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Top 10 soccer players of 2022

With 2022 coming to a close, it’s time to celebrate the best that men’s soccer had to offer over the past 12 months of club and international action. Below, we count down the top 10 footballers of the year.

10. Neymar ??

FRANCK FIFE / AFP / Getty

Club: Paris Saint-Germain | Age: 30 | Position: Forward

Neymar still hasn’t reached iconic status in Brazil after failing to win it all at the 2022 World Cup. But he did manage to repair his image after ditching his reputation as a diver that he earned at the 2018 tournament. His bright start to the season at Paris Saint-Germain carried over to Qatar where he delivered strong performances and led a supremely talented Brazil outfit.

The 30-year-old etched his name in history after equaling Pele with his 77th international goal before bowing out of the World Cup in the quarterfinals. It was a bitter end to what might’ve been his best chance at winning the quadrennial event, but Neymar showed he still possesses the type of talent that could one day earn him his first Ballon d’Or award.

9. Rafael Leao ??

Clive Brunskill / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Club: AC Milan | Age: 23 | Position: Winger

Among the many gripes that Portugal fans should’ve had with now departed head coach Fernando Santos during the World Cup, omitting Leao from the starting lineup should be near the top of the list. The winger’s knack for finding an extra gear mid-run and contorting opponents with his dribbling would’ve made him a valuable weapon in a tournament with an overall weak contingent of full-backs. His performances in Italy have also proved he’s a reliable source of goals.

Leao was named Serie A’s Most Valuable Player for the 2021-22 campaign after tallying 11 goals and eight assists as AC Milan won their first Scudetto in 11 years. He’s been similarly potent this season with six goals and four assists over 14 Serie A appearances and will expect to make his mark in the Champions League knockouts as the Rossoneri prepare to face Tottenham Hotspur in the round of 16.

8. Sadio Mane ??

DeFodi Images / DeFodi Images / Getty

Club: Bayern Munich | Age: 30 | Position: Forward

Although 2022 ended on a sour note, there were certainly enough peaks to make it a memorable year for Mane. The 30-year-old continued to establish himself as one of the world’s top players and was pivotal in helping Senegal enjoy unprecedented success while arguably surpassing Mohamed Salah as Africa’s best player.

Mane started the year by breaking Salah’s heart twice in less than two months on the international stage. After leading Senegal to its first-ever Africa Cup of Nations triumph with a shootout win over Egypt in the final, Mane scored the winning penalty against Salah’s side again to secure his country’s place at the World Cup. Mane also left Liverpool after six years for a new challenge at Bayern Munich, where he scored 11 goals in all competitions before suffering a leg injury that ended his hopes of playing in Qatar.

7. Robert Lewandowski ??

Lars Baron / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Club: Barcelona | Age: 34 | Position: Striker

Different club, same result: plenty of goals. Lewandowski hasn’t skipped a beat since leaving the familiar confines of Bayern Munich for Barcelona this past summer. He closed out his bountiful spell in Germany by retaining the European Golden Shoe and scored 18 goals in just 19 appearances thus far between La Liga and the Champions League. Many things remain uncertain at Barcelona during a tumultuous time, but the guaranteed production of Lewandowski eases some fears and provides reassurance.

He’s the leading scorer in Spain’s top flight this season, sitting five goals clear of the nearest challenger. The Pichichi Trophy beckons. Some things never change. Lewandowski also realized a longstanding dream this winter by scoring his first World Cup goal, ticking off that outstanding box in what was almost definitely his final opportunity to do so.

6. Vinicius Junior ??

Shaun Botterill / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Club: Real Madrid | Age: 22 | Position: Winger

Vinicius Junior didn’t light up the World Cup like some might’ve expected. But, the 22-year-old won’t be affected by falling short of expectations; he’s been dealing with adversity ever since his high-profile move from Brazil to Madrid in 2018. Vinicius has made impatient critics look foolish in the past as the winger has developed – at his own pace – into one of football’s most electric players.

He’s become a potent finisher after overcoming early scoring struggles at Real Madrid, and his confidence with the ball is unmatched, regularly provoking defenders with fearless footwork and blinding speed. He has all the makings of a global superstar, and his eventual arrival at that level will be worth the wait.

5. Kevin De Bruyne ??

Matt McNulty – Manchester City / Manchester City FC / Getty

Club: Manchester City | Age: 31 | Position: Midfielder

Let’s get this out of the way: He wasn’t very good at the World Cup. Roberto Martinez’s peculiar tactical choices and misguided loyalty to some Belgium squad members may have contributed to De Bruyne’s subpar displays in Qatar, but witnessing the playmaker produce fewer key passes than Iran’s Mehdi Taremi at the tournament was perplexing.

De Bruyne’s performances for Manchester City are another matter. After overcoming the remnants of COVID-19 and injury during the first half of the 2021-22 season, he was unfortunate to miss out on a Champions League final while helping City outmuscle Liverpool in the Premier League title race. He’s on course for a record-breaking campaign in 2022-23 – he already has nine top-flight assists – after instantly striking up a strong on-field understanding with Erling Haaland. De Bruyne habitually turns the tide for Pep Guardiola’s side on his own: The more irritated he gets, the better he becomes.

4. Erling Haaland ??

Matt McNulty – Manchester City / Manchester City FC / Getty

Club: Manchester City | Age: 22 | Position: Striker

Haaland is a one-man wrecking ball. He’s exploded with 20 goals over his first 14 top-flight outings for Manchester City, putting him in the hunt for the most goals in a debut Premier League campaign. (Sunderland’s Kevin Phillips scored 30 in 1999-2000.) He could also trouble the single-season scoring record: Salah hit an unrivaled 32 goals in a 38-game campaign in 2017-18, and Andy Cole and Alan Shearer struck 34 times when Premier League clubs each played 42 games.

Despite missing two matches and playing just 45 minutes on two other occasions, Haaland crammed in five goals during the 2022-23 Champions League group stage, taking his overall tally in the competition to 28. That puts the 22-year-old above Robin van Persie and level with Hernan Crespo in the all-time standings. Football appears primed for a head-to-head scoring battle between Haaland and the next player on this list for the next decade, and that should make for compelling viewing.

3. Kylian Mbappe ??

Michael Regan – FIFA / FIFA / Getty

Club: Paris Saint-Germain | Age: 24 | Position: Forward

Heir to the throne as the best player on the planet, Mbappe continued his ascension in 2022. It was almost inconceivable to think that the French superstar could get even better this year, but somehow, that’s precisely what happened. There’s an inevitability about Mbappe now. Every time he touches the ball, fireworks follow in some form. In that way, he’s already unrivaled.

Mbappe was the top scorer in Ligue 1 in 2021-22. He’s the leading scorer this campaign, too, and nobody has found the net more times in this season’s Champions League. In 21 combined matches between the two competitions, he’s recorded 20 goals. Scoring goals is the hardest thing to do in the sport, and he makes it look pedestrian even when the opposition focuses so much attention and energy on trying to stop him. He almost ripped the World Cup title away from Argentina on his own, scoring a hat-trick in the final that punctuated his status as the ultimate game-breaker. Every scoring record that exists in world football could eventually belong to Mbappe.

2. Karim Benzema ??

Quality Sport Images / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Club: Real Madrid | Age: 35 | Position: Striker

It’s a shame an ill-timed injury robbed Benzema of his final opportunity to shine at the World Cup. Would France have defended its title with the Real Madrid striker leading the line? We’ll never know. But that shouldn’t take anything away from Benzema’s achievements in 2022, a wildly prolific year in which he captured the Ballon d’Or for the first time. Benzema’s scoring prowess in the first half of the calendar year was nothing short of legendary. He took home a maiden Pichichi Trophy after bagging 27 La Liga goals over the 2021-22 campaign, leading Real Madrid to the league title.

But it was in the Champions League where he moved mountains. Benzema delivered a pair of indelible hat-tricks in the round of 16 and quarterfinals – against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, respectively – before tormenting Manchester City with three goals over two mesmerizing semifinal legs. He racked up a whopping 10 tallies in the knockout stage; in all, his tournament-best 15 goals powered Real Madrid to yet another Champions League crown. After so many years spent in Cristiano Ronaldo’s shadow, Benzema towered over everyone else in the Spanish capital in 2022.

1. Lionel Messi ??

DeFodi Images / DeFodi Images / Getty

Club: Paris Saint-Germain | Age: 35 | Position: Forward

Who else? Messi, back to his scintillating best with Paris Saint-Germain after a transitional first season in the French capital, is atop the football world after leading Argentina to World Cup glory. The minuscule magician put on a clinic in Qatar, dazzling every step of the way. He scored in each round of the competition, including twice in the instantly iconic final, to silence any remaining – and misguided – doubters by hoisting the only trophy that had eluded him. This isn’t a case of recency bias after his defining triumph in the desert, though. Messi has been conjuring up breathtaking moments throughout the calendar year for both club and country.

He’s either at the top, or very close, in virtually every statistical category that measures attacking contribution; he leads Ligue 1 in assists this season and is tied for top spot with four helpers in the Champions League. Between the two competitions, he’s already hit double figures in goals, too. But more than the raw numbers, nobody owned 2022 on the pitch like Messi. In any World Cup year, the tournament has an outsize impact on year-end reviews like this one. When we all look back on the past 12 months, Messi aloft with the golden trophy in his hands will be the defining image.

Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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Premier League

Breaking down thrilling EPL title race with 10 games left

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One of the most intoxicating title races in Premier League history is, mercifully, ready to resume.

The quirks of the calendar – an FA Cup weekend succeeded by an agonizing international window – means the titanic tussle between Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City will have been on hiatus for a full three weeks before it gets back underway on Sunday.

But there are no more impending interruptions. With 10 matches remaining for each title contender, we’re barreling toward a resolution to the type of three-way battle that’s exceedingly rare in England’s top flight. There’s never been a season in the Premier League era where three teams went into the final day with a chance to hoist the trophy. This could be it. The last time it happened was the 1971-72 campaign, when Derby County won an incredible four-team fight, narrowly beating Leeds United and, ominously, Liverpool and Man City to the crown. We’re overdue for that kind of drama.

That three sides have converged this way at all is, frankly, remarkable.

These are the three best teams in the country by an enormous margin. They’re the only ones with an expected goal difference per game of plus-1.0 or greater this season. The next best mark, surprisingly, belongs to Mauricio Pochettino’s erratic Chelsea team at plus-0.36. So, yeah, it’s not close.

The three of them are also on a tear and show no signs of slowing down. Arsenal have won all eight of their league games in 2024, scoring 33 goals in the process; Liverpool have collected 22 of a possible 27 points in that time; reigning champions Manchester City have racked up 23 of 27 points. They’ve combined for just one loss since the calendar flipped – Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat against Arsenal in early February.

The only sides that look capable of halting their progress are each other, which makes this weekend’s clash between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad all the more significant.

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Each contender has a compelling reason for believing it’s “their” year.

Arsenal

Mikel Arteta’s men look far more assured and mature than last season when they set the pace for nearly the entire campaign, only to crumble down the stretch and relinquish their once sizeable advantage to Manchester City. Do-it-all superstar Declan Rice has been a transformative figure in midfield, while Kai Havertz, after an inauspicious start, is becoming an increasingly vital and consistent scoring threat. At least from the outside, there appears to be more self-belief within the Arsenal camp. Having learned from their experience in 2022-23, Arsenal won’t cede top spot so easily this time. It’ll need to be ripped from them.

Some may be inclined to dismiss their recent run because of their opponents. Yes, the Gunners have played some weak teams – Sheffield United! Burnley! Nottingham Forest! – but, for the most part, they aren’t just beating them; they’re blowing them away with a ruthlessness usually associated with title winners. For those still unconvinced, Sunday’s visit to the Etihad, where they were tossed aside like a rag doll in last season’s 4-1 loss, will be the ultimate litmus test to see if this team is ready to end the club’s 20-year title drought.

Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp’s persistent squad, already with the League Cup in tow, aims to send off their departing bench boss in style. Liverpool have been the most entertaining team of the trio this season. They create more chances than Arsenal and City and concede more opportunities. Darwin Nunez, the ultimate agent of chaos on a football pitch, is the perfect fit for a team with a habit of scoring late goals and delivering dramatic moments. Their title charge is built on more than just vibes, though.

Liverpool overwhelmed none other than City in their last league game before the international break but came away from the pulsating affair at Anfield with a 1-1 draw. City, usually self-confident and domineering in possession, simply held on against what Pep Guardiola dubbed a “tsunami” of pressure. There was obviously some added incentive at play, but Liverpool are built to go full speed regardless of the opposition. It’s in their nature under Klopp.

Manchester City

Despite not being at its vintage best this term, Guardiola’s accomplished crew remains the favorite in the eyes of many who, for good reason, simply refuse to pick against them. We’ve been conditioned to feel like City will inevitably be the last team standing because, well, they usually are. Five titles in the previous six seasons will have that effect on the collective psyche. However, Erling Haaland isn’t replicating his ferocious scoring pace from last season, and Kevin De Bruyne has been limited to six league starts. Also, outside of some electrifying Jeremy Doku performances, the summer signings haven’t exactly set the world alight. And yet, here they are, just one point off the top, showing the quiet confidence and tranquility that can only be obtained through winning experiences.

With Phil Foden leading the way and authoring arguably the best season of anyone in the league, City could become the first team in English history to win four consecutive top-flight titles.

Strength of schedule

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On paper, Arsenal have the most difficult fixture list.

Their remaining opponents average 41.8 points this season, roughly corresponding to ninth place in the table. Put another way, it would be the equivalent of playing Wolves (41 points) or Brighton (42) each week. It doesn’t help that many of Arsenal’s toughest matches are away from home. Coincidentally, they have upcoming trips to Brighton and Wolves, along with north London rivals Tottenham and Manchester United, following this weekend’s potentially decisive tilt at the Etihad. It’s tough.

Manchester City’s task is slightly more forgiving, as their remaining opponents average 40.7 points or 10th place.

Liverpool appear to have the most favorable schedule of the trophy chasers, with their opponents averaging 38.4 points, a tally representing the haul of a team in the bottom half of the table. While that’s better than the alternative, it’s not quite so simple for the Reds. On the back of a potentially draining Europa League quarterfinal second leg against Atalanta in mid-April – more on that soon – Klopp’s men have three away games in seven days against Fulham, Everton, and West Ham. In addition to battling their local nemesis, who could still be scrapping for survival at that point, Liverpool will also face a rambunctious Goodison crowd that would love nothing more than to play a critical role in stopping their hated rivals from winning another league crown.

Aston Villa and Spurs, meanwhile, stand out as common foes for all three title hopefuls. Sitting fourth and fifth, respectively, and engaged in their own fight to secure a Champions League place, they could play the role of kingmakers this spring.

European commitments

Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Balancing the mental and physical demands of domestic play with continental competition is a huge piece of this puzzle for all three teams. Midweek success can further galvanize a group, but taxing failures can cripple a team’s momentum at home.

Much like the domestic schedule, Liverpool seem to have an edge here. Arsenal and Manchester City will face European behemoths Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in a pair of mouthwatering Champions League quarterfinal ties beginning next month. However, Liverpool have a comparatively charitable Europa League encounter with Atalanta.

If they both advance, Arsenal and City will meet in the Champions League semifinals, an outcome that will surely be celebrated wildly on Merseyside.

How those games intermingle with the league schedule also matters. Liverpool play Crystal Palace and Fulham following their two matchups with the Italian outfit. After locking horns with Bayern, Arsenal have to contend with Aston Villa and Wolves. Manchester City, still active on three fronts as they seek a second consecutive treble, host lowly Luton after the first leg of their Real Madrid rematch and take on Chelsea in the FA Cup semifinals following the second leg.

Injury concerns

Simon Stacpoole/Offside / Offside / Getty

Liverpool have been plagued by injuries all season. Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, and Andy Robertson, among others, have missed varying amounts of time, though the bulk of that group is getting back to full fitness. Alisson Becker remains sidelined and might not return until mid-April. Defensive stalwart Virgil van Dijk is the only Liverpool player to garner over 2,000 league minutes this season, indicating how disruptive injuries have been for Klopp’s team. And yet, they persevere.

Five Manchester City players have cleared the 2,000-minute mark thus far, and a couple more are on the cusp. But the club was without De Bruyne for the entire first half of the season, while trips to the treatment room ravaged Jack Grealish’s year. City also got hit the hardest by the recent international break, with John Stones and Kyle Walker hurt on England duty and racing against time to recover for Sunday’s match versus Arsenal. Swiss defender Manuel Akanji is in the same boat, and Ederson’s return date from a thigh injury remains uncertain. Never shy about tweaking his lineup, Guardiola could be forced to tinker yet again.

Arsenal have been largely unscathed, with six players eclipsing 2,000 league minutes. William Saliba, whose absence last season played an outsize role in Arsenal’s capitulation, has been on the pitch for every second of league play in 2023-24. Gabriel Jesus has battled ailments all year, and Jurrien Timber suffered an ACL injury just 49 minutes into his Premier League debut in the season opener. But the Gunners will be hoping their relative good fortune on the injury front extends right through May, especially as it relates to Bukayo Saka, who pulled out of the England squad to nurse a minor muscular issue.

Prediction

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First, a disclaimer: Luck will play a pivotal role in determining which team is crowned on May 19. Injuries will continue to be a factor. There will almost certainly be contentious refereeing and VAR decisions that favor and oppose the title challengers. There will also be finishing variance, with players missing seemingly easy chances and converting more difficult opportunities.

Impossible to predict? No matter. We’re not going to let that stop us.

Considering their advantageous schedule, at home and in Europe, along with their improving squad health at just the right time and the inescapable feeling that this is a team of destiny determined to send their beloved manager out on a high, we’re going with Liverpool, who’ll collect 88 points to pip their rivals and again interrupt Manchester City’s run of domestic dominance.

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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Premier League

Euro 2024 playoffs: Miraculous Ukraine comeback, big result for Wales

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Wales, Greece, and Poland registered statement wins Thursday, joining three other teams in next Tuesday’s playoff finals for the three remaining places at Euro 2024.

Ukraine staged an incredible late comeback against Bosnia and Herzegovina in its semifinal to keep its Euro dream alive.

The highest-placed team in FIFA’s rankings that’s no longer in contention to reach the tournament in Germany is 60th-placed Finland.

Here’s how the playoff semifinals across Path A, B, and C played out.

Path A

Mateusz Slodkowski / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Poland 5-1 Estonia

Estonia barely stood a chance. Down to 10 men as early as the 27th minute, the northern Europeans could only muster a consolation goal in a 5-1 loss to Poland. The Polish achieved the rout without Robert Lewandowski getting on the scoresheet and remain unbeaten in 21 Euro qualifiers at home, a magnificent run dating back to September 2006. Poland is trying to make up for a poor qualifying campaign in which it finished third in Group E, four points behind the Czech Republic and Albania. The country hasn’t missed the Euros since 2004.

Wales 4-1 Finland

The Red Wall might descend on Germany this summer. Wales’ raucous supporters have legitimate hopes of traveling to another major tournament after the Dragons scorched Finland without the retired Gareth Bale and with Aaron Ramsey, 33, on the bench after more injury problems. Teemu Pukki gave the visiting team some hope just before halftime following well-taken finishes from David Brooks and Neco Williams. But Wales needed just 73 seconds of the second period to restore its two-goal cushion via Brennan Johnson’s tap-in. Daniel James took advantage of a defensive error before rounding the goalkeeper in the 86th minute to give the host a resounding victory.

Playoff final: Wales vs. Poland, Tuesday 3:45 p.m. ET

Path B

David Balogh – UEFA / UEFA / Getty

Israel 1-4 Iceland

Iceland’s Albert Gudmundsson stole the show with an emphatic hat-trick against Israel on Thursday. His stunning free-kick into the top right corner canceled out Eran Zahavi’s opening goal for Israel, and he created a nice cushion for his country with a pair of markers in the final 10 minutes. Just before that, Zahavi blew an incredible opportunity to equalize the match at 2-2, missing a penalty awarded for handball against Iceland’s Gudmundur Thorarinsson. A red card to Israel’s Haim Revivo didn’t help the trailing side. Iceland is now a game away from making only its second-ever appearance at the Euros following its quarterfinal run in 2016.

Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-2 Ukraine

Ukraine scored twice with just minutes remaining in regulation to snatch what seemed to be a sure victory from Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday. Bosnia controlled play for most of the match and took the lead in the 56th minute when Mykola Matviyenko turned in Amar Dedic’s shot into his own net. But a colossal defensive lapse cost the Bosnians a chance to make it a record four countries from the former Yugoslavia at Euro 2024. Roman Yaremchuk came off the bench to equalize in the 85th minute and teed up Artem Dovbyk’s sensational winning header three minutes later to turn the playoff semifinal on its head. Ukraine now faces Iceland with a third consecutive Euro appearance at stake.

Playoff final: Ukraine vs. Iceland, Tuesday 3:45 p.m. ET

Path C

GIORGI ARJEVANIDZE / AFP / Getty

Georgia 2-0 Luxembourg

Two clever finishes from Budu Zivzivadze in Tbilisi assured Georgia of a place in Path C’s final – and all without the help of suspended talisman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. But it wasn’t that simple for the host. Luxembourg thought it equalized during the second half, only for the goal to be eventually snatched away due to Maxime Chanot’s apparent foul 45 seconds earlier. Luxembourg’s Chanot was controversially sent off for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity, and Zivzivadze effectively ended the match six minutes later with his second strike. Kvaratskhelia is available for the final.

Greece 5-0 Kazakhstan

Anastasios Bakasetas lashed home a penalty, Dimitrios Pelkas headed into the net’s roof, Fotis Ioannidis tapped in from close range, and Dimitrios Kourbelis added another header. And that was all before halftime. Kazakhstan’s impressive 2022-23 Nations League campaign and notable Euro 2024 qualifying wins over Denmark, Northern Ireland (twice), and Finland suddenly seemed ages ago, as Greece recorded its biggest halftime lead since October 1978 (5-0 against Finland). Aleksandr Marochkin’s embarrassing own goal in the 85th minute made Kazakhstan’s day even worse.

Playoff final: Georgia vs. Greece, Tuesday 1:00 p.m. ET

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Premier League

Look: Nike unveils beautiful kit selection for Euro 2024, Copa America

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Nike released a stunning batch of threads ahead of Euro 2024 and Copa America on Monday.

Days after Adidas launched its lineup for the summer’s top two tournaments, Nike followed suit with an array of colorful designs.

The U.S. manufacturer also announced redesigns for Canada and Poland, even though they’ve yet to qualify for their respective tournaments. The Canucks face Trinidad and Tobago in a one-off Copa America qualifier on Saturday, while Poland must navigate a four-team playoff to reach Euro 2024.

(All images courtesy of Nike)

Euro 2024

Croatia

Home

The square-shaped design that gives Croatia its unique look gets a slight upgrade. The home shirt features larger squares than ever before.

Away

Croatia’s away shirt plays on the national flag, with the traditional checkered pattern now on a slant.

England

Home

Influenced by England’s 1966 training gear, the home shirt has a classic feel with a rich blue collar and gorgeous trim along the cuffs.

Away

England embraces a deep purple hue for its away selection. The crest stands out with a contrasting off-white tint that makes the three lions pop.

France

Home

France’s home shirt may have the biggest crest of all of Nike’s offerings. The oversized rooster defines this shirt as much as the royal blue that’s made France’s kits a crowd-pleaser.

Away

The pinstripes mirror the colors of France’s national flag and span the width of the shirt in a simple, yet elegant design.

Netherlands

Home

Nike could’ve offered anything orange here, and it would’ve been perfect. But the Netherlands has something bolder and better to wear. The zig-zag pattern adds edge.

Away

The orange collar and cuffs pop alongside the three shades of blue Nike has chosen to create the abstract design on this work of art.

Poland

Home

Poland dedicates premium real estate on the country’s home shirt to its imposing crest.

Away

Poland’s away shirt is a daring choice. The graphic treatment adds texture, giving it a rugged feel while separating from the red tones of years past.

Portugal

Home

With possibly the best home shirt in Nike’s collection, Portugal leans heavily into its traditional red-and-green motif with a polo collar and thick cuffs. The logo sits prominently as well. A smash hit.

Away

Here’s another winner. Portugal’s away strip has a stunning textile imprint that gives off a cool summer vibe.

Turkey

Home

This is a menacing look. Turkey will look like a whirring red army with these imposing shirts.

Away

The classic red band returns to Turkey’s away uniform. Like the others, it features an oversized crest in the middle of the shirt.

Copa America

Brazil

Home

Nike goes big with Brazil’s crest and adds an intricate design to the same yellow hue the Selecao have used for decades.

Away

Brazil’s secondary strip feels like the beach. A horizontal wavy pattern covering the entire shirt mimics the country’s picturesque coastline.

Canada

Home

The only blemish in Nike’s lineup. Why is there a circle around the swoosh? And why are the shoulders so much darker than the body? None of it makes sense.

Away

The 13 pinstripes are supposed to represent the 10 provinces and three territories that make up Canada. Unfortunately, the rest of the shirt looks incomplete.

United States

Home

The United States men’s national team gets a classic home shirt with patriotic detailing along the color and sleeves.

Away

The gradient works perfectly with the red shorts the U.S. will wear at the Copa America.

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