7 titles in 10 seasons….Zinedine Zidane won the Manager of the Year for the fourth season in a row and the fifth time in the 2020s and overall in his career, beating out Barcelona’s manager Vincent Company, who has been at the helm of the club since 2026….Atletico Madrid (3^rd) and Villareal (4^th) grabbed the last two Champions League spots, with the latter ready to play in the competition for the first time since the 2021/22 season.

 

 

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA

Winner: BAYERN MUNICH

Not only the team of the 2020s, Bayern Munich can stake claim to being the Bundesliga team of the century so far, and there really is no competition….They won all 10 titles from the 2020s, 8 out of 10 from the 2010s, and 6 out of 10 from the 2000s….The Bavarian club has now won an incredible 17 titles in a row….They are officially the owners of the two most expensive transfers in the world, with £216M paid for Kai Havertz (31 Apps, 20 Gls, 11 Asts, 3 PoMs, 7.69 AR) and £204M for Joao Felix (30 Apps, 12 Gls, 8 Asts, 5 PoMs, 7.75 AR) – the former was bought this past summer from Chelsea and won the Bundesliga Top Goalscorer in his first year, while the former was acquired from Man City two summers ago and was crowned the league’s Player of the Year as well as the club’s 2028 Player of the Year….Leipzig (2^nd) finished as Runners-Up for the second straight year and the 6^th time in the last 7 seasons, beating out Borussia Dortmund (3^rd)….Wolfsburg (4^th) will return the Champions League after a year’s absence, replacing Hoffenheim (7^th) as the Bundesliga’s last representative in the competition….Their manager Miroslav Klose, who spent four years with Bayern Munich as a player between 2008 and 2011, won his 4^th Manager of the Year award in the past five seasons.

 

 

 

ITALIAN SERIE A

Winner: JUVENTUS

The title returned to Torino after a year’s absence as Juventus won it back from Inter Milan (3^rd), winning their 6^th title in the past seven years….That would make it 7 titles for the club out of 10 this decade, not surprisingly being proclaimed the Serie A’s finest team of the 2020s….Like Bayern Munich in Germany, Juventus have also been the clear team of the century, having also won 8 straight titles in the 2010s….Frederico Chiesa (28 Apps, 11 Gls, 7 Asts, 9 PoMs, 7.65 AR) won his 4^th straight Serie A Player of the Year and the 6^th of his career, as he took claim to being the league’s best player of the decade….AC Milan (2^nd), who last won the title in 2022, were the second best team in Italy twice in a row now….Roma (4^th) grabbed the last CL spot for the 3^rd straight year, finishing in the same position since 2027.

 

 

FRENCH LIGUE 1

Winner: PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

With 9 titles out of 10 seasons this decade, Paris Saint-Germain – who won their 8^th French Ligue 1 title in a row – are the clear French team of the 2020s….They finished 18 Points ahead of moneybags Rennes (2^nd), who finally won a Champions League spot since tycoon Andreas Brummer acquired the club in the summer of 2022….Ansu Fati (33 Apps, 14 Gls, 11 Asts, 8 PoMs, 7.75 AR) had the best season of his career, and the 26-year-old – who captured his second French Ligue 1 Best Player award – can claim to at least be the league’s finest player in the second part of the 2020s, with the first going to Kylian Mbappe before his move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2022….The Top Goalscorer award went to 23-year-old £36M signing Franco Frattini (29 Apps, 16 Gls, 8 Asts, 7.29 AR), with the 2026 World U21 Player of the Year winner coming from Manchester United last summer….Monaco (3^rd) took the last Champions League spot, finishing ahead of Lyon (4^th) on goal difference.

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We are hitting capacity so this is only logical. 

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GOAL 50 2029

 

WINNER

ERLING HAALAND (Norway: 96 Caps/61 Goals) – Manchester City, 29-years-old, SC (Previous: Winner)

Is he the Premier League’s greatest ever player? The debate against him is getting weaker and weaker….There is no doubting he is the PL’s greatest ever striker – his goals scored the past three years has been beyond unprecedented….He has scored 48, 49, and 43 Goals the past three seasons, respectively….He is on course to deliver yet another record-breaking season, having scored 17 Goals in 10 Appearances at an insane 8.49 AR….The five-time (and current) PL champion, he is on course to win his fourth World Golden Ball in a row, equaling the legendary Lionel Messi’s record….Just like there was Messi vs. Ronaldo in the 2010s, it has been Haaland vs. Mbappe in the 2020s.

 

 

2ND PLACE

KYLIAN MBAPPE (France: 139 Caps/80 Goals) – Real Madrid, 30-years-old, SC/AMR (Previous: 2^nd)

The five-time Spanish La Liga champion has Haaland beat at one important stage – the international one….Mbappe has won the World Cup (2018) and the European Champions (2024, ’28) as well as second tier tournament’s such as the Olympics (2028)….The one thing that still eludes, however, is the greatest prize in all of club football – the Champions League trophy….He has been to the Finals on four occasions, losing every time – once with PSG and twice with Real Madrid against Bayern Munich in (2020, ’23, ’27) and once with Real Madrid against his old team of PSG in 2028….That has been the main knock on the two-time World Golden Ball winner – is 0-4 record in the CL Finals….Regardless, he has led Real Madrid to the top of the Spanish La Liga throughout the 2020s, winning the La Liga Player of the year 4 times….Last season, he set a new PL record with 8.01 AR and 16 PoMs, to go along with 30 Goals and 12 Assists….He is doing great this year, as well, and with his eye on the CL prize yet again.

 

 

3RD PLACE

KAI HAVERTZ (Germany: 115 Caps/44 Goals) – Bayern Munich, 30-years-old, AMC (Previous: 4^th)

Officially the most expensive signing in the history of football at £216M now that all the clauses have been met, the German ‘Legendary Midfielder’ has found new life in his home country after a disappointing final season at Chelsea….He was bought by Bayern Munich in the summer of 2028, and his first season with the German club was nothing but an extraordinary success….He won the German Top Goalscorer award with 20 Goals (career-high), and set a new career-high of 7.69 AR….More importantly, he won the German Bundesliga title (Bayern Munich’s 17^th in a row) and lifted the Champions League trophy for the third time (twice with Chelsea in 2021 and ’23)….No one can seriously debate that Havertz is the finest player in the world not named Haaland and Mbappe currently.

 

 

OTHER NOTABLES

The youngest player in the top ten is 23-year-old Manchester United defender Lars Schefczyk (7^th). The German DC moved to England from boyhood club Bayer Leverkusen las summer for £56M, and won the Carabao Cup in his first seson with the club…..Ansu Fati (10^th) has started his 6^th year with Paris Saint-German, moving from Barcelona in 2024 for £127M. The 27-year-old has won 5 French Ligue 1 and the 2028 Champions League titles since, having won the World Cup at Qatar 2022 where he broke out into superstardom.....Generally considered one of the most underrated players in football, Tanguy Nianzo (11^th), 27, is starting to get the credit due. He won the Euro 2028 title with France and was named to the tournament’s Dream Team after registering 7.32 AR. A key component of the Bayern Munich dynasty of the 2020s having joined on Free Transfer from PSG in 2020…..Phil Foden (19^th) is the 1B to Erling Haaland’s 1A – without him, it would have been very difficult for the Norwegian to become the world’s greatest footballer today. In 2027/28, the 29-year-old England legend set a new English Premier League record with 24 Assists. He made his 5^th straight EPL Team of the Year this past season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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MID-SEASON UPDATE 2029/30

 

WORLD GOLDEN BALL/PLAYER OF THE YEAR

ERLING HAALAND (Norway: 97 Caps/62 Goals) – Manchester City, 29-years-old

Four in a row for Haaland, equaling Lionel Messi’s record of most awards won in a row….Please see report under GOAL 50 AWARDS above.

 

 

WORLD GOLDEN GLOVE/GK OF THE YEAR

DIOGO COSTA (Portugal: 70 Caps) – Bayern Munich, 30-years-old

The first time winner the GK of the Year and World Golden Gloves awards, Diogo Costa has been the No.1 for the most successful club of the decade in Bayern Munich for the past six years….It is not an easy feat replacing Germany and club legend Manuel Neuer, but Costa has been up to the task….He joined in 2024 for £69M after spending just one year with Lazio….He has since won a World Cup title in 2026 with Portugal, 5 Bundesliga titles, and 2 Champions League (2027, ’29) titles, as well….Although not known to be the most skilled GK as some of the world’s best, his reliability and experience are second to none.

 

 

WORLD U21 FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR

PATRICK WEISSMAN (Germany: 23 Caps/3 Goals) – Bayern Munich, 20-years-old

Is Weissman the next big thing? The German midfielder won his second straight World U21 Footballer of the Year award, only the second to accomplish that feat after former teammate Jamal Musiala….He is also the current NxGn, CL Midfielder of the Season, and German U19 Player of the Year winner….He made his first World Team of the Year after a great season, playing in 34 Games and registering 5 Goals, 13 Assists, and 7.44 AR….He was one of Bayern Munich’s best players as they won their 17^th straight Bundesliga title and recaptured the Champions League trophy….He is widely considered the most talented player under the age of 21 in the world today.

 

 

WORLD TEAM OF THE YEAR 2029

 

 

TRANSFERS

JOSE VICENTE, 23 (Spain: 4 U21 Caps/4 U21 Goals) - £76M from Villareal to Manchester City: The English champions pried the up-and-coming winger from his boyhood club of Villareal that became the biggest transfer of the window….The 2027/28 season was he first began to get noticed, but last year was his breakout season….He played in 33 Games, registering 6 Goals, 10 Assists, 4 PoMs, and 7.02 AR….He was playing the best football of his career this season (22 Apps, 5 Gls, 9 Asts, 4 PoMs, 7.30 AR) before being bought by Man City.

 

 

JADON SANCHO, 29 (England: 97 Caps/24 Goals) - £57M from Manchester United to Chelsea: After nine seasons with Manchester United – who bought him in 2021 from Borussia Dortmund for £73M – Sancho has moved on to his second English club in his career….He was struggling a little bit (6.89 AR) before Chelsea completed the transfer, and it was becoming clear he needed a change of scenery….He is still in the prime of his career and will soon join an exclusive 100+ Caps for England club….He was voted the 2028 England Player of the Year, reaffirming the notion that he has been more valuable for country than club since he joined Man United.

 

 

WORLD TEAM OF THE DECADE (2020s)

No real surprises here, especially at GK where Ederson won 3 World Golden Glove awards and multiple titles with Manchester City….Joshua Kimmich was considered at one time in the early 2020s as second to only Kylian Mbappe in terms of being the best….The Man City duo of Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias managed to keep the Bayern Munich duo on the bench, although all four parts are probably interchangeable….Perhaps the least recognizable of the starting eleven Team of the 2020s, Josko Gvardiol was bought by Man United for £83M in January 2024 and has been a star ever since for both club and Croatia….No arguments over the choice of Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne – Man City’s genius midfield – over Barcelona’s Pedri, although the Spanish midfielder is probably the best of the three when it comes to pure talent….Dominating the Italian Serie A for the entirety of the decade and lifting the European Championship trophy at Euro 2021 with his nation of Italy, Frederico Chiesa has definitely elevated himself to being one of the legends of the 2020s….On the other wing sits arguably the player of the decade when it comes to pure talent in Kylian Mbappe, who has won the World Golden Ball award twice and has made the Spanish La Liga his personal playground….Jamal Musiala won everything there is to win with Bayern Munich before moving to Man City, including being the only player in history to win the World U21 Footballer of the Year award three times in a row….Leading the team at the front is the Player of the 2020s Erling Haaland, who has won 6 World Golden Ball awards and has laid claim to being the English Premier League’s finest ever player breaking all types of records.

 

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YOUTH INTAKE 2030