Sports Art

Paintings, photographs,
and moments from the game.

A personal visual canon, kept for the same reason people keep anything. Some are teams and players I’ve followed. Some are moments I’ve never forgotten. Some are just beautiful. Some, more than anything, are just silly. Click any piece to see it full size. None of this is mine. All properly attributed.

Oil painting of children playing soccer in a field between two large old wooden sheds under a dramatic cloudy sky. — Near the Old Sheds
Valentin Sidorov · oil on canvas · State Russian Museum · 1975
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Raquel Welch on a dirt field wearing a Chelsea Football Club #9 jersey and shorts, standing next to a soccer ball. — Raquel Welch, Chelsea kit
Terry O'Neill · on the Spanish set of Hannie Caulder · 1971
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George Best juggling a soccer ball on a street corner in Manhattan, near Central Park, wearing a peacoat and jeans, with the New York skyline behind him. — Central Park · then
George Best · AP Photo / Marty Lederhandler · January 17 · 1975
1/2 · Central Park, then and now
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Central Park · then
George Best · AP Photo / Marty Lederhandler · January 17 · 1975
1/2 · Central Park, then and now
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Mario Chalmers releasing a three-point shot with 3.6 seconds on the game clock in the 2008 NCAA basketball championship, viewed from behind the basket. — Mario's Miracle · lead
Kansas vs Memphis · NCAA Championship · April 7 · 2008
1/3 · Mario's Miracle · three views
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Mario's Miracle · lead
Kansas vs Memphis · NCAA Championship · April 7 · 2008
1/3 · Mario's Miracle · three views
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Aerial view of a full-size soccer pitch on a small rocky island in the Lofoten archipelago in northern Norway, surrounded by fjord water and misty mountains. — Henningsvær Stadion
The Lofoten pitch · Alamy stock
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New York Red Bulls players holding hands and celebrating in front of the crowd at Yankee Stadium after a match. — Red Bulls at Yankee Stadium
New York Red Bulls · Yankee Stadium
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Fred VanVleet lying on the sideline floor after a hard play at Wichita State, a young ball kid in a matching jersey reaching out to greet him. — Fred VanVleet, Wichita State
Shocker basketball · a moment on the floor

Colorized vintage photo of children playing street football on a dirt road lined with wooden fences, one boy crouched as goalkeeper between two hats used for goalposts. — Street football, hats for goalposts
Colorized postwar photograph

Older men playing backgammon on a chair-table in a stone alley while a soccer ball is kept aloft above them, with children watching from doorways. — Backgammon and keepy-uppy
Street scene · Caucasus region · via @WSCsupporters
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Aerial view of a football match, with an Argentine player in white surrounded by six Chilean players in orange, seen from above the pitch. — One against seven
Argentina vs Chile · Copa América Centenario final · via Grant Wahl · 2016

Magazine cover photograph of Lionel Messi in an Adidas jacket resting his hand on a live goat, on a dark backdrop, with the title 'PAPER Sports Issue'. — Leo Messi · G.O.A.T.
PAPER Magazine · Sports Issue

Bradley Wright-Phillips in a white Puma shirt heading a ball with the lower Manhattan skyline behind him. — Bradley Wright-Phillips, Brooklyn
New York Red Bulls · Pro:Direct

Vintage black and white LIFE Magazine photograph of a man in a suit ceremonially kicking a soccer ball with rows of players and officials watching in a stadium under mountain scenery. — Ceremonial kickoff
LIFE Magazine · via @footballarchive
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Six-panel meme comparing the shape of Messi, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Ibrahimovic, Benzema and Higuain's arcs at a urinal. — Bathroom form
Anonymous meme · included because it made me laugh

Photograph looking through the back of a soccer goal net at a World Cup 2026 match in Boston, with the ball visible in the foreground and stadium beyond. — Ball in the net · World Cup 2026
Gillette Stadium · Boston · via @kylesheldon · 2026
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A packed stadium view showing a sea of Argentina supporters in blue and white behind the goal at a World Cup 2026 match. — Argentina fans · World Cup 2026
Kansas City · via @MessiXtraHQ (DAZN) · 2026
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If a rights-holder wants a piece removed, email vlad@vladbouchouev.com and it’s gone same-day.

Paintings, photographs,and moments from the game.

Paintings, photographs,
and moments from the game.