Ritabrata Banerjee

Ritabrata Banerjee

News writer

📝Bio: Ritabrata has been living and breathing football for nearly two decades. Has a bachelor's degree in Business Management but took up sports journalism as a career path to live and breathe football. He joined GOAL in 2017 and has since made his mark covering the Indian Super League, I-League, and the Indian national team. He has also been part of Goal's coverage team at the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017. Based in Kolkata, where football is a religion, he grew up idolising Bhaichung Bhutia and continues to support East Bengal FC. 

⚽My Football Story: My football journey began in 1999 with the Kolkata derby when I was a seven-year-old and watched a live football match for the first time. The 2002 World Cup solidified my love for the game. In a cricket-obsessed nation, football continues to remain my true passion.

🎯Areas of Expertise:

  • Social media-specific content
  • Premier League, Champions League, World Cup, Euros, European & Indian football coverage
  • Tactical analysis of the Indian national team, Indian Super League clubs and European teams
  • News & SEO content writing

🌟Favourite Footballing Memory: East Bengal winning the ASEAN Club Championship in 2003, beating then AFC Champions League runners-up BEC Tero Sasana of Thailand, remains my most cherished football memory alongside watching the 'little Argentine' lifting the 2022 World Cup in Doha.

📝My All-Time XI: Manuel Neuer; Philipp Lahm, Sergio Ramos, Paolo Maldini, Roberto Carlos; Sergio Busquets, Zinedine Zidane, Andres Iniesta; Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Phenomenon, Lionel Messi.

Articles by Ritabrata Banerjee
  1. Ancelotti's son Davide finally set to take first job in management

    Carlo Ancelotti's son Davide is set to accept his first senior managerial role by joining Brazilian side Botafogo. The 35-year-old has been working as an assistant under his father since 2012 and was part of the veteran manager's coaching team at Bayern Munich, Everton and Real Madrid. After Ancelotti became the Brazil national team head coach, Davide had initially joined his staff.

  2. Gusto aims dig at Pochettino as he outlines key differences with Maresca

    Chelsea defender Malo Gusto drew comparisons between former Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino and current manager Enzo Maresca as he aimed a veiled dig at the Argentine. Gusto made his debut for the West London side under Pochettino in the 2023-24 campaign but the French full-back hailed Maresca's tactics to be superior while crediting the Italian for taking the team to the Club World Cup final.

  3. 📽️ | Trump names his football GOAT as he snubs Messi & Ronaldo

    Donald Trump revealed his footballing GOAT after the Club World Cup final. The U.S. president was in attendance at MetLife Stadium on Sunday alongside FIFA chief Gianni Infantino and First Lady Melania. During the final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, the American president was asked to choose his GOAT and he named Brazil icon Pele.

  4. Pedro reflects on going from holiday to CWC winner

    Joao Pedro scored his third goal in just his second appearance for Chelsea as he immediately won his first major title at the Club World Cup. Cole Palmer starred with a brace and an assist as the Blues lifted the trophy, beating European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the final on Sunday. The Brazilian was on cloud nine as in a span of two weeks, he went from being on holiday to becoming a world champion.

  5. 📽️ | Yamal shares 60-second clip of secretive 18th birthday party

    Lamine Yamal gave a sneak peek at what happened at his secretive 18th birthday party as he shared a one-minute video of the celebrations. The Barcelona sensation turned 18 on Monday and celebrated the milestone birthday with 200 guests attending the gala. His Barca team-mates Pau Victor, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Pau Cubarsi and Marc Casado were among the attendees.

  6. CR7 & Georgina spark rumours of secret wedding with ring photo

    Cristiano Ronaldo and his long-term girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez sparked wedding rumours by posting a ring photo on social media. The couple have been dating for nearly a decade and together have four children. In a recent Instagram post, Georgina made a grand arrangement as the couple hosted close friends in an intimate party on the occasion of Friendship Day.

  7. Reynolds topped by Musk & Beckham in ranking of ideal bosses

    Premier League fans have kept Inter Miami chief David Beckham and X and Tesla owner Elon Musk above Wrexham co-owner and Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds in a list of most desirable club owners. One in five fans in the UK have expressed their desire to see the American billionaire to take over their favourite club, while Reynolds got only 10 per cent of the votes.

  1. Rooney calls for greater anti-racism measures

    Premier League legend Wayne Rooney called for greater anti-racism measures to be adopted after revealing an incident from his MLS days, where a player 'cried on his chest' after being racially targeted. Rooney discussed the serious issue after Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo was racially abused at Anfield during the Premier League 2025-26 season opener against Liverpool.

  2. Alexander Isak

    'Isak is a rat' T-shirts sold outside St James' Park

    Newcastle United fans made their feelings clear about wantaway forward Alexander Isak as T-shits with 'Isak is a rat' written on them were sold outside St James' Park ahead of the Magpies' crucial Premier League clash against Liverpool. The Swedish forward has publicly stated that his relationship with Newcastle is over as he is determined to join the Reds this summer.

  3. 'Crybaby' - Koke fires Mbappe taunt at Vini Jr

    Vinicius Junior was involved in an angry clash with Atletico Madrid star Koke during Real Madrid's 5-2 derby defeat away from home. Julian Alvarez starred for Diego Simeone's side with a brace as Atletico picked up a crucial La Liga victory over their rivals. For Los Blancos, Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler were on target but it was not enough as they slipped to defeat..

  4. Beckham rakes in a fortune after a year of record-breaking profits

    England legend and Inter Miami owner David Beckham raked in a fortune after a year of record-breaking profits. His company earned a consolidated revenue of £73 million ($98m), which is 1 per cent up from the previous year. Other than co-owning Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and English fourth-tier club Salford City, Beckham also runs several businesses under umbrella company DRJB Holdings.

  5. Vardy vs Rooney! Jamie & Rebekah rival Wayne & Coleen in documentary stakes

    Jamie and Rebekah Vardy rival Wayne and Coleen Rooney in documentary stakes due to interest in the WAG lifestyle of Leicester City legend & his wife in Italy. The rivalry between the wives of the two former England stars started in 2022 when Coleen and Rebekah got embroiled in a libel battle. The duo first collided in a tempestuous social media storm, which ultimately resulted in a public court battle.

  6. 📽️ | Lehmann leaves team-mate disgusted with cheat meal choice

    Alisha Lehmann left her Switzerland team-mate disgusted as the Como star revealed her favourite cheat meal. The Switzerland women's team released a video on Instagram of players and coaches sharing their favourite guilty pleasure foods on camera. Former Arsenal star Johan Djourou, who is on the coaching staff of the national team, also shared his favourite.

  7. 'Work like mad dogs' - Simeone suggested as new Man Utd boss

    A former Premier League star has recommended Diego Simeone as an ideal replacement for Ruben Amorim, as the Argentine coach 'would have Manchester United working like mad dogs'. Amorim's position as United boss had come under the scanner due to the club's poor start to the 2025-26 campaign, however, the Red Devils have salvaged some pride with back-to-back Premier League wins over Sunderland and Liverpool.

  8. New Rangers manager Rohl reveals special message from Flick

    New Rangers boss Danny Rohl revealed that he received a message from Barcelona manager Hansi Flick after taking charge at Ibrox Stadium. Following a long search for a new head coach, the Scottish giants zeroed in on the ex-Sheffield Wednesday manager. Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard was initially strongly linked with the job but the Englishman later pulled out of the race.