NYT Connections Soccer Edition Puzzle #43 — Answers for July 23, 2026

📌 Puzzle #43 Summary

Date: Thursday, July 23, 2026
Puzzle Number: #43
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Medium
🟨 Yellow: GOALKEEPERS WHO HAVE WON THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
🟩 Green: COMPONENTS / PARTS OF A SOCCER BALL
🟦 Blue: FREESTYLE SOCCER TRICKS
🟪 Purple: ITALIAN MANAGERS WHO HAVE WON THE PREMIER LEAGUE

✅ Full Answers

🟨 GOALKEEPERS WHO HAVE WON THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

COURTOIS DONNARUMMA EDERSON MENDY

🟩 COMPONENTS / PARTS OF A SOCCER BALL

BLADDER LINING STITCHING VALVE

🟦 FREESTYLE SOCCER TRICKS

AROUND THE WORLD CROSSOVER KEEPIE-UPPIES SOLE JUGGLING

🟪 ITALIAN MANAGERS WHO HAVE WON THE PREMIER LEAGUE

CARLOS DI MATTEO MANCINI MARTÍNEZ

🎯 Strategy Tips

First, lock in the 4 components of a soccer ball (BLADDER, LINING, STITCHING, VALVE) to clear the equipment group. Next, identify the freestyle tricks (AROUND THE WORLD, CROSSOVER, KEEPIE-UPPIES, SOLE JUGGLING) to narrow down the player and manager categories.

⚠️ Red Herring Warning: Be careful with EDERSON and DONNARUMMA! While both are premier modern goalkeepers, DONNARUMMA won Euro 2020 while EDERSON and COURTOIS won the Champions League. Don't confuse general international goalkeepers with Champions League-winning goalkeepers. Additionally, CROSSOVER might sound like a tactical basketball or football term, but it belongs squarely with the freestyle soccer tricks!

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