Legendary Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has given an insight into why Andre Onana flopped so badly at the club. Van der Sar, who won four Premier League titles and reached three Champions League finals with the Red Devils, knew the Cameroon international well from his time as Ajax's CEO and fully expected him to be a success at Old Trafford.
Dick Advocaat has resigned from his role as head coach of Curacao with immediate effect. The 78-year-old veteran had led the Caribbean nation to a fairytale qualification for the 2026 World Cup, but he will not be in the dugout when the tournament kicks off in the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer. The legendary Dutch tactician has made the difficult decision to step away from the game to focus on his family during a challenging period.
GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave their comfort zones in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.
The magic of the Clasico travelled across the Atlantic at the weekend as Los Angeles played host to a star-studded exhibition between Barca and Real Madrid Legends. While the competitive fires may have dimmed since their professional heydays, the technical quality on display at the BMO Stadium proved that class is indeed permanent. In a contest that balanced high-level nostalgia with genuine entertainment, the two Spanish giants fought out a 1-1 draw in front of a captivated American audience.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta claims that Lionel Messi refused to greet him when both men attended the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony. Argentine icon Messi was, on the back of his World Cup triumph with Argentina, the star of the show that night as he collected a record-extending eighth Golden Ball. He had no desire to meet up with a familiar face from Camp Nou.
Jamie Redknapp has launched a scathing attack on his former club Tottenham, branding them a "horrendous" outfit that has undergone a "personality bypass" following their humiliating 4-1 home defeat at the hands of Arsenal. The north London derby was less of a contest and more of a coronation for the Gunners, as Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres both bagged braces to leave Spurs languishing just four points above the Premier League trapdoor.
Ex-USMNT and MLS star Tab Ramos has told GOAL that a stunning transfer which unites Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at Inter Miami could happen, but has explained why said switch could become a “mess”. A remarkable switch to the United States for Portuguese icon CR7 has been mooted on the back of strike action that he recently took in the Saudi Pro League.
Mexican football has been plunged into a state of uncertainty following the news that several high-profile fixtures have been postponed due to a major security crisis. The decision to call off the matches came swiftly after the Mexican army killed the leader of one of the country's most powerful drug cartels in a town situated just two hours from Guadalajara, a key host city for the upcoming 2026 World Cup. The death of the high-ranking figure has sparked immediate concerns over public safety across multiple states.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot pulled no punches after his side snatched a dramatic 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest, admitting that his team delivered their poorest showing of the season. Despite Alexis Mac Allister’s 97th-minute heroics, the Dutchman was visibly frustrated by a performance that was labelled a "horror show" by former Reds captain Jamie Carragher.
Sam Cox, a star of the hit Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso, has been sacked as head coach of National League side Wealdstone after just eight months at the helm. The 35-year-old, who plays fictional West Ham star Armando on the small screen, was handed the reins at Grosvenor Vale in June 2025. He has been unable to steer the Stones away from relegation danger.
Endrick’s highly anticipated loan spell at Lyon hit a major stumbling block this weekend. After arriving from Real Madrid with immense expectations, the Brazilian prodigy initially took Ligue 1 by storm. However, Sunday's lacklustre display against Strasbourg caused some concern, leaving manager Paulo Fonseca thoroughly unimpressed as he searches for immediate tactical solutions to unlock the teenager.
Hansi Flick has responded to Lamine Yamal’s angry reaction to being substituted during Barcelona’s victory over Levante. There were only two minutes of the 90 remaining when the teenage wonderkid saw his number held up, but he was still disappointed at having to trudge towards the touchline. His manager claims to have no issue with a show of petulance from the 18-year-old.
Arsenal forward Olivia Smith was stretchered from the field and taken to hospital when suffering a worrying head injury during the Gunners’ Women’s FA Cup clash with Bristol City. The Canadian star was rushed away for medical checks, having received lengthy treatment on the field. A full diagnosis is yet to be delivered, but Arsenal are “hopeful” that the knock is not too serious.
Raheem Sterling has made his first competitive appearance in nine months, having left Chelsea and completed a shock move to Eredivisie outfit Feyenoord. The 31-year-old forward is pleased to be back on the pitch and will take things slowly for the remainder of the season. That means no thought has been given to a potential England recall in this World Cup year.
Wolves have shared appalling racist abuse aimed at striker Tolu Arokodare online after the club's defeat to Crystal Palace. Arokodare missed a penalty as his team were beaten 1-0 at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon, and Wolves have published screenshots of the abuse he received on social media, with the 25-year-old also issuing his own statement.
England midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is set to undergo surgery after sustaining a horror injury in AC Milan's Serie A clash with Parma. The former Chelsea ace has sustained a fracture of the alveolar bone that forms and supports the sockets of the teeth, a serious injury that could lead to a lengthy lay-off.
Gabriel Magalhães couldn't resist mocking Tottenham on social media after Arsenal's dominant 4-1 north London derby victory on Sunday evening. A brace each from Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres gave the Gunners all three points, with Randal Kolo Muani's first-half goal proving to be nothing more than a consolation as Igor Tudor's first game as Spurs interim boss ended in humiliation.
Tottenham Hotspur interim manager Igor Tudor insists he is "very angry" after their 4-1 derby defeat at home to Arsenal, as he called on his players to "look in the mirror". The north London club are now just four points clear of the relegation zone, after also losing the reverse fixture 4-1.
MLS has determined Lionel Messi did not breach league policy following an internal review of an incident that sparked speculation after Inter Miami’s season opener against LAFC. A video circulating on social media appeared to show Messi entering the referees’ locker room area, but MLS and the Professional Referee Organization confirmed the space was not restricted and that Messi did not access the officials’ premises.
Eberechi Eze has amazingly equalled the records of former Arsenal strikers Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie in the north London derby after scoring a brace against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The England international scored a hat-trick in the reverse fixture earlier this season, and now has five goals from two matches played against Spurs in a Gunners shirt.
Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres both scored twice as Arsenal crushed Tottenham 4-1 in the north London derby for the second time this season to restore their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners, who came into Sunday's game under huge pressure following their midweek capitulation at Wolves, made a mockery of those questioning their stomach for a title race as they ran riot at the home of their neighbours, who remain firmly in the relegation mire.
Dele Alli has teased an imminent return to professional football after his emotional homecoming at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. The Spurs cult hero was the club's half-time Guest of Honour for the north London derby against Arsenal, and the former England star revealed he could be back on the pitch very soon.
Arne Slot insists that Florian Wirtz has not sustained a "serious" injury after he was withdrawn from Liverpool's starting XI during the pre-match warm-ups before their 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest. The Germany international was replaced in the team by Curtis Jones and the Reds went on to snatch victory in the 96th minute.
Inter Miami are reportedly interested in signing Casemiro when he leaves Manchester United at the end of the season. The Brazil international has announced that he is will depart Old Trafford upon the expiration of his contract in June, and Miami are said to be interested in recruiting him as a potential replacement for Sergio Busquets, and new right-hand man of Lionel Messi.
Barcelona returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Levante on Sunday that moved them back to the summit of La Liga as they took advantage of Real Madrid's defeat to Osasuna 24 hours earlier. First-half goals from midfield duo Marc Bernal and Frenkie de Jong put the hosts in control before Fermin Lopez scored a stunner on a day when Joao Cancelo was the real star of the show.
Manchester United's bid to reach a fourth-straight Women's FA Cup final was ended on Sunday as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea after extra time in their fifth-round tie. Phallon Tullis-Joyce produced heroics in the Red Devils' goal but couldn't keep out strikes from Sam Kerr and Naomi Girma, while Simi Awujo's equaliser couldn't spark a come-from-behind win for Marc Skinner's side.
Naomi Girma picked a perfect time to score her first Chelsea goal on Sunday, with her finish in extra-time allowing the Blues to secure a dramatic 2-1 win over Manchester United and put themselves into the FA Cup quarter-finals. It looked like Sam Kerr's late second-half strike was going to be the difference for Sonia Bompastor's side in a tightly-contested clash, but Simi Awujo's quick-fire response prolonged the tie, paving the way for Girma to be the hero.
Alexis Mac Allister scored a 96th-minute winner as Liverpool beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 at the City Ground on Sunday. The Argentina international thought he had won the game with two minutes left, only for VAR to rule it out, but the midfielder would not be denied, as the Reds consigned Forest to a damaging defeat, doing so without the injured Florian Wirtz.
Jamie O'Hara has blasted Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez for his "non-league" quality against Burnley, as the Blues threw away a 1-0 lead to draw with the Premier League strugglers on Saturday. The Clarets scored an injury-time equaliser, leaving Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior fuming, and the club counting the cost of more ill-discipline after Wesley Fofana's red card.