The best of 2023 from The Athletic’s North American soccer staff

It’s going to be tough to look back on The Athletic’s 2023 American soccer coverage without first thinking of July and August.

It was always going to be a busy period with the Women’s World Cup and the U.S. women’s national team’s quest for a third straight trophy, but then Lionel Messi happened. In June The Athletic reported his imminent arrival in MLS, and the next month he made it official and debuted in the Leagues Cup on July 21st – the same day as the USWNT’s World Cup opener.

Between the USWNT’s historic underperformance, Messi’s expectation-shattering introduction and all the narratives and developments that followed, the entire American soccer scene had never been more in the spotlight all at once.

We could not be more proud of how every member of our team met that moment. Our full-time staff grew to be larger than ever this year, along with many freelance contributors and numerous colleagues who chipped in from abroad.

All of those people were on top of their game in July and August and every other month, and that much is apparent in our 23 selections of our best stories from an unprecedented year in American soccer.

With a full season of Messi in MLS, a new USWNT regime incoming on the eve of the Olympics, two new NWSL expansion teams and the small matter of a U.S.-hosted Copa America featuring the USMNT, we anticipate more months like July and August in our future. We hope you’ll stick around to experience it with us.

– Alexander Abnos and Brooks Peck, managing editors

Note: This list does not include the following stories, which were included in The Athletic’s site-wide best-of list:

• Gio Reyna’s mother reported incident involving Gregg Berhalter and wife to U.S. Soccer (by Paul Tenorio)

• Inter Miami pushing to land Lionel Messi over Barcelona, per sources (by Paul Tenorio, Felipe Cardenas and Pablo Maurer)

• Inside the Lionel Messi to Inter Miami deal — seeing off Saudis, equity offers and Beckham and Co.’s secret trip (by Paul Tenorio)

• This World Cup’s anti-USWNT outrage isn’t just hateful, it’s irrational (by Meg Linehan)

• Searching for the truth about Messi’s mysterious bodyguard (by Pablo Maurer and Felipe Cardenas)

Stories are listed in order of publication.

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By Sam Stejskal and Paul Tenorio | Feb. 23

Back again, the annual survey of decision-makers in MLS provides insight into how well executives forecasted the 2023 season. No one predicted that Columbus Crew would lift the MLS Cup at the end of the season, but two executives voted for the club’s hiring of head coach Wilfried Nancy as the best move of the offseason. The group also shared their thoughts on the new MLS playoff format, the Apple TV deal and roster rules. Each is interesting to examine in hindsight.

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By Elias Burke | March 20 

As the world said goodbye to the mustache now synonymous with AFC Richmond, a fictional English football club, we said hello to Elias. Moving from his West Brom beat to Los Angeles, Elias was in a prime position to dive into the impact of Ted Lasso in the UK after seeing firsthand how it caught on in the U.S. Spoiler alert: The show leaves much to be desired for its adopted home.

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By Jeff Rueter | May 18 

On May 6, 2023, a shooter opened fire on the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas. Former North Texas SC coach Javier Cano was at the shopping center that day, forced to hide with his family in the back of a J. Crew during the shooting. Jeff spoke with Cano a week later when the former MLS Next Pro coach shared details of the day and how it affected him after he and his family made it home safely.

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By Paul Tenorio | May 19

It didn’t take a tactical genius to see that the U.S. men’s national team was in desperate need of a solution at striker after the 2022 World Cup. That made the hype surrounding Folarin Balogun somewhat understandable – the Arsenal product was young, scoring goals in Ligue 1, and eligible for England and Nigeria. This is the story of how U.S. Soccer convinced Balogun to join, a process that started more than two years before he finally filed his one-time switch.

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By Felipe Cardenas and Pablo Maurer | May 26

Generally speaking, it rarely pays off to declare an MLS team to be good (or bad) in May. With FC Cincinnati, though, it’s clear that something sustainable had taken hold. The things that Felipe and Pablo revealed in this early-season story were just as relevant months later as the Ohio side cruised to the MLS Supporters’ Shield, winning it just a couple years after their third consecutive last-placed finish.

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By Tom Bogert, Joshua Kloke and Paul Tenorio | May 26 

In retrospect, it’s hilarious that this published on the same day as the above FC Cincy story (we swear it wasn’t intentional). What is a toxic locker room like? Look no further. Toronto FC was picked to be among MLS’s best teams but a number of issues derailed that plan, as told in remarkable and memorable detail here.

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By Felipe Cardenas and Pablo Maurer | June 23

Pablo and Felipe spent a week on the sidelines, in the locker rooms and on the field at the most oddly entertaining 7-v-7 tournament you’re ever likely to see. We were skeptical going in, but suffice it to say that we now demand IFAB add target score time to “The Laws of the Game” with immediate effect.

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By Steph Yang and Sarah Shephard | July 3

Former Houston Dash coach Vera Pauw insisted on “total control” during her time with the NWSL club. Former players said to The Athletic that  Pauw’s methods were “abusive and inappropriate.” Pauw, who coached the Republic of Ireland in its first Women’s World Cup this summer, said she was judged differently because she was a woman. Steph and Sarah report on years of allegations against Pauw.

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By Meg Linehan | July 19

Have you ever wondered what was going through Megan Rapinoe’s head during that infamous Brazil free kick at the 2018 Tournament of Nations — the one where she crowded the ball as Marta attempted to instruct her Brazilain teammates? Usually, the My Game in My Words series is a chance for players to break down their most iconic plays, but in this one Meg Linehan spoke to Rapinoe about a different aspect of her game: her s—housery.

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By Felipe Cardenas | July 22

The fact that Messi scored a match-winning free kick at the death of his first appearance for Inter Miami is, frankly, absurd. Felipe’s breakdown of that surreal moment is maybe an even better read now than it was at the time it was published just as a reminder of just how incredible Messi’s introduction truly was.

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By Elias Burke and Jeff Rueter | July 23

It’s a question that has been asked a million times and will likely be asked a million times more, but Elias and Jeff did a tremendous job of answering whether Messi is still the best in the world (as of July 2023) in a way rarely even attempted — with the backing of data and detailed analysis (that is still being ignored by rival fans and memers who call him “Pessi”).

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By Paul Tenorio | July 24

Dropping Lionel Messi, fresh off his long-awaited World Cup success, into a five-year-old MLS expansion team playing in a temporary stadium and serving punishments for violating league budget rules was always going to produce at least one excellent behind-the-scenes story of his arrival and Paul was the one who wrote it. Like the free kick story above, this is another one worth a read now that the reality of Messi in America has set in a bit more.

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By Melanie Anzidei | July 24 

The U.S. women’s national team was not the only nation with Americans on its team during the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Several countries had dual national representation this summer, including a first on the South Korea squad. Casey Phair was not only the first mixed-heritage player to be called up to a South Korean World Cup roster; she was also the youngest player to debut in a FIFA World Cup. Melanie spoke with the New Jersey high schooler and her parents about her summer abroad.

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By Steph Yang | July 31 

The 2023 Women’s World Cup saw several legends of the game in their final tournaments fail to reach the final. Reigning Olympic gold medalist Canada failed to get out of the group stage. And although we did not know it at the time, it was Christine Sinclair’s final run with Canada at a major tournament. The end began before the final whistle, including Sinclair not starting for Canada in a World Cup for the first time in two decades. Steph reflects on the international leading goalscorer’s career and the passing of time.

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Carli Lloyd coverage

By Jeff Rueter and Steph Yang | Aug. 1-3

Carli Lloyd spent the Women’s World Cup in Australia but in a much different role than the previous two tournaments. Since retiring in 2021, Lloyd has made her way to the pundit’s desk for Fox Sports’ soccer coverage. She has never been one to shy away from speaking her mind, especially concerning the U.S. women’s national team. Her comments, especially after the USWNT’s draw with Portugal, dominated the conversation around the team’s lackluster tournament and in separate columns Jeff and Steph contextualized why Carli said what she said – and whether there was anything to it.

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By Meg Linehan | Aug. 6

The USWNT and U.S. Soccer are still managing the fallout from the team’s earliest World Cup exit this summer. The final score in the round of 16 game against Sweden was settled by a matter of millimeters as Lina Hurtig’s penalty evaded the fingertips of Alyssa Naeher, but the team’s downfall began long before the team touched down in New Zealand. Meg was at the final U.S. game and described the emotions around the shocking end and what the future holds.

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By Pablo Maurer | Aug. 17

Out of all the Messi stories that we did this year, in some ways this one revealed the most about him as a player in the twilight of his career. After all the talk about how much Messi stands around and walks during a match, by focusing his camera lens solely on Messi (or trying to, at least) over the course of a full match was illuminating in a way that data or tactical analysis can’t fully capture.

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By Meg Linehan | Sept. 1 

Meg’s columns just hit different. They always seem to capture the perfect tone and carry the weight of coming from the top writer in her field. This one is no different. It’ll be a great day when women’s soccer no longer is run by the types of people who inspire pieces like this, but until then we’re thankful we have Meg and the rest of our women’s soccer writers to address their misdeeds, excuses and diversionary language head-on.

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By Tom Bogert and Pablo Maurer | Aug. 1 –Sept. 12

This story began when Arena, the most decorated coach in U.S. men’s soccer history, was placed on leave and under investigation for alleged inappropriate remarks. It changed significantly the more Pablo and Tom asked what had occurred – uncovering a deeply fractured locker room, an entire sporting infrastructure in disarray, and a broader sense of mystery and frustration around the entire affair.

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By Felipe Cardenas | Oct. 25

Linda Caicedo had a tremendous year. It began with the 18-year-old moving to Real Madrid, continued with her leading Colombia to the World Cup quarterfinals, and earned her FIFA Puskas Award and Ballon d’Or nominations. She’s been labeled the future of Colombian soccer, but Caicedo’s career nearly ended before it began when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 15 years old.

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By Steph Yang | Nov. 12

Midge Purce. That’s the story. The NWSL championship had plenty of chaos, but as an agent of chaos herself, Purce navigated the mayhem with ease. She was the fulcrum of Gotham’s attack during the 2-1 victory, assisting Lynn Williams and Esther on the night. Purce didn’t just earn her and Gotham their first championship, she owned it.

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By Jeff Rueter | Dec. 9

It was clear from the moment Yaw Yeboah’s finish hit the back of the net that this would be the play that would define MLS Cup. Jeff broke down the full sequence in close detail, reminding us all that the killer pass that won a championship in signature Columbus Crew style came from a player who wasn’t even on the Columbus roster at the start of the season.

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By Pablo Maurer | Dec. 21

For all the pomp and circumstance that goes into a final, it can be easy to forget that all the same nerves, emotions and anticipation apply to the referees too. It’ll be easier to remember that after reading Pablo’s story, which takes you inside the locker room, on the bus, and on the field with Armando Villarreal’s crew at one of the biggest moments in their professional careers.

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Bonus: MLS salaries graphic

By Jeff Rueter | Oct. 18

This isn’t technically a story (though if you want to read a thorough breakdown of MLS salaries, we have you covered here and here). We did a lot of infographics this year, but this one got a lot of attention for reasons that become obvious fairly quickly.

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See also…

(Top photos: Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images for Football Australia; Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/Getty Images; Alex Pantling – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)