Hampir tanpa disadari, Thiago Pitarch berhasil menonjol di antara para bintang Real Madrid. Melawan City, ia tampil gemilang dan membuat bintang dunia terkesima.
Federico Valverde menampilkan penampilan gemilang yang akan dikenang dalam sejarah Liga Champions, membawa Real Madrid meraih kemenangan telak 3-0 atas Manchester City. Gelandang asal Uruguay ini tampil luar biasa, mencetak hat-trick yang menakjubkan untuk membantu raksasa Spanyol itu melangkah ke babak perempat final. Penampilannya begitu impresif hingga seorang jurnalis di zona campuran memutuskan untuk melewati formalitas dan secara bercanda menganugerahinya 'Ballon d'Or' di tempat.
Bintang Real Madrid, Trent Alexander-Arnold, memuji Federico Valverde dengan menyebutnya sebagai "pemain paling underrated" di dunia sepak bola setelah penampilan gemilangnya melawan Manchester City. Pemain internasional Uruguay itu menjadi sorotan utama saat Los Blancos meraih kemenangan telak 3-0 di leg pertama babak 16 besar Liga Champions di Bernabeu. Meskipun tanpa Kylian Mbappe dan Jude Bellingham, hattrick Valverde di babak pertama menghancurkan tim Pep Guardiola dalam rentang waktu 22 menit yang dominan.
Mantan bintang Barcelona dan Sevilla, Ivan Rakitic, mengkritik keputusan yang memungkinkan Luka Modric hengkang dari Real Madrid ke AC Milan, menyebut kepergian sang maestro sebagai kerugian besar. Rakitic mengungkapkan ketidakpercayaannya bahwa seorang pemain sekelas Modric, yang masih tampil di level tertinggi, diizinkan meninggalkan Bernabeu.
Mantan gelandang Barcelona, Ivan Rakitic, mendesak klub untuk akhirnya memberikan penghormatan yang pantas kepada Lionel Messi, sambil mengutarakan harapannya agar bintang Argentina tersebut melanjutkan kariernya di level tertinggi untuk "beberapa tahun lagi". Berbicara pada ulang tahunnya yang ke-38, pemain Kroasia itu merefleksikan dampak yang telah diberikan oleh mantan rekan setimnya terhadap olahraga ini, mencatat bahwa pengaruh Messi melampaui rivalitas klub dan batas-batas negara.
Antoine Griezmann tampil gemilang pada Selasa malam, memimpin kemenangan telak 5-2 atas Tottenham Hotspur di babak 16 besar Liga Champions. Meskipun skor akhir sangat meyakinkan, Griezmann mencatat bahwa tim asuhan Diego Simeone mampu memanfaatkan lapangan yang licin, yang menyebabkan Spurs melakukan kesalahan-kesalahan fatal sepanjang leg pertama.
Columbus Crew, Cruz Azul, Leon, and Inter Miami are the most successful sides in the Leagues Cup, having won one title each.
How many teams are in the Leagues Cup?
As of 2024, there are 45 teams in the Leagues Cup, from both the MLS and the Liga MX. They are divided into 15 groups of three teams each. The inaugural edition in 2019, in contrast, featured just 16 teams.
Who has made the most Leagues Cup appearances ever?
Andre Blake, Jack Elliott, Jacob Glesnes, Kai Wagner, and Mikael Uhre – all of them players of Philadelphia Union – share the record for most appearances in Leagues Cup, making 14 appearances each.
Who is the all-time top scorer of the Leagues Cup?
Gabonese forward Denis Bouanga is the all-time topscorer in Leagues Cup history, scoring 12 goals in 10 games for Los Angeles FC. Lionel Messi is close in second place with 10 goals.
Who is the oldest player ever in the Leagues Cup and how old was he?
Tijuana goalkeeper Jesus Corona is the oldest player to ever feature in a Leagues Cup game. Corona was 43 years and 191 days old when he played against Vancouver Whitecaps in August 2024.
Who is the youngest player ever in the Leagues Cup and how old was he?
Axel Kei is the youngest player to feature in Leagues Cup. Kei was just 14 years and 267 days when he achieved the feat during Real Salt Lake City's 2-1 loss against Atlas Guadalajara in 2022.
Which famous players have played in the Leagues Cup?
Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Andre-Pierre Gignac, and Hector Herrera are among the most famous players to have featured in the Leagues Cup.
Which famous managers have managed in the Leagues Cup?
Caleb Porter, Tata Martino, Phil Neville, Martin Demichelis, and Fernando Gago are among the most famous managers in Leagues Cup history.