American goalkeeper no doubt has garnered many fans around the world for his many spectacular saves for his home team despite a devastating 2-1 finish against Belgium on Tuesday. One of the fans is no doubt a Wikipedia editor.
Twitter user Julia Macfarlane shared a photo of what appeared to be a correction by a Wikipedia editor regarding Howard's entry in the world's largest online encyclopedia. Howard's Wikipedia profile supposedly read, "Timothy Matthew "Tim" Howard (Born March 6, 1979) is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Everton and the United States national team. He is the American Jesus."
Upon review of his actual Wikipedia entry, the last statement is nowhere to be found.
Wikipedia has five pillars it refers would-be editors to for editing or submitting entries to its online encyclopedia. Although one of its pillars allows anyone to edit, use, modify and redistribute, it is strict regarding biased points of view.
"All articles must strive for verifiable accuracy, citing reliable, authoritative sources, especially when the topic is controversial or is on living persons. Editors' personal experiences, interpretations, or opinions do not belong," Wikipedia states in its 5P.
Should the photo of Howard's Wikipedia correction ring true, it is most likely that an administrator has taken it down on the basis of the 5P.
On the other hand, no one could fault for admiring Howard playing his part in the hopes of the US Men's National Team to advance in the quarterfinals stage. ESPN Stats & Info said that Howard clocked in a record 24 saves for his home team in this year's World Cup, which is most of any player at the football tournament, easily overshadowing Guillermo Ochoa's record for Mexico. In the US' match against Belgium alone, Howard posted a record 16 saves, which is a most for a goalkeeper in half a century, Buzzfeed noted.
Howard's initially impenetrable wall crumbled during extra time. As fans traditionally blame the goalkeeper of the losing team in the tournament, Howard managed to earn admiration from people who watched him defend his home team up to the 92nd minute, as Belgium makes its first goal in the match. A tired Howard appeared to have buckled from the pressure at this point when the Belgians scored another goal in the 105th minute of the game.
Teammate Julian Green provided hope to Americans when he scored two minutes after the Belgians. However, Belgian defense appeared to be tough as well, of which the latter held on until the end of the extra time.
Belgium will now be facing Argentina in the quarterfinals, Buzzfeed said.
