Lists

Nottingham Forest star Chris Wood endured a bittersweet evening in Fort Lauderdale as he officially became the most-capped player in New Zealand men's football history. However, the veteran striker's record-breaking night against Haiti was completely overshadowed by a shambolic performance from the All Whites.

Julian Brandt's future remains undecided after his departure from BVB. A promising lead now points to a former teammate and his club.

Rayan Cherki is being backed to justify comparisons with Zinedine Zidane, as Louis Saha tells GOAL why the enigmatic Manchester City playmaker can become even better now that Pep Guardiola has left the Etihad Stadium. The most demanding of coaches helped to keep a tight leash on Cherki, but the World Cup-bound midfielder should benefit from a little more leeway when working under a new manager in the Premier League.

Jordan Henderson has spoken out to defend Thomas Tuchel’s controversial selection decisions as England begin their World Cup preparations in the United States. The veteran midfielder, a questionable inclusion himself, addressed the public outcry regarding the absence of several high-profile Premier League stars from the final 26-man roster.

Chelsea are prepared to sanction the sale of Marc Cucurella this summer after reportedly naming their asking price, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid actively monitoring the defender's situation. Despite establishing himself as a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge, the Spain international is understood to be open to a fresh challenge away from west London.

Jude Bellingham at Liverpool is a transfer that could be agreed at some point in the future, Reds legend Robbie Fowler has told GOAL, with the England international midfielder being told where his game can still improve. The all-action 22-year-old remains on the books of Real Madrid for now, but a Premier League challenge may be sought once his Spanish adventure comes to a close.

Tottenham playmaker Xavi Simons has sparked excitement among the Spurs faithful after dropping a significant hint regarding a potential reunion with former teammate Savinho. The north London club are actively working on a deal to bring the Manchester City winger to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following a difficult campaign for the Brazilian at the Etihad.

Real Madrid's outgoing interim manager, Álvaro Arbeloa (43), has reportedly offered his services to Bayer Leverkusen – only to be turned down by the club.

Kobbie Mainoo has credited Michael Carrick with saving his international career after being named in England's 26-man squad for the upcoming World Cup. The Manchester United starlet admitted he is "very grateful" to the newly-permanent Old Trafford boss for the faith shown in him since he took the reins.

Paul Pogba has, following a disappointing return to competitive action at Monaco, been given two reasons why moves to MLS or the Saudi Pro League may be perfect at this stage of his career. John Arne Riise is among those to have been left frustrated at seeing the former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder flop in France and fail to reignite a lost spark.

Cole Palmer appears to be making the most of his unexpected summer break, having been spotted relaxing in Ibiza alongside Wayne Lineker following his omission from the England squad. The Chelsea star was a high-profile absentee from Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man selection for the upcoming World Cup.

Salford City co-owners David Beckham and Gary Neville have made the ruthless decision to sack head coach Karl Robinson. Despite leading the Ammies to their highest-ever league finish and a trip to Wembley, the former MK Dons and Oxford United boss has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect.

Where is Noah Atubolu headed? The DFB's rising star is predicted to face a disastrous transfer window, which could have serious consequences.

Switzerland’s World Cup preparations have been thrown into chaos after star striker Breel Embolo was sensationally blocked from travelling to the United States. The Rennes forward was forced to remain behind while the rest of Murat Yakin’s squad jetted off to their training base in San Diego.

Real Madrid have moved decisively to secure their first major signing of the summer, reaching a full agreement to bring Inter's Denzel Dumfries to the Bernabeu. The Spanish giants have opted to bypassed lengthy negotiations by triggering a remarkably low release clause to land the Netherlands international.

Cristiano Ronaldo does not want to win the World Cup “because of Lionel Messi”, Eric Djemba-Djemba has told GOAL, with the Portuguese GOAT driven by an insatiable desire to succeed. A global title on North American soil this summer would, however, complete the 41-year-old’s medal collection and see him emulate the achievements of his eternal rival.

Leon Goretzka is on the hunt for a new home as his departure from Bayern Munich looms. The German international, once destined for a move to Italy, is now looking toward the Premier League after a series of collapsed negotiations with Serie A clubs.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has voiced his confusion over the club’s managerial direction following the shock dismissal of Arne Slot. With Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola now the frontrunner to take the hotseat, Carragher believes the Reds have missed a massive trick by allowing Xabi Alonso to slip through their fingers and join Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Barcelona have been handed a significant boost in their pursuit of a permanent deal for Joao Cancelo, with Al-Hilal reportedly softening their financial demands. The Portuguese international has made it clear he has no intention of returning to the Saudi Pro League after a successful loan spell in Catalonia.

Robert Lewandowski is about to hit free agency, as his Barcelona contract expires, with Louis Saha telling GOAL why the prolific Polish striker could be a useful addition for Manchester United. The Frenchman believes a similar impact to that made by Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be enjoyed at Old Trafford, but the addition of a Kylian Mbappe-esque forward is considered to be of more pressing importance to Premier League heavyweights.

BVB are reportedly pursuing a spectacular plan to persuade Serhou Guirassy to stay.

With the presidential election set to wrap up in the next few days, Real Madrid are already making solid progress behind the scenes on their squad for next season. Two new signings could be officially announced very soon.

Former Portugal team manager Carlos Godinho has expressed a deep desire to see Cristiano Ronaldo finish his legendary international career by lifting the World Cup trophy. With the Al-Nassr forward now 41 heading into the 2026 tournament, those close to the Selecao believe this may be his final chance to secure the one major prize missing from his cabinet.

Romelu Lukaku reached yet another historic milestone as Belgium secured a convincing 2-0 victory over Croatia in their preparations for the 2026 World Cup. The Napoli striker came off the bench to silence any doubts over his match fitness, netting a landmark 90th goal for his country to seal the result in Rijeka.

Ella Toone's last involvement in an England shirt was a memorable one. At Wembley, in front of almost 75,000 fans, the Manchester United star racked up a trio of assists, and added a goal of her own, in an 8-0 thrashing of China as the Lionesses paraded their European Championship trophy across the nation. Now, for the first time in 2026, she is back with her country and is primed to provide a timely boost ahead of Friday's blockbuster clash with Spain.

When Marcus Rashford first attempted to speak Spanish, Lamine Yamal fell over laughing. It came during the Manchester United loanee's first training session in Catalunya - or, at least, the first one made public - and after chasing shadows in a rondo, Rashford said something pretty much unintelligible to the Ballon d'Or favourite. Contrast that, then, with the first impression made by Barca's latest English arrival, Anthony Gordon, whose almost fluent Spanish shocked those tuning in for his introductory press conference.

The 2026 World Cup is almost upon us. In just over a week, the time for talking will stop, and teams will have to prove their credentials with their performances on the pitch in North America. All roads, whether through the United States, Mexico or Canada, will lead to New Jersey on July 19, and the biggest football match on the planet: the World Cup final.

The 2026 World Cup was supposed to be another waypoint on Lamine Yamal's path to becoming a generation-defining superstar, but there is the genuine threat that an injury could deprive the tournament of one of its biggest names. The Spanish wonderkid made everyone sit up and take notice at Euro 2024, and two years on, the 18-year-old seemed primed to seize the limelight once again. But instead, it may well be a waiting game.

Steven Gerrard has been used to explain why Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice cannot be considered a Ballon d’Or contender “just yet”, with Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler telling GOAL why the Gunners talisman “needs to go up a notch” in order to join the global elite. That path is still being trodden by the all-action 27-year-old, who will soon be on World Cup duty with England.