As U.S. Soccer's Youth Technical Director, Claudio Reyna believes a key to improving American player development is convincing more youth clubs to strive for a style of play conducive to nurturing talent. The 78-club U.S. Soccer Development Academy, which kicked off its fifth season this month, is a integral part of the national team program's quest to improve American soccer.

This blog has been a little abandoned lately, and the reason for such had been forewarned by FIFA's General Secretary almost a year ago: Brazil only starts to work after Carnival (and in 2011 the Carnival will be from 5th through 8th March).

Little happened these past few months (this latest status is still up to date).

Sure, Copa América has Messi, Forlán, and Neymar. Yes, it will be a very interesting test for Mano Menezes. Yeah, it's nice to see the young Brazilian and Argie talent that's been shining in leagues around the world. And I'll grant you that, despite lackluster performances from Brazil in its first game and Argentina in its first two, there are good reasons to expect both to put on an offensive show in this Copa America.

Argentina's loss might be South Florida's gain.

Argentina's surprising quarterfinal exit from Copa America could mean that Lionel Messi will play for Barcelona in Miami on Aug. 3 against Mexico's Chivas Guadalajara. Buy Barcelona v Chivas Tickets

According to reports out of Argentina, Messi is vacationing earlier than he had expected after the disappointing Copa America and is planning to fly to the United States to join his club team at the end of July.

Although it may not look like it in the photo at right taken during his second game in charge of the USMNT against Belgium earlier this month.

Associated Press Sports Writer Tim Reynolds has the story:

MIAMI (AP) -- Jurgen Klinsmann seems perfectly content with how he's adjusting to life so far as the United States.

Does anyone know who's leading the Liga? No, not La Liga; the Liga, the Primeira Liga Portugal's first tier of domestic football. Does anyone know? Does anyone care?

Heck, even I've been known to look past the Primeira Liga, and I'm Portuguese. That's the lure of the fast-paced, money-rich, crowd-packed Premier Leagues and Bundesligas and La Ligas of this world, whose fan-friendly cable packages are often too much to resist when the alternative is a game between Paços de Ferreira and Olhanense in an empty back-lot stadium that wouldn't make it in League Two in England.

Sad day today in football. Well for me. Ronaldo, the healthy one, retired from the soccer today after an outstanding career that saw him reach the pinnacle of the sport only to fall so quickly. I don't know what it is about Brazilian players but they seem to just disappear after they hit the top.

Liverpool winger target Willian has admitted his interest in a move to the Barclays Premier League.
The 22-year-old Brazilian has emerged as a target for a number of top clubs around Europe after a string of impressive performances for Shakhtar Donetsk, and the player can't hide his desire over a move to England.

Tottenham's latest target Leandro Damiao has received a glowing endorsement from his fellow Brazilian Sandro as Spurs may be set to battle it out with Barcelona for his signature.

Leandro is still only 21 and has just made his debut for the full Brazilian side yet his performances for Internacional have made Barca take notice.

The careers of possibly the two most famous and talented Brazilian players of all time diverged, yet couldn't have been more different. This documentary traces the story of football's first global superstar and a man that overcame everything to make the world gasp, before losing it all.

Follow Twohundredpercent on Twitter here.

Maybe it's because of the impact made by Sandro in the Premiership last season that so many clubs in England are being linked with a host of young Brazilian players.

While the Leandro Damiao trail may have gone a little cold, there are two new names emerging this morning from this part of South America – Lucas and Casimiro.

So it rained like a b*tch in San Jose today, which essentially ruined the day for working photographers who needed to snap the Brazilian players during training! Neymar, David Luiz and Fred just wrapped up their press conferences a few hours ago, and (in all seriousness, graças a deus!

2010/11 UEFA Europa League finalist Sporting Clube de Braga, commonly known as Sporting de Braga or just Braga, is a Portuguese sports club from the city of Braga. The club currently campaigns in the top-tier of Portuguese soccer, the Portuguese Liga. Featuring a roster that features no less than thirteen Brazilian players, Braga is currently [.

AC Milan have a tradition of employing a 'Mini Selecao' within their team, which means their players feel at 'home' more due to the large number of Rossoneri Brazilian players stationed there. Obviously, it's churrascaria at Robinho's porch every Sunday... there's no working your way around that, Thiago Silva and family!

By AVI CREDITOR

CARSON, Calif. -- While the Houston Dynamo's Luiz Camargo and the Los Angeles Galaxy's Juninho will spend much of Sunday's MLS Cup Final matched up directly against each other, it won't be the first time the two Brazilians will have shared the field together.

Sporting Clube de Braga, commonly known as Sporting de Braga or just Braga, is a Portuguese soccer club from the city of Braga. The club currently campaigns in the top-tier of Portuguese soccer, the Portuguese Liga. Featuring a roster that features no less than thirteen Brazilian players, Braga is currently in fourth place in the [.