Pep Guardiola said one should always be careful when criticising strikers like Erling Haaland. All it takes, the Manchester City boss explained, is for them to score again and "shut your mouth". Lately, however, Haaland has been shutting mouths without scoring. Over the last year he has turned into the complete forward, an even more frightening prospect to opponents than he was before, and an even greater asset to City's hopes of winning a quadruple.
For the first time since triumphing at last summer’s European Championship, the Lionesses are back in competitive action, kickstarting their 2027 Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign against Ukraine on Tuesday. Four days later, England will then host Iceland, looking for a perfect start as they battle world champions Spain for the group’s only automatic qualifying spot.
Viktor Gyokeres displayed similarities to “prime Thierry Henry” in Arsenal’s derby victory over Tottenham and could be a “missing link” in the Gunners’ bid to bring a long wait for Premier League title glory to a close, claims Ray Parlour. The Swedish frontman has found form in 2026 and is hoping to be the man that returns domestic dominance to north London.
Los Angeles FC star Denis Bouanga has signed a new contract, committing his future to the club amid reported interest from abroad. The winger has signed a deal that runs through 2028, with an option through the 2029-30 season. Since joining LAFC in 2022, the 31-year-old has scored 94 overall goals - moving him past Carlos Vela as the club's all-time scorer.
Declan Rice has revealed he received a message from Manchester United legend David Beckham after scoring two free-kicks for Arsenal in a Champions League game against Real Madrid last season. The England international twice beat Thibaut Courtois with powerful strikes from distance in what was one of the Gunners' most iconic European nights under manager Mikel Arteta.
Weston McKennie was at the center of Juventus' three-goal comeback on Wednesday, scoring the third goal of that comeback against Galatasaray. McKennie's late finish leveled the aggregate scoreline of Wednesday's second leg of the Champions League's play-off round, but it wasn't enough as Galatasaray wrestled control back in extra time.
Vinicius Jr danced and Real Madrid overcame an early deficit to see off Benfica in the Champions League playoff round, 2-1. Los Blancos fell behind early, before goals from Aurelien Tchouameni and Vinicius gave them a comfortable lead, and sealed a 3-1 aggregate win. There were some uncertain moments, but Madrid were otherwise good value for the result.
Fans were shocked as Juventus centre-back Lloyd Kelly was sent off during his side's clash with Galatasaray on Wednesday night. The Italian giants needed to overturn a 5-2 deficit from the first leg but their task was made incredibly difficult when the former Bournemouth and Newcastle United defender was dismissed in contentious circumstances. Juventus eventually exited the competition after a 7-5 aggregate defeat.
The Brazilian playmaker insisted to GOAL that his inspiration as a footballer comes from one of the game's greats, and hopes that channeling a bit of his samba flair can bring the MLS Cup to Cincinnati.
Al-Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo secured another important win in the Saudi Pro League title race as they comfortably dispatched Al-Najma 5-0, with CR7, Sadio Mane and Kingsley Coman among the goalscorers. The Riyadh-based side recently went to the top of the league table by beating Al-Hazem and retained that position thanks to their victory on Wednesday night.
John Terry has claimed he played the majority of his career at Chelsea with injuries, insisting he was only fully fit for five games for the Blues. The former defender is one of the west London side's greatest ever players and captains and has now revealed he refused to let fitness issues stop him from turning out for his club.
Manchester United have yet to open talks with Kobbie Mainoo over a new contract at Old Trafford. The 20-year-old fell out of favour under former manager Ruben Amorim, but has returned to the starting XI under Michael Carrick; there remains some uncertainty, though, over whether he will pledge his future to the club.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino reaffirmed the organization’s full support for Mexico as a host nation for the 2026 World Cup, expressing strong confidence in the country’s leadership despite ongoing security challenges. As FIFA continues to monitor the situation, the governing body made clear that no changes are being considered to the tournament schedule.
Juventus legend Claudio Marchisio has tipped Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali to join Serie A giants Juventus in the future. The Azzurri star played for AC Milan before joining the Magpies in 2023 and has gone on to become an important player under Eddie Howe at St James' Park. However, he has frequently been tipped to return to his homeland later in his career.
Wayne Rooney was in attendance as his son Kai came on as a substitute for Manchester United's Under-18s in the 6-1 thrashing of Derby County at Carrington on Wednesday afternoon. However, the 16-year-old's appearance was overshadowed as another Red Devils wonderkid impressed with two goals in the Under-18 Premier League.
Casemiro is reportedly keen on joining AC Milan once his contract with Manchester United expires in the summer. The former Real Madrid star will leave the Red Devils at the end of the season and has been linked with a move to North America with Major League Soccer sides said to be interested in his services. However, those teams will face competition from Italian giants Milan, who are second in Serie A.
Borussia Dortmund are reportedly closing in on a major defensive reinforcement with a familiar face. BVB are in advanced negotiations to secure the signature of 29-year-old French international Benjamin Pavard, a player who boasts an extensive and successful history in the Bundesliga with both Stuttgart and Dortmund's arch-rivals, Bayern Munich. The move represents a significant statement of intent from the Signal Iduna Park outfit as they look to bolster their backline with elite European experience.
Barcelona winger Raphinha has sounded a defiant battle cry as the Catalan giants face the monumental task of overturning a four-goal deficit in the Copa del Rey. Following a bruising 4-0 defeat against Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano in the first leg of the semi-finals, many have written off the Blaugrana's chances of defending their domestic cup crown. However, the Brazilian international remains steadfast in his belief that Camp Nou could witness one of the competition's greatest-ever turnarounds.
Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada hailed the club's off-pitch transformation after squad costs fell due to a summer clearout of players. Despite bringing in Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Senne Lammens for a total of £225.5m, United were able to shave £14m ($18.9m) off their total wage bill due to player sales and sending others out on loan.
MLS has hired Korn Ferry, an independent search firm, as they begin the hunt for a new commissioner, according to Sportico. The firm will be tasked with identifying and evaluating candidates for commissioner, with Don Garber's term set to end in 2027. Garber, who has been in office since 1999, hasn't ruled out pursuing another term in office.
Benfica's appeal against the provisional suspension handed to Gianluca Prestianni has been rejected, meaning the Argentine will miss the second leg of the Champions League knockout round play-off against Real Madrid on Wednesday night. The 20-year-old has been accused of racially abusing Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior during the first game last week.
The atmosphere at Torino has reached a toxic breaking point, as disgruntled supporters took extreme measures to voice their anger following the club’s latest Serie A disaster. A group of fans arrived at the club's training complex to deliver a pungent message to the hierarchy. The protest comes at a time of deep instability for the Granata, who find themselves flirting with catastrophe in the bottom half of the table.
The race for the Spanish league title has been rocked by an official admission of a high-profile officiating blunder. Barcelona president Joan Laporta has spoken out after the Spanish Referees' Committee (CTA) acknowledged that Girona’s winning goal in their recent 2-1 victory over the Blaugrana should have been disallowed for a foul on Jules Kounde. Despite the rare moment of transparency from the governing body, Laporta remains frustrated that the technical validation does nothing to alter the league standings or the damage done at Montilivi.
Manchester United winger Amad Diallo has offered a fascinating insight into his footballing tastes, singling out a former rival as one of the most exciting talents in world football. The Ivorian youngster, who has become an increasingly influential figure at Old Trafford, sat down to discuss the players he admires most across the global game and those who defined the Premier League for him. In a series of quickfire questions, the 23-year-old was asked to identify the stars who currently capture his imagination.
Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi has revealed the "romantic" way he proposed to childhood sweetheart Antonela Roccuzzo during their time in Barcelona. Messi first met Antonela when he was just five years old and the couple went on to marry in 2017 in a huge event in Rosario, Argentina. The family now live in Miami with their three young sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro.
Galatasaray are no longer content with being the dominant force in Turkish football; they have set their sights on the European elite. Following a stunning 5-2 victory over Juventus in the Champions League, vice-president Abdullah Kavukcu has outlined a blueprint to transform the Istanbul giants into a global powerhouse within five years. Central to this revolution is the successful integration of marquee signings from Serie A, a market the club has raided with increasing frequency and financial might.
Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal is being romantically linked with British model and influencer Lily Rowland. The teenager's love life is once again in the spotlight, with his social media activity under close scrutiny. Meanwhile, Rowland has been spotted at Barcelona's home stadium following the team, fuelling more speculation that the two may be getting close.
The Football Association has officially handed out punishments to both Chelsea and West Ham United following an aggressive multi-player confrontation during their recent Premier League London derby. Tensions reached a breaking point at Stamford Bridge in a match that was already high on intensity, leading to scenes that the governing body deemed a bridge too far for professional conduct. The incident has resulted in significant financial hits for both capital clubs as the FA looks to crack down on mass confrontations.
Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu has finally spoken out about the storm that followed his controversial dismissal during the Derby d'Italia. The Frenchman was at the centre of a heated debate after receiving a second yellow card for a challenge on Alessandro Bastoni, a decision that many felt was harsh given the apparent lack of contact.