📝Bio: Soham has been living and breathing football stories for almost a decade, carving his path as a news and SEO writer with an instinct for the big moments. Armed with an MA (Honours) in Sports Journalism from Symbiosis International University, he knew early on that his future wouldn’t be on the pitch but behind the pen, shaping narratives about the game he adores. He joined GOAL in 2017 and has since made his mark covering the Indian Super League, I-League, and the Indian national team. Based in Kolkata, where football is a religion, he grew up watching Bhaichung Bhutia scoring goals for fun in India, before falling head over heels for Real Madrid, a club that now dictates the rhythm of his everyday life.⚽My Football Story: It all began back in 2002. A cricket bat in hand, ready to step out, but then the skies opened up. The rain kept me indoors, and that twist of fate led me to the sofa, beside my father, who had a football match on TV. Little did I know at the time but it was the World Cup final: Brazil vs Germany. Forget the goals – what grabbed my imagination was Ronaldo’s haircut and his iconic celebration. From there, cricket slowly faded and football fever took over. By my teenage years, I was sneaking out of bed at 1am to watch the Champions League - fair to say I was hooked for life.
🎯Areas of Expertise:
Social media-specific content
Premier League, Champions League, European & Indian football coverage
Tactical analysis on the Indian national team
World Cup & European Championship tournaments
🌟Favourite Footballing Memory: The day Mohun Bagan demolished East Bengal 5-3 in the Kolkata Derby, with Chidi Edeh scoring four - a moment when the city turned maroon and green. But nothing beats the spine-tingling sight of Sergio Ramos’ 93rd-minute header in Lisbon, the goal that crowned Real Madrid’s La Decima and etched itself into footballing history.📝My All-Time XI: Iker Casillas; Phillip Lahm, Sergio Ramos, Fabio Cannavaro, Roberto Carlos; Claude Makélélé, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane; Cristiano Ronaldo, Raúl, Lionel Messi.
Manchester United's hopes of keeping teenage sensation JJ Gabriel, nicknamed 'Kid Messi', have been given a massive boost as Arsenal's supposed interest in the player has been labelled as "premature". The 15-year-old, widely tipped as one of the most gifted players to emerge from United's academy since Marcus Rashford, has agreed to commit his immediate future to Old Trafford after a tense behind-closed-doors meeting with United chiefs Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada.
Bukayo Saka is "starting to feel good again" after continuing his injury comeback on the international stage with an England goal. The Arsenal superstar sent Wembley into raptures with a thunderous strike as the Three Lions swept aside Wales 3-0 in a commanding friendly victory that had redemption written all over it.
William Saliba revealed how he's already "taken revenge" against Enzo Fernandez for the World Cup defeat with Arsenal. The French defender, now a pillar at both Arsenal and for Didier Deschamps’ national side, says France aren’t intimidated by anyone, not even Lionel Messi’s world champions.
Manchester United are reportedly set to offer Harry Maguire a new £140k-a-week contract amid a surge in interest from Saudi Pro League clubs. Old Trafford chiefs are in advanced talks to keep the 32-year-old centre-back beyond this season, with his current deal set to expire in just eight months. Despite whispers of an Arabian raid, United’s hierarchy has begun formal discussions with Maguire’s representatives about extending his stay.
Thomas Tuchel has surprisingly called a Manchester United wonderkid into England training despite the 18-year-old still waiting for his senior club debut. Shea Lacey has been making waves for United’s under-21s, and was given the chance to train with England’s first team following a series of standout performances.
Mason Greenwood snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo for another former Manchester United team-mate when naming the best player he's worked with and chose Lionel Messi in the GOAT debate. While Greenwood briefly played alongside Ronaldo during the Portuguese striker's ill-fated second stint at Old Trafford, tensions reportedly ran high between the two as they struggled to build a successful playing relationship.
Harry Kane has reportedly missed training ahead of England's friendly clash with Wales as he struggles with an ankle injury. The Three Lions captain picked up the knock during Bayern Munich’s 3-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend. Now his participation against Wales has been thrown into uncertainty.
Bayern Munich have reportedly decided to take a risk on Harry Kane's contract extension amid intensifying Premier League and MLS transfer links. Kane, who joined Bayern from Tottenham in 2023, has a €65 million (£57m/$75m) release clause embedded in his contract that would allow him to leave the German club next summer. Kane has until the end of the January transfer window to trigger that option if another club comes in with an offer.
Steven Gerrard has labelled himself and his former England team-mates "egotistical losers", with the Liverpool legend making his feelings known on Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher's bubbling friendship post-retirement. The former Liverpool midfielder, now 45, didn’t hold back as he opened up about the toxic culture that plagued England’s dressing room during the 2000s, and why rivalries with Manchester United and Chelsea ruined their chances of glory.
Jordan Henderson's Brentford transfer has reportedly caused behind-the-scenes trouble at Ajax, with the players disrupted by his exit. After his brief and turbulent stint in Saudi Arabia, Henderson had looked to rebuild his career in the Netherlands. Though his early days at Ajax were rocky, the England international eventually found his footing, becoming a consistent figure in the team’s midfield and a respected voice in the dressing room.
A "nervous" Cristiano Ronaldo has confessed to using AI to craft his speech at the Portugal Football Globes gala after receiving a "special" honour. After a record-breaking career taking him from Sporting CP to Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and now Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, the 40-year-old has rarely been caught off guard. But this time, he needed a little extra help.
Cristiano Ronaldo has risked an Al-Nassr backlash by admitting he would only play for Portugal if he could. Ronaldo is showing no signs of slowing down despite being at the tail-end of his career at the age of 40. But in a candid interview, the iconic forward expressed a deep passion for representing his country above all else.
Trent Alexander-Arnold's girlfriend Estelle Behnke shared a loved-up snap with the "amazing" Real Madrid star to mark his 27th birthday. The German model, who commands an Instagram following of over 155,000, took to her stories to share a dreamy photo of herself locking lips with Alexander-Arnold against a tranquil waterside backdrop.
Anthony Gordon has compared Nick Woltemade to England "quarterback" Harry Kane and explained how Newcastle's £69 million ($93m) frontman has positively impacted his game. Woltemade has exploded onto the scene at Newcastle with four goals in his first six appearances, three of which came in the span of just seven days against Arsenal, Union Saint-Gilloise, and Nottingham Forest before the international break.
England star Anthony Gordon has shockingly admitted that he's only performed at "50 per cent" on the international stage, despite featuring in all of Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions squads so far. The Newcastle United winger, who dazzled during last month’s 5-0 World Cup qualifying demolition of Serbia, has been one of the standout names in England’s recent squads. But while giving a brutally honest assessment of his form, Gordon insisted there’s “much more to come” from him in an England shirt.
Chelsea sensation Estevao Willian has been told how to become a Ballon d'Or contender like Lamine Yamal after his game-changing display against Liverpool. The 17-year-old Brazilian, affectionately dubbed “Messinho” in his homeland, has taken to English football like a natural, blending flair, courage and creativity in a way few foreign youngsters ever manage. Signed for €34 million (£30m) from Palmeiras plus a hefty €23m (£20m) in add-ons, Estevao is already looking like a bargain for the Blues.
Former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson believes that Chelsea should launch a sensational transfer swoop for Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane. The Englishman's current deal at Allianz Arena includes a £57 million ($76m) release clause, which is reportedly set to come into effect at the end of the 2025-26 season. While the ex-Tottenham star is “extremely happy” in Munich, he has not ruled out returning to the Premier League at some stage.
Paul Scholes believes Ruben Amorim is "getting too much time" at Manchester United and has predicted another defeat for his former club in their crunch clash with Liverpool. With just 50 games in charge, Amorim has faced relentless scrutiny as United search for stability under his leadership. The Red Devils secured a 2-0 win over Sunderland before the international break, temporarily lifting spirits, but Scholes insists the problems run deeper.
Former Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen is "incredibly happy" for Rasmus Hojlund after his Denmark team-mate's "great" start to life at Napoli. After a frustrating spell at Old Trafford where chances were few and confidence was crushed, Hojlund has exploded into form at Napoli. Four goals in six games, including crucial winners against Sporting and Genoa, have turned the 22-year-old into the talk of Naples.
Marcus Rashford has been backed to take one of Robert Lewandowski's key jobs at Barcelona by Gary Lineker. The England forward, who endured a rocky spell under Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, has found new life under Hansi Flick, showing flashes of the ruthless finishing that once made him one of England’s brightest stars.