My appreciation for drawing football stems from the fact that it enables me to narrate the sport's history through illustrations. As an example, I have depicted England's iconic captain Bobby Moore, who famously led his team to victory in the 1966 World Cup.
Too little too late? Arsenal's top-four capitulation may have ended, but what's the old saying? If Alexis scores at the Emirates and no disenchanted fans are around to see it, is it still goal?
Liverpool are on the verge of completing a £16 million swoop for volatile AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli, with the Italian having already said his goodbyes to his Rossoneri team-mates.
The dart-throwing, supercar-wrecking, pig-owning striker enjoyed a tumultuous stay in the Premier League with Manchester City, and more fireworks are expected should he finalise a move to Anfield.
Balotelli will be expected to fill the void left by Luis Suarez - one of the few players in the world who is even more controversial than the 24-year-old - and Brendan Rodgers faces a tough task in keeping football's ultimate bad boy under control.
The countdown to the 2014 Goal 50 has begun and the debate is raging over which star performers from the season should be included in this year's list of football's most talented
Many of the world's greatest footballers are off enjoying their summer holidays, but the star performers of 2013-14 will still have more than one eye on the annual prize-giving ceremony that is the Goal 50.
Our brilliant artist Omar Momani has drawn up his vision of the high achievers in contention for the list - which will be announced on July 28.
Cristiano Ronaldo and reigning champion Lionel Messi have shared five of the six editions of the award, and both take their place on the first row of this year's starting grid. The Argentine will surely be more interested in winning the Goal 50 than he was in collecting the World Cup Golden Ball.
Gareth Bale joins the Clasico duo on the front row and will be feeling a lot of love after a superb first season at Real Madrid. In the middle are Arjen Robben, whose Goal 50 odds have plummeted after a wonderful World Cup, and Luis Suarez - who will be equally hungry to claim the prize.
Also challenging are the acrobatic Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the stylish Neymar, the no-nonsense Diego Costa, Colombian revelation James Rodriguez and a very proud Germany World Cup-winning captain Philipp Lahm.
But who is that at the back of the pack? Only Mario Balotelli and the Queen.
Indeed, some would say that the Italian's chances of winning the Goal 50 are about as good as the Titanic staying afloat after hitting the iceberg!
HAVE YOUR SAY
Do these players deserve to make the Goal 50? If not, who else should be on the list? If so, who should join them and in what order should they be ranked?
Mario Balotelli rallied English supporters on Friday, declaring on Twitter: "If we beat Costa Rica i want a kiss,obviously on the cheek, from the UK Queen."
It seemed a fair trade, all told, as England's slim hopes of qualifying from Group D depended entirely on Italy winning both of their remaining group stage matches.
What a pity then - for Queen and country - that Balotelli missed a series of chances against Costa Rica as the Azzurri stumbled to a 1-0 defeat - eliminating England in the process. No royal kiss for Mario.
