Mike Tyson Is Obsessed With Portuguese Soccer

Who knew "Iron Mike" had a soft spot for Benfica and an old Portuguese soccer legend? This week, we get to the bottom of that wholesome relationship. Plus, we unveil our special collaboration with renowned artist @thefootballgal, revisit one of the most controversial moments in MLS Cup history, and much more.

This week’s stories:

• 👕 CLUBELEVEN x The Football Gal

• 👋 “Hand of God” Wins MLS Cup

• 🥊 Mike Tyson Is Obsessed With Portuguese Soccer

• 📢 Historic Women’s Soccer Announcement Set For Today

• 🗳️ Poll + Last Week’s Answers

• ➡️ And More

CLUBELEVEN
CLUBELEVEN x The Football Gal

A dash of gold! We’ve teamed up with @thefootballgal for a special 1/1 CLUBELEVEN Home Kit, to be raffled off at our NYC Block Party this Saturday, November 23rd.

Proceeds from the raffle at our event will go to the Craig Willinger Fund — an organization honoring children and young adults battling cancer with once-in-a-lifetime trips to domestic and international soccer games.

Don’t miss out. See you on Saturday!

HISTORY
“Hand of God” Wins MLS Cup

Alecko Eskandarian: 2004 MLS Cup Champion, MLS Cup MVP, and our favorite Maradona impersonator.

As a DC United fan, it’s one of those iconic moments that makes you smile when looking back at it.

Twenty years ago, on that fateful mid-November day, Alecko scored a brace to give DC United their last MLS Cup title.

It was a narrow 3-2 win over the Kansas City Wizards, and it wasn’t without controversy. His second goal saw him pick off a clearance from USMNT legend Jimmy Conrad in questionable fashion, and slot one in the net to put DC ahead.

Was it a handball, though? Would you have called it? Maybe I’m incredibly biased, but I would’ve let it slide too. See for yourself.

COVER STORY
Mike Tyson Is Obsessed With Portuguese Soccer

The Mike Tyson - Jake Paul fight on Friday was hard to watch. A 58-year-old boxing legend getting beat up by an unlikeable 27-year-old YouTuber. That’s probably not how any of us would like to remember the great Mike Tyson (even if it’s an incredible feat that he lasted all 8 rounds). So after the fight, I started digging into his past with soccer, just to see if I could unearth some good memories.

Of course, many of you might have seen those famous photos of him wearing an England National Team kit, or an Argentina one, or even a Scotland one. Awesome fashion choices, of course, and a great way to earn a few fans around the globe — but with Benfica it was different.

For decades, they’ve undoubtedly been Mike Tyson’s favorite soccer team. Over the years, he’s shown a level of love, respect, and appreciation that you seldom see in these types of sports crossovers.

According to Mike, he first heard of the club through a Portuguese-American friend, who graciously gifted him a jersey somewhere between the late ‘90s and early ‘00s.

Since then, Mike began reading about the club and familiarizing himself with the team’s history, leading him to become a fan of Portuguese legend Eusebio (aka The Black Panther).

When Eusebio passed away in 2014, Mike was one of the first to tweet a short, heartfelt message. Then, a year later, he went to meet with the Benfica team during their pre-season tour in our country. And to put the cherry on top, he even dedicated a special message to Benfica on their 120th anniversary this year. Just way too classy.

And sure, Mike Tyson has been spotted wearing Manchester United, Wolves, Rangers, and even Peterborough United jerseys, but he’s never gone out of his way to show his fandom like he has with Benfica. 

If there’s one lesson to take from this story, it’s that soccer can soften even the toughest of hearts. So be like Mike Tyson’s Portuguese-American friend and convert your own pals. You could make them start wholesome life-long soccer bonds too.

EXPANSION
Historic Women’s Soccer Announcement Set For Today

A Women’s US Open Cup, a new World Cup bid, a Women’s Club World Cup, a new NWSL expansion team? These types of teasers just make our heads spin.

Late last week, we got an email from US Soccer saying that president Cindy Parlow Cone and CEO JT Batson were set to make a “historic women’s soccer announcement in New York City” this Tuesday (today).

If they made an announcement for an announcement, then it must be something big. Right?

CLUBELEVEN
The Supporters Section

Let us know what you think it’ll be, and why it would be cool to see it come to fruition. We’ll highlight your best answers next week.

CLUBELEVEN
Aggregates

Owl City: What a hoot. Over the weekend, Union Omaha became the first team in USL League One history to win two league titles. Of course, the owls celebrated in style.

Play Anywhere: Neighborhood Sports Club coming in with yet another amazing project. Sign up by Nov. 24 to be part of it!

Cactus Colosseum: Travis Scott, Las Vegas, and some street soccer. This event in Sin City had some proper Joga Bonito vibes. 

Marta Forever: I know I said Alecko was our favorite Maradona impersonator earlier, but I lied. It’s Marta. As a matter of fact, she’s in a league of her own. She scored one of the most beautiful, clutch goals in NWSL history on Sunday. LEGEND.

Friendsgiving: ABFC is teaming up with Istituto Marangoni Miami for an awesome night of soccer, fashion, and giving back. Mark your calendars for Nov. 21! Here’s all the info. If you’re in Miami, you have to make it.

CULTURE
Rhode Island FC Holiday

It was a dream weekend for Rhode Island FC.

On Saturday, the mayor of Pawtucket, RI, declared November 16 as Rhode Island FC Day in the city. An awesome gesture, for sure, but the best part is that it didn’t go unreciprocated.

Later that night, Rhode Island lifted the Eastern Conference Final trophy, adding yet another incredible chapter to their ridiculous inaugural campaign in USL. The mayor loved it. 

This postseason, Rhode Island has taken down the #4 seed Indy Eleven, the #1 seed Lou City FC, and the #2 seed Charleston Battery — all away from home.

Now, they’ll go to Colorado for the grand final on Saturday at noon EST. Imagine the scenes if they win it all in their debut season.

OPPORTUNITIES
Play With Heart

First of all, what an awesome poster. Second, this is your chance to play for one of the most exciting North American clubs set to debut in 2025.

Keeping their local community in mind, Hearts of Pine is kicking things off with a tryout specifically for Maine residents, but the second tryout will be open to everybody in mid-December. You can sign up here. 

Oh, and their inaugural kit launches this Thursday. It’s probably the reveal I’ve been most excited about in recent memory, and they’ve already packed a 1,500-person theater for the release party. It’ll be nuts. Keep up with all of those developments here. 

CLUBELEVEN
Your Takes 🗯️ 

Last week, we asked you what your favorite “discontinued” soccer team name was? Here are some of your best answers:

• “MetroStars! For no particular reason, I find this name and all of the branding around it, epic. Just feels like it really represented the NYC area.” - Pierre

• “Kansas City Wizards. The branding was cool and those old jerseys were wild. It was one of the most creative ones in early MLS.” - BD

In the poll, “MetroStars” came in first with 33% of the vote, while “Kansas City Wizards” came in second with 26% of the vote. I wholeheartedly agree with these results. The MetroStars name was awesome, plus, how can one forget AJ from the Sopranos wearing their jersey? Cinema.

UP NEXT
Event Week

Saturday can’t come soon enough. Food, drinks, panel speakers, an NWSL Final watch party, raffles, and 250+ fervent soccer fans celebrating our sport in North America.

If you’re in the NYC area, I hope to see you there! Final RSVPs are available here.

Enjoying This?

Make sure to forward this email to a friend and help us spread the soccer gospel far and wide! We’ll see you next week with even more untold stories of soccer.

Have a great Tuesday!

Pablo