Warning: you will disagree with at least 3 of these.
The group stage is boring. Half the games are dead rubbers. The format change to 36 teams made it worse. The knockout rounds are great, but we have to sit through 4 months of mediocrity to get there.
Every conversation becomes "but Messi/Ronaldo..." We can't appreciate other players because everything is filtered through the GOAT debate. Football existed before them and will exist after them.
It's the richest. It's the most watched. But "best" football? La Liga produces better technical players. The Bundesliga has better atmospheres. Serie A has better tactical coaching. The PL is the best product, not the best football.
The World Cup > Champions League. The Euros > Premier League. National pride > club loyalty. The atmosphere at international tournaments is unmatched. Club football is more consistent, but international football has higher peaks.
The biggest problem with VAR isn't the decisions — it's the waiting. Show the replays on the big screen. Let fans see what the ref sees. Cricket does it. Rugby does it. Football is behind.
A world-class goalkeeper is worth 10-15 points per season. Alisson, Courtois, Oblak — they win games single-handedly. But they never win the Ballon d'Or. Yashin in 1963 was the only one. That's criminal.