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GOAL takes a look at the Black players that have fought to earn American soccer respect across the Atlantic

For years, American players have had to fight for respect in Europe. And, throughout that fight, Black players have been helping to lead the charge and earn the respect from abroad that American soccer has craved for so long.

From legends like DaMarcus Beasley and Cobi Jones to current stars like Weston McKennie and Mia Fishel, Black players have long been integral parts of the U.S. men's and women's national team. Their careers, though, have taken them beyond U.S. borders and into Europe, where they've starred at the highest of levels.

As part of Black History Month, GOAL takes a look at the African-American players who have blazed a trail into Europe…

Getty ImagesEarly days

Throughout the 1990s, American soccer was fighting for whatever scraps they could get. The sport was still in its infancy in the States, with the 1994 World Cup beginning a change that felt long overdue.

After that World Cup, Cobi Jones became one of American soccer's first pop culture icons. His performance in 1994 vaulted him into the national spotlight, but it also opened doors to Europe. Jones spent one season with Coventry City in the Premier League right after the tournament, making 24 appearances, before joining Brazilian side Vasco da Gama for a brief spell. His road, ultimately, brought him back to MLS, but Jones was one of the first Americans to cross over and make an impact in the Premier League.

His 1994 World Cup teammate Earnie Stewart was thriving in the Netherlands at the same time. Born in Holland, Stewart was the son of American Air Force airman and a key figure for the U.S. team for 14 years. His impact on the Dutch top-flight is still felt today, with Stewart now serving as PSV's director of football, using his platform to sign Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesBeasley takes the baton

If you're going to argue which American has had the best European career, few can match up with DaMarcus Beasley. After becoming a star at age 20 at the 2002 World Cup, Beasley eventually made the move to PSV. With the Dutch side, he went all the way to the Champions League semifinal, becoming the first American to reach that stage of the competition. Once there, Beasley and PSV lost on away goals, suffering elimination at the hands of a legendary AC Milan side.

Beasley went on to feature for some of Europe's biggest clubs: Manchester City, Rangers and Hannover, before coming back to North America for stints with Puebla and Houston.

All these years later, Beasley's impact remains massive. He's one of the best American soccer has ever seen, and perhaps more than any other player, he blazed a trail through Europe that many ended up following.

GettyHoward reaches new heights

Manchester United, at that time, were the biggest team in the world. And, in 2003, they went out and signed Tim Howard to be their goalkeeper.

His time at Old Trafford didn't last long, but there's no denying what Howard ended up thriving in the Premier League. As Everton's No.1, Howard proved time and time again that he was one of the best goalkeepers in England. At a time when American goalkeepers were earning respect in the Premier League, Howard might just have been the best of the bunch as he established himself as a legend at Goodison Park.

Few Americans have a connection to a club quite like Howard does with Everton, and few ever will.

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GettyPathway opens up

By the mid-2000s, the pathway had begun to open up. Some of America's top stars were headed to Europe determined to prove themselves for both club and country.

Maurice Edu became a folk hero at Rangers, scoring a legendary winner against Celtic, before going on to play for Stoke City. Oguchi Onyewu was a mainstay in Europe, playing in seven different countries during his time anchoring the USMNT before eventually becoming U.S. Soccer's vice president of sporting.

Cory Gibbs, Eddie Johnson and Charlie Davies all created their own pathway to Europe, and all are actively involved in the game today. Gibbs is an agent, representing some of the best and brightest American soccer has to offer; Johnson works heavily within the youth space, helping develop up-and-coming talent; and Davies, like Edu, is a mainstay on TV, becoming one of the top pundits in the American game.

And then there's Jozy Altidore. Perhaps the best goalscorer American soccer's ever seen, Altidore is responsible for quite possibly the best season an American player has ever had in Europe. His 51 goals across two campaigns with AZ, headlined by 31 in 2012-13, showed how dominant he could be. His move to Sunderland didn't go to plan, but that won't erase just how decisive Altidore was in the Eredivisie.

And that brings us to the here and now, to a USMNT loaded with Black players plying their craft at higher levels than ever before.

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Liverpool fans have been reacting on social media to a bold claim in the French media that Adrien Rabiot would prefer to join Jurgen Klopp’s side than Tottenham Hotspur.

We recently covered reaction from a cohort of Liverpool fans who were pleased to hear that Rabiot is keen to move to Merseyside – however, it appears not every Reds supporter is quite so impressed by the news.

The claim has been reported by Paris United, who revealed that Spurs are hoping to sign the midfielder, as well as the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Are the media letting Jurgen Klopp off lightly for his lack of silverware? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…

Rabiot is out of contract in the French capital come the summer, and appears more interested in leaving the club than agreeing a new deal.

Paris United are now suggesting that Tottenham are trying to win the race for his signature by offering the 6-cap Frenchman a €5million (£4.3m) signing bonus and a €7.5million (£6.4m) per year wage to move to London.

But the same PSG-focused site are also claiming that Rabiot would prefer to join the ranks at Anfield if he were to move to the Premier League.

No offer has yet been made by the Reds, and these members of the Anfield faithful were quick to remind Rabiot of that…

Wrexham could hardly have made a worse start to their EFL Trophy clash against Burton Albion as they went down 3-2 on home soil on Tuesday.

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Wrexham conceded two goals in first three minutesDalby fired in to pull a goal back for Welsh sideBurton Albion too good for League Two outfitTELL ME MORE

Less than 30 seconds were needed for Burton Albion to break the deadlock as the ball was sent high over the home team's defence and Adedeji Oshilaja was able to fire into the net. Wrexham's nightmare start continued two minutes later when Mark Helm added a second after the referee got in the way of James Jones controlling the ball and allowing the visitors to get the shot away.

Sam Dalby managed to pull a goal back for his team in the fifth minute though, as he collected a loose ball and sent it curling into the net, but Burton managed to squeeze the ball in once again in the second half to essentially kill off the game, rendering Jordan Davies' stoppage time goal irrelevant.

AdvertisementGettyTHE MVP

Burton Albion star Oshilaja was a bright spark for his side throughout. He did well to get through on goal and finish the move to open the scoring early on but was heavily involved, teeing up another chance midway through the second half that was saved by Wrexham's goalkeeper.

GettyTHE BIG LOSER

While Oshilaja did well to beat him, goalkeeper Luke McNichols should have done better to prevent the visitors from taking the lead. His attempt to come out and stop the scorer was a tame one and it left him with a fairly simple finish, sending the away team on their way to victory.

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WHAT COMES NEXT?

Wrexham will hope to get back to winning ways when they take on Forest Green Rovers in League Two this week. The Welsh team are second in the table and looking to keep pressure on leaders Stockport County, who are five points clear.

GOAL takes a look at what to watch for in these two friendlies against South Africa as the U.S. begins the preparing for the Olympics and beyond

The 2023 World Cup is now over for the United States women's national team. The tournament will be remembered as a failure, but perhaps a failure that served as a reboot point for a program that probably needed it.

But as we enter this first post-World Cup camp, it is fair to say that that reboot is on hold, at least for a little while. The USWNT is a team in transition, yes, but that transition hasn't quite happened yet. Instead, the U.S. has a squad full of World Cup veterans for these two friendlies against South Africa, including two legitimate legends that will be saying goodbye.

These games will serve as the swansongs for Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz, two historic figures for this program. They'll be surrounded by many of the players they competed with this summer as they prepare to say goodbye and move onto the next stage.

While those two will get the headlines, though, this camp is about more than just that. The farewells are nice, yes, but there are several new faces in this camp that could be very, very important as the U.S. puts this World Cup behind them and begins looking ahead to the 2024 Olympics, as well as the 2027 World Cup.

Getty ImagesNew coach bounce?

The Vlatko Andonovski era is over, and the (temporary) Twila Kilgore era is now beginning. Kilgore is serving as the USWNT's interim coach for now as the federation searches for Andonovski's replacement. Technical director Matt Crocker says that U.S. Soccer is hard at work with that task and that a new hire should be in relatively soon, but for now, this is Kilgore's team.

Kilgore has been with the U.S. Soccer program for some time, having started with the Under-20s before serving as both Andonovski's assistant and U.S. U23s coach. Her tenure in charge may not last long, but it certainly will be interesting.

Will Kilgore institute any changes? Will she abandon any of the concepts that, ultimately, led to failure at the World Cup? Or will she know her place as a more transitional coach and simply try to keep things together rather than reinvent things overnight?

Either way, it'll be intriguing to see someone different at the helm and to find out what that means for a USWNT that is in transition.

AdvertisementGettyA shot of Coffey

One of the biggest 'what ifs' from the 2023 World Cup centers around Sam Coffey. What would have happened if she wasn't overlooked? How would that midfield have performed with Coffey involved? Well, we'll get a pretty decent look during this window.

With the bulk of the World Cup squad hanging around, the introduction of Coffey will give us something of a look into what this team could have looked like with the midfielder involved. A No.6 that is capable of disrupting play and moving the ball, the fact that Coffey never got integrated to the team was one of Andonovski's biggest failures.

She'll now get a chance to prove herself, though, as she looks to make an impression early on the road to 2027.

GettyHow does Shaw fit?

One of two uncapped players in the squad, Jaedyn Shaw is a player that should be an intriguing one for the USWNT. She can either play out wide or centrally, making her a dangerous weapon that gives the U.S. tactical flexibility whenever she's in the XI. And she's just 18 years old, so this is all just beginning.

Shaw was U.S. Soccer's Young Player of the Year last year and already has plenty of NWSL experience under her belt for the San Diego Wave, despite her youth. Talent-wise, she's as promising as it gets, and her positional flexibility make her an even more interesting talent for a USWNT that remains loaded with young attackers.

With players like Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Alyssa Thompson all just getting started, how does Shaw fit in, especially in a fully-fit squad? Hopefully this camp offers an early idea.

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Fishel steps up

To begin her career, Mia Fishel took the road less travelled, and that road has led her right to the USWNT anyway. From UCLA to Tigres and, now, a historic move to Chelsea, Fishel has forged a reputation as a goalscorer. She scored boatloads at Tigres, and it's her ability to put the ball in the back of the net that has her in the USWNT picture.

However, the U.S. has several other goalscorers around the team. Smith, Alex Morgan and Mallory Swanson (when healthy), all score plenty. So how does Fishel fit? Can she unseat one of the team's regular stars?

We'll learn the answer to that in the coming years, not the coming days, but Fishel will no doubt be looking to make a good first impression.

Leandro Paredes begged Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni to "change his mind" and reconsider his potential resignation.

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Scaloni hinted at potential resignation after Brazil winSuggested he is not at 100 per centParedes wants the coach to brush aside resignation thoughtsWHAT HAPPENED?

In a bombshell interview, after masterminding Argentina's 1-0 win over Brazil in World Cup qualifying, the Albiceleste manager revealed that he "has to think a lot about what to do", suggesting that he might relinquish his post of head coach for the national team. His comments sent shockwaves among the players and fans as they hold Scaloni in the highest regard after the tactician guided them to their third global crown in Qatar 2022. Paredes urged Scaloni to think long and hard about leaving the national team and hoped that he would continue at the helm.

AdvertisementWHAT PAREDES SAID ABOUT SCALONI

Speaking to the media after the match, Paredes said: "We didn’t talk to Scaloni. We are aware he’s the head of the group, let’s hope he stays there, that he makes the decision to stay because he is very important. He will have his reasons but we are more than grateful. Let’s hope he changes his mind and stays with us.”

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Argentina have been flourishing since Scaloni took over the reins. After a disappointing result against Uruguay last time out, the manager showed that he can boost his troops to script a comeback even in the most hostile of conditions. They are currently at the top of the World Cup qualifying group and hold a massive eight-point lead over sixth-placed Brazil, who have lost three consecutive matches under Fernando Diniz.

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JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR SCALONI & ARGENTINA?

Scaloni's remarks came in the aftermath of a match marred by off-the-pitch violence at Brazil's Maracana stadium. His words could be a repercussion of the complete breakdown of law and order at the stands as he did not share anything definitive about his potential resignation. Although it does raise questions about his future the Argentina faithful will be hopeful that their successful World Cup-winning coach isn't leaving the team anytime soon.

Mauricio Pochettino's side had more than enough chances to win the game, but it was Jurgen Klopp who was celebrating at half time

The delight on Jurgen Klopp's face when the full-time whistle blew was palpable. Someway, somehow, in spite of everything thrown at them before and during the game, Liverpool had managed to get their hands on the Carabao Cup trophy at Chelsea's expense.

The Blues will still be scratching their heads as to how they did not manage to at least get on the scoresheet at Wembley, with Mauricio Pochettino's side spurning a ludicrous amount of chances on an extraordinarily disappointing afternoon for their supporters.

But in the end, after previously having a header ruled out for offside, Virgil van Dijk emerged as the unlikely hero in the capital, meeting Kostas Tsimikas' corner to score the only goal of the game with just a few minutes of extra-time left to play.

So that's one trophy down, three more to go for Klopp, as the legendary Liverpool boss looks to end his iconic Anfield reign on a historic high. For Chelsea, the heartache continues – and it really didn't need to be this way.

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from a terrific Carabao Cup final…

GettyWINNER: Virgil van Dijk

It's fitting that Van Dijk, a player whose arrival in Merseyside propelled Klopp's side to the next level, was the one to come up big when his manager was in desperate need of a hero. During the in-game hour preceding the Dutchman's 118th-minute winner, the Reds were clinging on for dear life, with Chelsea peppering their goalmouth.

And Van Dijk had already had a potentially-decisive moment ripped away by a controversial offside call in the first half, with Wataru Endo adjudged to have impeded Levi Colwill while in an offside position.

But Van Dijk is a first-class honours graduate from Klopp's 'mentality monsters' finishing school – he always knows when it's time to get things won. And, thus, in the dying embers of extra-time, up he rose, giving Djordje Petrovic no chance in the Chelsea goal. It's the latest in a long line of iconic moments for Van Dijk in a red shirt. What a servant he's been to Klopp and Liverpool.

AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Conor Gallagher

Gallagher will have watched Van Dijk's dramatic winner and thought: "that should have been me." The Englishman wasn't the only Chelsea player guilty of shoddy finishing on Sunday, but he was by far the worst offender.

Twice in quick succession late in the second half, Gallagher was handed the opportunity to win the game for his side, but on both occasions he let the chance to be the hero slip through his fingers. His first effort was a clever snapshot following a cute cutback, which careered into the post.

Gallagher's second was a much worse miss as he fired straight at Kelleher while one on one with the Liverpool goalkeeper. He only lasted a few minutes of extra-time and the tired shake of his head as he ambled off told the story.

Getty/ GOALWINNER: Caoimhin Kelleher & Djordje Petrovic

This was a game packed to the brim with top-class goalkeeping. Caoimhin Kelleher, currently enjoying one of those runs of form that makes you wonder why he settles for being a No.2, got the party started, making himself big to prevent Cole Palmer scoring from close range following good work from Raheem Sterling.

That was only an appetiser too, with the Irishman taking things up a notch in the second half. When Gallagher was found in acres of space by Cole Palmer four minutes from time, the Red half of Wembley held its breath. They needn't have worried, though, as Kelleher again kept it out. There was still time for one more save before the 90 minutes was up too, as the keeper sucked the ball into his grasp like a magnet at the end of a tortuous goalmouth scramble.

This wasn't all about Liverpool's backup stopper, though. Djordje Petrovic – who few would have expected to be playing regularly for the Blues at the start of the season – had a superb afternoon. And things got spectacular in extra-time, with the Serbian using his feet to somehow prevent Harvey Elliot's back-post header creeping in. Petrovic was beaten soon after, but that shouldn't detract from an excellent day's work for the goalkeeper's union.

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GettyLOSER: Liverpool's absentees

The beautiful, embroidered banner in the Liverpool end bore his resemblance, but on the field, the Reds' Egyptian King was nowhere to be seen. And while Mohamed Salah would have enjoyed watching Van Dijk head home that dramatic winner, it will have been a bittersweet day for one of the Premier League's biggest stars.

He was far from the only Liverpool man frustratingly forced to watch on at Wembley. Darwin Nunez – who's been so effective recently – Dominik Szoboszlai, Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones were some of Klopp's other missing parts, but the list goes on.

A lot of those players have special relationships with Klopp and they will be acutely aware that time is running out for them to create more memories together. So missing out on this Wembley showpiece will be difficult to take.

Christian Pulisic has fully recovered from the knock which kept him out of AC Milan’s last game, with the USMNT star set to feature against PSG.

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American sat out defeat to UdineseHas been nursing a muscle complaintReady for action in European competitionWHAT HAPPENED?

The United States international missed Milan’s 1-0 defeat to Udinese in Serie A with a slight muscle tweak picked up in an outing against Napoli. No risks were taken on his fitness, with the decision taken to grant the 25-year-old forward a much-needed rest.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The big games keep on coming for Milan, though, and Stefano Pioli – who finds himself under pressure amid a four-match winless streak – is ready to throw Pulisic straight back in to a Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. He has said when delivering a fitness update on Pulisic, Theo Hernandez, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Samuel Chukwueze: “They are fine. Chukwueze has a little less playing time but has been training for two days. Pulisic will start and Chukwu will be ready to replace him.”

WHAT THEY SAID

Pioli added after seeing Milan suffer three defeats and pick up just one draw from their last four matches in all competitions: “We paid too much for some results where we deserved more. We paid because in the last match we performed insufficiently compared to what we could and wanted. In these situations, it’s not words that make the difference but the behaviour. I keep repeating that the club is putting me in the best conditions, it has made a competitive team available to me. If the last performances have been negative, I am clearly responsible. With the passion I have, I focus on work and preparing for the match.”

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Getty/GOALWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Milan, who acquired Pulisic and his USMNT colleague Yunus Musah during the summer transfer window, have slipped to third in the Serie A standings and sit bottom of their Champions League group behind PSG, Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle.

The Spain international struggled on Sunday before straying offside just as the Blaugrana thought they'd scored a late winner

Ferran Torres proved to be an unfit replacement for the injured Robert Lewandowski as the Spaniard turned in a forgettable showing on what should have been a memorable night for Barcelona against Granada. Lamine Yamal became La Liga's youngest-ever goalscorer, but a series of scuffed half-chances and poor moments from Ferran — complete with a silly offside to have a goal ruled out in stoppage-time — saw Barca settle for a 2-2 draw.

Nineteenth-placed Granada showed few signs of fear early and struck after just 18 seconds, dispossessing Gavi before crafting an opening for Bryan Zaragoza, who found the net with a driven effort across Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The home side doubled their advantage 29 minutes later, Zaragoza bagging his second with a poked finish.

Yamal bagged his record-breaking goal to get Barca back in it on the cusp of half-time, the teenager ghosting in at the far post to turn home into an open net. From there, Barca threw everything forward in the second half, and they were rewarded for their efforts as Sergi Roberto grabbed the equaliser off the bench, turning in Alejandro Balde's low cross with five minutes remaining in normal time.

Joao Felix had the ball in the net in stoppage-time, but saw his goal disallowed after Ferran interfered in the play while marginally offside — summing up a miserable evening for the striker.

GOAL rates Barcelona's players from Los Carmenes…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (4/10):

Really should have saved Granada's first, and was too easily sent the wrong way for the second. Saved by the post from conceding a third.

Joao Cancelo (5/10):

Didn't really get involved until late on. Some of his passing was excellent once he started to have an influence.

Jules Kounde (4/10):

Made to look silly by Zaragoza for Granada's second. Forced off with a knee injury on the stroke of half-time.

Andreas Christensen (6/10):

Shaky at the start, but much more effective when Araujo came on.

Alejandro Balde (6/10):

Not his best night, but the delivery for the Barca equaliser was a thing of beauty.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Ilkay Gundogan (5/10):

Missed a tackle entirely in the run up to the Zaragoza opener. Had a good effort denied late on. Functions more effectively with a recognised central presence.

Fermin Lopez (5/10):

Handed a well-deserved full debut, but didn't really deliver on the night. Will have to be on it when called upon again.

Gavi (5/10):

Gave the ball away before Zaragoza's first. Was otherwise lively and heavily involved — without being too effective.

Getty ImagesAttack

Lamine Yamal (7/10):

Had some difficult moments defensively, but was as dangerous as ever going forward. Finished into an open net to halve the deficit.

Ferran Torres (3/10):

His first touch was lacking, and he didn't offer much as a central presence, either. Entirely unconvincing.

Joao Felix (7/10):

Effective in the first half, and grabbed an assist for Yamal's goal. Should've had a winner, had it not been for Ferran's mistake.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Ronald Araujo (7/10):

Was presumably supposed to be rested, but forced on when Kounde picked up a knock. Almost blasted one in.

Sergi Roberto (7/10):

Scored the equaliser. Did a lot of running, and kept the ball moving.

Oriol Romeu (6/10):

Active when introduced, and passed well.

Xavi (4/10):

Made an interesting call to hand Lopez his full debut, but was otherwise full strength — given a litany of injury problems. His side only really turned it on late, and didn't deserve anything more than a draw.

Inter Miami's sporting director Chris Henderson revealed the latest update on Luis Suarez's rumored transfer to the Herons this Winter.

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Suarez to Miami rumors keep popping upHeron's sporting director speaks on potential transfer for UruguayanWould be third ex-Barca teammate of Messi's in MiamiWHAT HAPPENED?

During Inter Miami's end of the year press conference, Henderson spoke on the possibility of bringing the Uruguayan stateside this winter. He admitted that the links to the club keep coming, but also addressed that he is still a Gremio player in Brazil. Him speaking on the matter gives Herons supporters a reason to be excited though, as Messi may be helping them recruit their newest striker.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Suarez and Messi played together at FC Barcelona for six years, where the Uruguayan net 198 goals for the Catalan side. The South American duo, alongside Brazilian star Neymar, formed the famed duo that haunted Europe for three years. Now, Messi is slowly recruiting his old friends in MLS, with Barca teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets already in South Beach. If Suarez were to join, he'd be the third ex-teammate to linkup with Messi in Miami.

WHAT HENDERSON SAID

“He's currently with Grêmio, so we don't want to comment on a player who's not on our roster,” Henderson said of Suárez. “He is another player that's always been linked with our team and it's great to have great players around the world connected with Inter Miami and wanting to come here.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR LUIS SUAREZ?

The legendary Uruguayan striker is currently on international duty with his country, and they are coming off of a 2-0 win over Argentina last week. They take on Bolivia in their next FIFA World Cup qualifier Tuesday evening, before Suarez returns to his club Gremio. The Brazil side is back in action on Sunday against Atletico MG.

Lyon boss Fabio Grosso arrived at his side’s Ligue 1 clash with Marseille sporting a facial injury after fans threw rocks at the club’s team bus.

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Ligue 1 fixture at Stade VelodromeWindows smashed on busItalian coach required treatmentWHAT HAPPENED?

Home supporters gave their domestic rivals a raucous welcome to Stade Velodrome, with projectiles launched in the direction of the vehicle carrying players and coaches towards the stadium. Such behaviour was always asking for trouble, and so it proved.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Lyon’s bus eventually pulled up with windows having been smashed. Those inside were unable to escape the attack being launched on them from outsiders, with it little surprise that injuries were suffered along the way.

DID YOU KNOW?

Grosso was left bleeding from a three centimetre gash to his face after being struck by shards of glass from the windows that were broken by flying rocks.

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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Former Italy international Grosso was immediately taken for treatment, which left him with a plaster above his eye and a bandage wrapped around his head. A decision was subsequently taken to call the match off due to the pre-match incidents.