Bayern Munich star Mario Gotze has dominated discussions in German soccer over past weeks, turning his personal career blip into a national crisis.
Some legendary footballers chose to hang up their boots in 2014. Most of them, barring South Korea's Park Ji-sung, were born in the 1970s. Their retirement was seen as an end of a classic generation.
sports moments of the week
Sports moments of the week - Ronaldo dives into controversy
Sports moments of the week - give thanks and mourn the dead
Squeaky-clean soccer star's split stuns Chinese fans, Sharapova is Facebook queen.
Bromance blooms at Theatre of Dreams, from pals to foes, Jack Ma's sports vibe and Blatter no longer fancies Messi.