Muhammad Zaki

News editor

His love for football was rooted in Chelsea, specifically when he was captivated by Gianfranco Zola—not only for his magic on the field but also because the legend's name sounded so pleasant to his ears. A few years later, the 2002 World Cup introduced him to Oliver Kahn, the goalkeeper who became Zaki's second love in football, even though Germany went home empty-handed at that time.

The most memorable moment for Zaki happened much closer to home: standing in the south stands of Maguwoharjo, witnessing PSS Sleman lift the 2013 First Division trophy. The euphoria of victory turned bitter as dualism prevented Si Elang Jawa from being promoted.

Zaki's areas of expertise at GOAL include:

  • Analysis of European football tactics, including the Premier League and Champions League
  • Coverage of player transfer news & club financial regulation dynamics
  • International football editorials: player biographies, legend stories, and hidden young talents
  • Player rating & performance assessment with both analytical and narrative approaches

Zaki's All-Time XI (4-2-3-1)

Oliver Kahn; Cafu, John Terry, Franz Beckenbauer, Paolo Maldini; Xavi Hernandez, Claude Makelele; Lionel Messi, Eric Cantona, Eden Hazard; Marco van Basten

Articles by Muhammad Zaki
  1. 'F*ck me backwards!' - Keown slammed for 'biased' Arsenal commentary

    Arsenal legend Martin Keown has found himself in the firing line after his commentary during the Gunners' 1-1 Champions League draw with Bayer Leverkusen was labelled "biased". The controversy stems from an 89th-minute penalty awarded to the Premier League leaders after Noni Madueke went down following minimal contact from Malik Tillman, a decision that allowed Kai Havertz to level the scores.

  2. Sherwood backs Van de Ven for Liverpool move

    Liverpool have been tipped to launch a sensational raid on Tottenham for Micky van de Ven amid the north London club's battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League. Spurs currently sit in 16th place, just a single point above the drop zone, following a disastrous campaign that saw Thomas Frank sacked after only eight months. Things have failed to improve under interim boss Igor Tudor, who has overseen four consecutive defeats, including a 5-2 Champions League thrashing at the hands of Atletico Madrid.

  3. Rosenior vows to find Chelsea mole after PSG teamsheet leak

    Liam Rosenior has vowed that Chelsea will conduct a full investigation to discover how his starting line-up for the Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain was leaked online eight hours prior to kick-off. The Blues' tactical plans were circulating on social media throughout Wednesday afternoon after being initially reported by a French journalist, including the surprise news that Filip Jorgensen would start over Robert Sanchez.

  4. Joao Pedro tipped for shock Arsenal transfer move

    Chelsea striker Joao Pedro is currently enjoying the most prolific spell of his career, and his meteoric rise has caught the eye of former team-mates. Keinan Davis, who played alongside the Brazilian at Watford, believes the 24-year-old is destined for the very top of the game. Davis has even suggested that a cross-London switch to Premier League rivals Arsenal could be on the cards.

  5. Revealed: Vini asked Valverde if he wanted to take Man City penalty

    Real Madrid’s 3-0 demolition of Manchester City in the Champions League last-16 was almost the perfect night for Los Blancos, but for Vinicius Junior's missed penalty that could've added further gloss to the result. In the 58th minute, after the Brazilian forward was felled in the box, cameras caught the moment Vinicius gestured towards Valverde, offering the midfielder the chance to step up and bag what would have been a remarkable fourth goal of the game.

  6. Chelsea 'a million miles off' UCL glory unless they solve glaring issue

    Jamie Carragher has pulled no punches in his assessment of Chelsea’s credentials, claiming the Blues will never reach the summit of English or European football with their current goalkeeping situation. Despite a spirited performance for large periods at the Parc des Princes, Liam Rosenior’s side slumped to a devastating 5-2 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie.

  7. 📽️ | Valverde 'handed Ballon d'Or' after Man City hat-trick

    Federico Valverde produced a masterclass that will go down in Champions League folklore, leading Real Madrid to a dominant 3-0 victory over Manchester City. The Uruguayan midfield engine was outstanding, netting a stunning hat-trick to help the Spanish giants put one foot in the quarter-finals. His performance was so good that a reporter in the mixed zone decided to skip the formalities and jokingly crown him with a 'Ballon d'Or' on the spot.

  8. Trent hails Valverde as 'world's most underrated player'

    Real Madrid star Trent Alexander-Arnold has heaped praise on Federico Valverde, describing him as the "most underrated player" in world football following a sensational display against Manchester City. The Uruguayan international took centre stage as Los Blancos secured a dominant 3-0 victory in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Bernabeu. Despite the absence of Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, Valverde’s first-half hat-trick dismantled Pep Guardiola's side in a rampant 22-minute spell.

  9. Staggering cost of Sancho's disastrous spell at Man Utd revealed

    Manchester United are finally preparing to cut ties with Jadon Sancho, but the true financial scale of his tenure at Old Trafford has painted a grim picture for the club. Having arrived from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 with massive expectations, Sancho was expected to be the face of United's attack for a generation. Instead, he will leave having cost the club an absolute fortune over his five-year commitment.

  1. Is Tudor facing the sack? Spurs make decision ahead of Liverpool clash

    Igor Tudor is reportedly set to remain in the Tottenham dugout for Sunday's daunting trip to Liverpool, despite the club's season spiralling into a full-blown crisis. Since replacing Thomas Frank last month, the Croatian has overseen a catastrophic run of four consecutive defeats, leaving the north London outfit languishing just one point above the Premier League relegation zone and facing a round of 16 Champions League exit.

  2. Rakitic insists Messi 'deserves' proper Barcelona tribute

    Former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has called for the club to finally honour Lionel Messi with a fitting tribute, while expressing his hope that the Argentine superstar continues his career at the highest level for "a few more years". Speaking on his 38th birthday, the Croatian reflected on the impact his former team-mate has had on the sport, noting that Messi's influence transcends club rivalries and borders.

  3. 'Very complicated to be me!' - Neymar fires back at 'made-up stories'

    Neymar has hit back at his critics and "made-up stories" concerning his fitness after he was a notable absentee from Santos' 2-2 draw with Mirassol. The 34-year-old was expected to feature in the Brasileirão clash but was ultimately left out of the matchday squad to undergo a specific workload management program, sparking a fresh wave of speculation regarding his physical condition ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

  4. Blow for Wrexham's PL hopes as key player faces significant injury layoff

    Wrexham's dreams of a historic rise to the Premier League have been hit with a major setback following the news that star striker Kieffer Moore is set for a spell on the sidelines. The Wales international, who is the Red Dragons' leading marksman with 13 goals this term, sustained a hamstring injury during the thrilling 4-2 FA Cup fifth-round defeat to Chelsea. The 33-year-old missed Tuesday's defeat to Hull City and is expected to sit out at least another three crucial Championship fixtures, leaving a significant void in Phil Parkinson's attacking arsenal.

  5. 'He made the mistakes, not the manager!' - Kinsky blasted for sub reaction

    Former Premier League striker Troy Deeney has pulled no punches in his assessment of Antonin Kinsky’s conduct during Tottenham’s 5-2 Champions League collapse against Atletico Madrid. The 22-year-old goalkeeper was hauled off after just 17 minutes following a series of high-profile errors, but rather than taking a seat on the bench, he headed straight for the dressing room.

  6. Simeone 'never seen' anything like Kinsky's early substitution

    Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone admitted he was left shocked after seeing Tottenham interim boss Igor Tudor substitute goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky just 17 minutes into their Champions League clash. The 22-year-old Czech shot-stopper endured a nightmare evening at the Metropolitano, committing massive errors that left Spurs trailing 3-0 in under a quarter of an hour. Simeone, usually known for his own touchline intensity, confessed that the decision to haul off a goalkeeper so early was a first for him to witness in the dugout.

  7. Barcelona & Arsenal target Alvarez makes shock transfer admission

    Julian Alvarez has sent shockwaves through the Metropolitano by admitting he is unsure if he will still be an Atletico Madrid player next season, amid links with Barcelona and Arsenal. Despite the club's efforts to dampen exit talk, the Argentina international declined to give a definitive answer regarding his future following a standout performance against Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League.

  8. Tudor called out for ignoring Kinsky after subbing goalkeeper

    Tottenham manager Igor Tudor is facing a firestorm of criticism following his handling of young goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky during a disastrous Champions League night in Atletico Madrid. The interim boss handed the 22-year-old Czech Republic shot-stopper his first major European start ahead of Guglielmo Vicario, but the decision exploded in his face, and he hooked Kinsky before the 20-minute mark. Tudor also seemed to ignore the keeper as he came off, which did not go down well with ex-Tottenham goalkeeper Joe Hart.