Soccer is the most popular sport in the world.
Whether it’s young kids in the backyard, or professionals playing on the world stage, it’s a game that takes speed, skill, strength, power, precision, grace, energy, emotion, and teamwork.
It’s a cultural tradition you learn at an early age -- and carry around forever. There was a September soccer face-off at Gillette Stadium, Portugal vs. Brazil.
Outside the entrance to the stadium, fans from each country gathered in bunches. They cooked native dishes, waved flags, played loud music, sang and danced, and taunted each other.
“Go Portugal!” “Go Brazil!”
On the field, the game changed minute to minute as momentum shifted from Brazil to Portugal and back to Brazil.
Every time one team scored -- single-name star player Neymar ultimately led Brazil to a 3-1 victory -- it seemed like a war would break out in the stands.
After all, soccer is more than just a game. Soccer is life.