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Former Manchester United coach Steve McClaren has revealed the cause of friction between Cristiano Ronaldo and Erik ten Hag, with that “standoff” eventually leading to CR7 severing ties with the Red Devils. The Portuguese GOAT butted heads with a Dutch tactician at Old Trafford, with the pair rarely seeing eye-to-eye. An explosive exit for CR7 was confirmed in November 2022.

Harry Kane’s future beyond the summer of 2026 may have already been decided, with a huge update being delivered on the release clause that existed in his contract at Bayern Munich. There were suggestions that the England international striker could be on the move this summer, but Bundesliga title holders appear confident that an extended stay at the Allianz Arena will be agreed.

Barcelona’s title defence hit a massive stumbling block on Monday as Hansi Flick’s side suffered a damaging 2-1 defeat at Girona. Despite producing a string of world-class saves, goalkeeper Joan Garcia was furious at full-time, blasting his team's defensive frailties and the officials after a controversial late winner was allowed to stand. The result leaves the Blaugrana trailing arch-rivals Real Madrid in the race for the Liga crown.

Nicolas Jackson is reportedly set to return to Chelsea in the summer, with Bayern Munich refusing to trigger the purchase clause in his loan deal. The Senegal international has struggled to force his way into Vincent Kompany's starting XI since moving to Allianz Arena, and the German champions have no plans to make his stay permanent.

Jude Bellingham has handed England a pre-World Cup selection headache, with it reported that the Real Madrid superstar’s hamstring injury is worse than first feared. It is being suggested that the 22-year-old midfielder will sit out the Three Lions’ final camp before Thomas Tuchel settles on his 26-man squad for a shot at global glory in North America this summer.

Pep Guardiola has told Phil Foden to just relax amid his latest slump in form, but that is easier said than done, given his place in the Manchester City line-up is less certain than ever while his status in the England squad also at risk. Foden appeared to have put last season's struggles behind him towards the end of 2025, but he now appears to be suffering another dip at the worst possible time.

No one can create a siege mentality like Jose Mourinho. Benfica were almost universally written off when they welcomed Real Madrid to Estadio da Luz in the final round of league phase fixtures for this season's Champions League, having lost five of their first eight games, including a shocking 3-2 home defeat to Azerbaijani minnows Qarabag.

This is Legacy, GOAL’s feature and podcast series that counts down to the 2026 World Cup. Each week, we explore the stories and the spirit behind the nations that define the world’s game. This week, we travel through the most emotional legacy in football history: Argentina’s journey from wounds to glory. From the heartbreak of lost finals to the joy of Qatar, this is the story of a team that turned suffering into strength, and passion into destiny. A nation that doesn’t just play the World Cup - it feels it.

USMNT star Haji Wright hit a stunning hat-trick for Coventry against fellow promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough, firing Frank Lampard’s side back to the top of the Championship table. The Sky Blues have thrown away a commanding lead at the summit of the English second tier, but remain on course to reach the Premier League.

With just weeks until Mexico face Portugal in a high-profile friendly, Portuguese media report growing concern over renovation delays at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca, now renamed Estadio Banorte. While organizers insist the venue will be ready for March 28, uncertainty has sparked speculation about a potential change of site for the match - and even future World Cup fixtures.

Club América captain Henry Martín admitted the Clásico Nacional defeat to Chivas left the squad hurt and embarrassed, conceding the team failed to rise to the occasion. The veteran striker framed the loss as a “wake-up call” from Guadalajara - one he believes can help América regroup and respond over the remainder of the Clausura 2026 campaign.

U.S. Men's National Team striker Haji Wright scored a crucial hat-trick for Coventry City to lead his side past Middlesbrough on Monday. The trio of goals was enough to put Coventry back on top of the Championship while also sending a strong message to U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino as Wright continues to fight in a crowded striker race.

In an exclusive interview with GOAL, Marc Dos Santos explains why LAFC chose continuity - and how Son Heung-Min and Denis Bouanga will be used differently in 2026.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman were left stunned by the FA Cup fifth round draw on Monday night, as Wrexham were paired with Premier League giants Chelsea. The Welsh club have reached the fifth round for the first time since 1997 and are now preparing to take on one of the biggest clubs in England for a place in the quarter-finals of the competition.

Girona sprung a huge shock in the race in La Liga as they beat Barcelona 2-1 at Montilivi on Monday. Lamine Yamal missed a penalty and Hansi Flick's side were left fuming by a controversial late goal, as the Catalan side dropped important points in the title race amidst a fierce battle with bitter rivals Real Madrid at the summit.

Manchester United have been told that Michael Carrick could bring Marcus Rashford back to Old Trafford. That is according to a former England and Red Devils masseuse, Rod Thornley, who believes that the current Barcelona loanee could head back to Manchester at the end of the season after a bright campaign with the Catalan giants in La Liga.

Former Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko has sent out a heartfelt message to supporters after seeing his season ended by a serious injury. The Ukraine international sustained the problem on his home debut for Ajax after making the switch to the Eredivisie side this winter. Zinchenko is now set to undergo surgery and is facing a long spell on the sidelines.

Tottenham Hotspur have been warned of the "potentially catastrophic" cost of relegation from the Premier League. The north London club have appointed Igor Tudor as interim manager until the end of the season, following the departure of Thomas Frank, as they attempt to steer themselves clear of the drop zone after a truly dismal season that could reach an apocalyptic conclusion.

The draw for the fifth round of the 2025-26 FA Cup took place on Monday and produced some intriguing ties ahead of the next round of games in the competition. Chelsea have been drawn to face Wrexham, while Manchester City face a tricky test against Eddie Howe's Newcastle United and Premier League leaders Arsenal are away to League One side Mansfield Town.

Manchester United are plotting a stunning move to sign Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister this summer, per a new report from the Manchester Evening News. The Red Devils are keeping a close eye on the situation of the Argentina international in case he becomes available in the summer as they bid to strengthen a problem position in the summer transfer window.

Jude Bellingham has revealed he would like to swap places with a surprise athlete, after being asked whose shoes he would like to step in from another sport. The Real Madrid star has become a Laureus Sport ambassador, and answered quickfire questions on Instagram, including naming the one footballer he feels simply does not get the credit he deserves.

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp turned down approaches from Manchester United and Chelsea after leaving Anfield, according to his agent and trusted advisor Marc Kosicke. The German coach opted to take a break from football following his departure from the Reds but has already been lured back into work as the Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull.

Manchester United interim boss Michael Carrick has been told that he simply must qualify for the Champions League if he is to earn the permanent manager's job at Old Trafford. The former England midfielder has enjoyed a sterling start to life since replacing Ruben Amorim, going unbeaten in his first five league games, to put himself in contention to remain in the United hotseat.

How the former Vasco striker turned potential into impact in England and entered the debate about the future of the Brazilian national team

Brighton are refusing to take no for an answer in their pursuit of Koln sensation Said El Mala. The Seagulls, ever the masters of identifying Europe’s most exciting young talent, have lodged a fresh formal offer for the 19-year-old winger. Despite the Bundesliga side’s previous reluctance to sell, Fabian Hurzeler’s side is pushing harder than ever to secure the teenager's signature before his value spirals out of reach.

GOAL breaks down the key moments from USWNT players abroad, including Thompson helping Chelsea get back on track.

Athletic Club have been rocked by a major fitness blow as star winger Nico Williams has been sidelined indefinitely to deal with a persistent pubalgia issue. The Euro 2024 hero has been struggling with the abdominal problem since the start of the season. Despite attempts to manage the injury through a combination of tailored training and match minutes, the club finally decided to pull the 23-year-old out of action following the recent match against Real Oviedo.

Oleksandr Zinchenko has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a serious injury on his first home appearance for Dutch giants Ajax. Zinchenko was named in the starting XI for the Eredivisie side for the first time since his arrival from Arsenal at the start of February but his full debut was cut short as he was forced off with just minutes on the clock.

Jose Mourinho is bracing for a backlash, warning that Real Madrid will be "dangerous" as they prepare to face his Benfica side in a high-stakes Champions League play-off. The Special One finds himself on the opposite side of the touchline, looking to inflict more misery on his former employers following a shock victory in the League phase. However, despite the magnitude of the occasion, the Portuguese tactician insists he is unfazed, citing his lifetime of experience in Europe's elite competition as the key to navigating the tie.