FC Sheriff Tiraspol belongs to an unrecognized breakaway state in between Europe's two poorest countries. It plays many of its away games on scruffy Moldovan fields in front of dozens of fans. Its entire squad, comprising nobodies from Uzbekistan, North Macedonia, Guinea and elsewhere, is valued at roughly $13.6 million.
And on Tuesday, it stunned Real Madrid.
In the world's grandest club soccer competition, against its winningest club, Sheriff pulled off perhaps the biggest upset in Champions League history. A team of 11 players worth less than $1 million apiece beat a team of World Cup stars, Golden Ball winners and European champions.