Jim Donovan (1956–2024), voice of the Cleveland Browns 

Jim Donovan was a sportscaster best known for his long tenure as the radio play-by-play announcer for the Cleveland Browns.

Sir Bobby Charlton (1937–2023), English soccer legend 

Sir Bobby Charlton was an English soccer legend who played for the 1966 FIFA World Cup-winning team and is considered among the best players of all time.

Anton Walkes (1997–2023), soccer player with Charlotte FC

Anton Walkes was an English soccer player with the U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs Charlotte FC and Atlanta United.

Pelé (1940–2022), soccer icon

Pelé was a Brazilian soccer player considered by most to be the greatest of all time.

Grant Wahl (1973–2022), acclaimed writer for Sports Illustrated

Grant Wahl was a sportswriter who focused on college basketball and soccer, including covering the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Dietrich Mateschitz (1944–2022), Red Bull co-founder

Dietrich Mateschitz was an Austrian billionaire who co-founded the energy drink company Red Bull and was the owner of the Red Bull Formula One Racing Team.

Archie Eversole (1984–2022), rapper known for “We Ready”

Archie Eversole was an Atlanta-based rapper best known for his 2002 hit “We Ready.”

Diego Maradona (1960–2020), soccer legend

Diego Maradona was one of the greatest soccer players of all time, leading Argentina to a World Cup win in 1986.

Gordon Banks (1937–2019), England’s 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper

Made “save of the century” against the legendary Pele.

Walter Bahr (1927–2018), World Cup hero

Last surviving member of the U.S. team that upset England in the 1950 World Cup.

Davide Astori (1987–2018), captain of Italy's Fiorentina football team

Played 14 times for Italy's national team.

Cyrille Regis (1958–2018), pioneering black soccer player in England

Paved the way for a generation of young black players in England.

Tony DiCicco (1948–2017), U.S. women's national soccer team coach

Former U.S. women's soccer coach guided team to 1999 World Cup win.

Cheick Tioté (1986–2017), former midfielder for Newcastle United

The former midfielder for Newcastle United in the English Premier League died after he collapsed while training.

Ugo Ehiogu (1971–2017), British soccer player and coach

Soccer defenseman played for English Premier League’s Aston Villa and Middlesbrough teams from 1991 to 2007.

Ryan McBride (1989–2017), Irish footballer

Irish footballer's teammates called him Captain Fantastic.

Raymond Kopa (1931–2017)

Former soccer star made legendary plays with France and Real Madrid.

Piet Keizer (1943–2017), Dutch soccer star

International soccer star played for Ajax Amsterdam.

Colombia Plane Crash Victims

75 people, including many soccer players, were killedafter a charter plane crashed in Colombia southeast of the city of Medellin.

Carlos Alberto Torres (1944–2016), Brazilian soccer legend

Captain of Brazil's national soccer team when it won the 1970 World Cup.

Howard Kendall (1946–2015), English football manager

English football manager of Everton championship teams.

Soccer Coaches

We remember beloved soccer coaches who have died in recent months.

Sir Stanley Matthews, Wizard of the Dribble

The only soccer player to be knighted while still playing.

Garrincha: Joy of the People

Ask a Brazilian who is the greatest soccer player ever, and you're likely to hear not about Pelé, but his contemporary Garrincha.

10 Things to Know About Tenor Luciano Pavarotti

Here are 10 memorable moments from the career of tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

Shots Heard 'Round the World

Home run hero Bobby Thomson's famous hit was only one of many shots deemed globally audible.

Papa Jacques Montouroy, Aid Worker

The legendary aid worker spent decades in war-torn locales, providing food to the hungry and teaching poverty-stricken kids to play soccer.

Nathan Henn, Volunteer Killed in Uganda

American aid worker Nathan Henn was among the 74 killed by twin bombings in Uganda, the blasts targeting crowds gathered to watch the World Cup final on TV.

George Best: The Best to Never Play the Game

We take a look back at perhaps the best football player never to win the World Cup. In fact, he never even played in the tournament.

Football or Soccer, UK and USA Share a Love of the Game

As World Cup fever grips the America and the U.K., we look back at some folks who helped shape the game in both countries.