So, here we are: Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham taking center stage in the World Cup semifinals. Yet, if you switch on CNN or ESPN, it’s like you’re in a parallel universe. The narrative is all about how these soccer stars are tearing it up for their countries, but hold on—where’s the scrutiny of how corporate partnerships are shaping these narratives? You think they care about the game? No, they care about viewership and ad revenues.

What’s ludicrous is how each network selectively chooses to emphasize their favorites. Fox News has been touting Bellingham as the “next big thing,” while simultaneously downplaying the role of Madrid players as mere cogs in a larger ‘team effort.’ Isn’t that rich? It’s like a teenager trying to fit into the cool crowd but missing the point entirely—let’s see some coverage that digs deeper into the dynamics of club loyalty and national pride instead of feeding us this glossy narrative of bedroom posters and jersey sales.

Meanwhile, Twitter journalists are fighting over whose take is more “woke,” churning out opinions that recycled by mainstream outlets like a bad Netflix reboot. Newsflash: fans crave authenticity, not the regurgitated spin that media giants like NBC and CBS serve up to fill their airwaves. When stars like Mbappe shine, let’s talk about the implications for young aspirants—not just the obligatory, empty platitudes designed to keep the corporate machine running smoothly.

This is sports, not just a corporate marketing scheme! We deserve better from our media.