Who needs Haaland?! Sublime Cherki leads City into Carabao semis

  1. Morgan Rogers England GFXGetty/GOAL
    OpinionEngland

    CR7-esque Rogers must start for England to win WC26

    After a 1-1 draw against a 10-man Sunderland side at the Stadium of Light on September 21, Aston Villa were languishing in the relegation zone and questions were being asked over Unai Emery's position as manager. The Villans finished fourth and sixth, respectively, in Emery's first two full seasons at the helm, but were winless after the opening five games of the 2025-26 campaign with only one goal on their record.

  4. SMITH MEAD ARSENALGetty/Goal
    Player ratingsArsenal Women

    Smith stars but Arsenal must settle for UWCL play-off

    Arsenal continued their Champions League defence with a comfortable 3-0 win over Leuven on Wednesday. First-half goals from Olivia Smith and Beth Mead, as well as an own goal by Linde Veefkind after the break were not enough for the Gunners to force their way into the top four of the league phase table, as Renee Slegers' side missed out on automatic qualification for the quarter-finals.

  5. Real Madrid win in the Copa del ReyGetty/Goal
    Player ratingsReal Madrid

    Mbappe stars again & Endrick impresses in Copa win

    Kylian Mbappe scored two and set up another as Real Madrid unconvincingly saw off Spanish third-tier side Talavera 3-2 to reach the last-16 of the Copa del Rey. The 26-year-old converted a penalty, forced the hosts into an own-goal, and scored a fortuitous long-range strike, but that nearly wasn't enough as the underdogs made it a tense finish with two late goals on Wednesday.

  6. Premier League AFCON GFX 16:9Getty/GOAL
    AnalysisAfrica Cup of Nations

    EPL clubs who will be most impacted by AFCON - ranked

    The Africa Cup of Nations is back this December and January, with the continent's very best set to battle it out in Morocco as they aim to take Cote d'Ivoire's crown after their unlikely victory at the start of 2024. AFCON's prestige, drama and quality remains up there with the Euros and Copa America, but the downside for European clubs is it's another tournament which falls slap bang in the middle of their seasonal calendar, meaning most teams will be losing players for up to a month.

  7. Hall of fame Roberto Carlos
    Hall of FameR. Carlos

    Hall of Fame: Roberto Carlos - the greatest full-back in history

    Modernising the role of a full-back 30 years ago, Roberto Carlos undoubtedly set the benchmark. A tactical genius and a physical specimen, the Real Madrid and Brazil legend won countless trophies at club and international level, contributing bucket loads of goals and assists. No one in the past, present or future can ever claim to be his equal - he was that good.

  9. PSG Flamengo Intercontinental Cup 2025Getty Images
    Paris Saint-GermainFIFA Intercontinental Cup

    PSG's back-up 'keeper saves four penalties in Intercontinental Cup win

    Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain held their nerve to come through a penalty shootout to claim victory over Brazilian side Flamengo in the Intercontinental Cup final on Wednesday, with goalkeeper Matvei Safonov the hero as he saved four of five shots from the spot to help PSG outscore the Copa Libertadores winners 2-1 on penalties. The game had ended 1-1 in normal time after strikes from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Jorginho.

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Videos

  1. LiverpoolA. Slot

    Arne Slot LAUGHS as reporter asks if Salah needs to apologise

    Arne Slot gave little away in his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool's clash with Brighton in the Premier League, repelling multiple questions related to Mohamed Salah's situation at the club. The Reds boss confirmed he would be holding showdown talks with the Egyptian on December 12, and couldn't help but laugh when a reporter repeatedly asked what the forward needs to do to be reintegrated into the squad.

  3. 1 MANCHESTER UNITED FAN v 5 PREMIER LEAGUE FANSGOAL
    Manchester UnitedPremier League

    🎥| Is Rooney the PL GOAT? Man Utd fan vs five rivals

    Diehard Manchester United fan firastalksfootball has locked horns with supporters from five rival teams to discuss some burning football topics. From stating that the Red Devils are England's greatest club, to Wayne Rooney being the best player ever to grace the Premier League, and Sir Alex Ferguson topping the pile when it comes to all-time managers in the English top-flight. Will he win over the doubters? 🤔

  5. Front Three World Cup squad GFXGOAL
    World CupCULTURE

    🎥 | Front Three pick the best EVER World Cup squad

    GOAL's Front Three have created the ultimate 26-man World Cup squad, based on teams that have qualified for the 2026 edition in North America. The options for each position are literally endless, with so many world-class superstars vying for a spot. Find out who makes the cut, and who gets left at home, by watching the video above! ⬆️

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You will love this, we promise

  3. Chelsea Cardiff 16:9GOAL/Getty
    Player ratingsChelsea

    Super-subs Garnacho & Neto rescue unconvincing Chelsea

    Unconvincing Chelsea squeezed past Cardiff City to land a place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals after a scrappy 3-1 victory over the League One outfit in South Wales. The Blues were woeful in the first-half, but the introduction of subsitutes Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto proved the difference between the two sides as Enzo Maresca’s side sealed the tie with three second-half goals.

  6. Amorim Bruno Fernandes splitGetty
    AnalysisManchester United

    Man Utd's 'inspiring' attack can't mask dreadful home form

    Manchester United played as they can and as they should in their utterly thrilling 4-4 draw with Bournemouth. Monday's epic at Old Trafford was dubbed the game of the season by Jamie Carragher and everyone who made it into the Theatre Of Dreams got their money's worth, even at today's inflated prices. And yet in the cold light of day the result should concern United fans and the club's hierarchy.

  7. Alyssa Thompson Chelsea USWNT GFX 16:9Getty/GOAL
    AnalysisA. Thompson

    Thompson proving her worth as Chelsea's record signing

    Alyssa Thompson's transfer to Chelsea featured all the hallmarks of a marquee signing. First reported to be in the works over a week before it was done, allowing the hype and excitement to build, it was given a dramatic conclusion by being completed right at the Women's Super League's transfer deadline, and for a bumper fee surpassing £1 million ($1.4m) which set a new world record for the women's game at the time. Brought out to greet the fans of her new club at Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea opened their WSL title defence with a statement win over Manchester City, Thompson was given the stage of a true star. But would she be?

  8. Luca Toni, Didier Drogba, Emiliano Martinez headerGetty/GOAL
    Hidden Gems FCSerie A

    Hidden Gems FC: Drogba, Toni & football's top 10 late bloomers

    Anyone that manages to carve out a career for themselves in professional football is ridiculously talented. The standard at the highest level is just so high that it is simply impossible to 'fake it 'til you make it'. However, not everyone is as prodigiously gifted as Lionel Messi or Lamine Yamal. Your average player will require some time to get to grips with the rigours of the elite game.

  9. Man City Arsenal GFXGOAL
    AnalysisManchester City

    Arsenal, beware! City are right where they want to be

    Pep Guardiola remarked last month that no one wins the title in November, and Manchester City's chasing down of Arsenal in the ensuing weeks has proven him right. The Gunners might still be out in front, but despite often feeling like a team in transition, City are showing many hallmarks of their ruthless title-winning seasons while cracks are showing in their rivals' campaign.

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Icons in the making

  1. Mohamed Kader Meite NXGN GFXGetty/GOAL
    M. MeiteRennes

    Why Chelsea & Man Utd are tracking Rennes' towering teen

    Rennes are no strangers to producing some of the best players around, and Mohamed Kader Meite looks primed to become the next elite talent to step off the conveyor belt after the likes of Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Eduardo Camavinga. Still just 18, the towering striker is already said to be turning heads across Europe.

  2. Tylel Tati NXGN GFXGetty/GOAL
    NantesT. Tati

    Why Man Utd, PSG and more want Nantes' teenage 'monster'

    From Ibrahima Konate winning the title with Liverpool, to William Saliba anchoring Arsenal's charge to the top of the table or Leny Yoro's big-money signing for Manchester United, French centre-backs have had a massive influence in the Premier League's recent history. Now, the race to sign Les Bleus' next great defender is on as the top clubs from England and beyond circle Tylel Tati.

  3. Dro Fernandez NXGN GFXGetty/GOAL
    BarcelonaD. Fernandez

    Barca's latest La Masia gem poised to follow Iniesta's path

    Barcelona's famed La Masia academy has long been the envy of every other top club in Europe, and for good reason. It has forged dozens of legends over the last 46 years, from Pep Guardiola and Albert Ferrer, to Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and a certain Lionel Messi. Every generation produces multiple superstars, with Lamine Yamal leading the current crop after bursting onto the scene as a 15-year-old.

  4. Said El Mala NXGN GFXGetty/GOAL
    GermanyS. El Mala

    Have Germany found their new Podolski in Bayern-linked teen?

    Florian Wirtz's £100 million ($130m) move from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool didn't just upset Bayern Munich. It also hit hard at Koln. After all, Wirtz had come through their academy only to leave for Leverkusen in the summer of 2020 - and for a paltry €300,000 (£265,000/$350,000). Koln were furious. They felt Leverkusen had broken a 'gentleman's agreement' by signing one of the most exciting young players they'd ever produced - but there was nothing they could do about it. Wirtz's contract was expiring and he wanted to leave.

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Heroes of the past

  1. Slot-SalahGetty/GOAL
    AnalysisLiverpool

    Salah vs Slot & the biggest player-coach bust-ups

    In a bombshell seven-and-a-half-minute interview after Liverpool's 3-3 draw with Leeds United last weekend, Mohamed Salah accused the club of throwing him "under the bus" and claimed he no longer has any relationship with head coach Arne Slot. The 'Egyptian King', who has scored 250 goals for Liverpool over the last eight years and was the driving force behind the 2024-25 Premier League title success under Slot, didn't see a single minute of action at Elland Road after being named on the bench for the third game in a row, and decided to go public with his grievances.

  2. City accidental bid Messi 16.9Getty/GOAL
    AnalysisManchester City

    Inside Man City's 'accidental' £70m bid for Messi

    Fifteen years ago, Manchester City were so enamoured with the all-conquering Barcelona that they sought to replicate the same structure. They began by hiring chief executive Ferran Soriano and sporting director Txiki Begiristain, before eventually landing Pep Guardiola to manage the team. All that was missing was Lionel Messi - though they nearly signed the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner at the very start of the Abu Dhabi-led project by mistake!

  3. Gerrard gangster terror GFXGetty/GOAL
    AnalysisS. Gerrard

    'Shoot him in the legs' - Gerrard's gangster terror

    Steven Heighway knew when Steven Gerrard was still only 14 years of age that the midfielder was going to "make it" as a footballer. The man himself, though, was less convinced of his quality - at least when he took his first tentative steps in the professional ranks. When Gerrard warmed up in front of the Kop for the first time ahead of his Liverpool debut on November 29, 1998, the nerve-racked teenager "could almost hear them saying, 'Who's this skinny tw*t?!'"

  4. Gerard Pique Shakira GFXGOAL
    AnalysisBarcelona

    Pique vs Shakira: Barca star's extremely messy break-up

    Not since David and Victoria Beckham began their relationship in the late 1990s had there been a football couple as high profile as Gerard Pique and Shakira when they got together in 2010. Defender Pique was a key cog in Pep Guardiola's all-conquering Barcelona side of the late noughties and early 2010s, while Shakira had been a global pop sensation since the release of hit single 'Hips Don't Lie' in 2005. This was the kind of story the tabloids thrive off - and even more so when it goes badly wrong.

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Betting

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