📝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.
Harry Kane was pleased to get the "job done" against Andorra despite a sluggish performance from the Three Lions in World Cup qualifying. The 2-0 scoreline looked routine on paper, but the performance from Thomas Tuchel’s men was anything but inspiring. Still, the mission was accomplished, with the Three Lions now boasting four wins from four qualifiers in Group K.
Thomas Tuchel lavished praise on England debutant Elliot Anderson after he impressed during an uninspiring outing against Andorra. The Three Lions eventually secured a 2-0 victory, thanks to an early own-goal from Christian García and a late header from Declan Rice, but Anderson’s assured display was the talking point of the night.
Roberto Martinez insisted "Diogo Jota is with us" after Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the 21st minute of Portugal's first game since the tragic death of the Liverpool star. The ex-Wolves forward and his brother Andre lost their lives in a devastating car crash, leaving the football world in shock.
All eyes were on Olivia Smith, the record-breaking £1 million signing from Liverpool, and the 19-year-old Canadian didn’t just live up to the hype, she blew the roof off with a sensational strike on her debut. Riding on the sensational solo goal, the Gunners demolished London City Lionesses 4-1 at the Emirates in front of 38,142 roaring supporters.
Manchester United have reportedly agreed to loan out Andre Onana to Trabzonspor following the arrival of Senne Lammens. The Turkish transfer window remains open until September 12, meaning Trabzonspor still have a few precious days to get their man through the door before the deadline slams shut.
Jamal Musiala has been dubbed irreplaceable "like Lionel Messi" by German icon, Lothar Matthaus, after a shock World Cup qualifying defeat to Slovakia. The Bayern Munich midfielder fractured his fibula and damaged ankle ligaments following a brutal collision with Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the Club World Cup. The 22-year-old was stretchered off in Atlanta, visibly distraught, and Bayern later confirmed he requires surgery that will sideline him for several months.
France sealed a 2-0 victory over Ukraine but Didier Deschamps left the pitch with a bitter taste as the Ballon D'Or frontrunner, Ousmane Dembele, hobbled off with a hamstring injury. However, the winger's setback paved the way for Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike to make his international debut in Wraclow.
Barcelona could reportedly make a move for Marc Guehi as the Spanish champions are set to rival Liverpool for the Crystal Palace captain. The Catalans, fresh off losing Inigo Martinez this summer, are now circling around Guehi with SPORT claiming that director of football, Deco, has added the 25-year-old to his January hit list.
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick reportedly locked Marcus Rashford & Co. in the dressing room following their draw with Rayo Vallecano as the Blaugrana boss was left fuming with the dip in standards. After a bright start to the campaign, which saw the Catalan giants secure 3-0 and 3-2 wins over Mallorca and Levante respectively, the draw left Flick seething.
Germany were stunned by an incisive Slovakia as their World Cup qualification campaign got off to the worst possible start in Bratislava. David Strelec stole the show with a superb goal as he put a sluggish Antonio Rudiger to shame.
Rangers have been deemed "too small" for Jose Mourinho as the ex-Chelsea & Manchester United boss has been urged to return to England and chase a fourth Premier League title. Mourinho is once again at a crossroads in his storied career after being dismissed by Fenerbahce just 14 months into the role. The Turkish giants pulled the trigger following a crushing 1-0 Champions League play-off defeat to Benfica, a result that ended their hopes of dining at Europe’s top table this season.
Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni expressed his views on the eternal rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of their potential last dance at the World Cup. The two icons have defined modern football for nearly two decades, and even now, as they edge towards the twilight of their glittering careers, their rivalry remains compelling as ever.
Lucas Paqueta’s rollercoaster battle with the Football Association has reached its climax and the West Ham star has avoided the nightmare of a suspension. Instead, the Brazilian midfielder will reportedly be forced to swallow a six-figure fine after being found guilty of failing to cooperate fully with the governing body’s investigation.
Liverpool overcame Bournemouth 4-2 in their season opener, yet the result paled in comparison to the scenes that unfolded at the final whistle when Mohamed Salah, usually the picture of composure, broke down in front of the Kop. The club and its supporters were still reeling from the tragic death of Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, and their passing cast a painful shadow over Anfield.
Lamine Yamal has been named the best teenager in world football as three Chelsea wonderkids featured in the top 10. The Barcelona and Spain prodigy topped the CIES Football Observatory rankings with a remarkable average rating of 97.7, narrowly edging out some of the world’s finest emerging talents.
Kobbie Mainoo’s future at Manchester United remains uncertain, with the 20-year-old midfielder determined to secure a loan move away from Old Trafford, despite the club's insistence that he stay and fight for his place. The England youth international has reiterated his desire to leave the club, particularly after his exclusion from the England squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, a decision made by manager Thomas Tuchel due to his lack of playing time.
Thomas Tuchel had a "difficult" phone call with Trent Alexander-Arnold to inform the defender of the England axe with the Three Lions boss keen to make squad "more spicy". The German manager confirmed that the Real Madrid right-back, once considered an automatic pick, was dropped after falling behind Reece James and rising star Tino Livramento in the pecking order.