Harry Kane can achieve GOAT status in 2026, former England striker Teddy Sheringham has told GOAL. The prolific Bayern Munich striker is chasing down more major honours with club and country. If he were to capture the ultimate prize at the 2026 World Cup, then he would undoubtedly go down in history as the greatest player that the Three Lions have ever seen.
Former Argentina international Javier Zanetti considers fellow countryman Lionel Messi to be “the essence of football” as he is capable of doing “crazy things”. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has proved as much over the course of his career, with the South American GOAT still going strong at the age of 38 with MLS Cup winners Inter Miami.
England have found out where they will likely be based for the 2026 World Cup. With the tournament less than six months away, preparations for the showpiece event in North America are beginning to ramp up. Now, the Three Lions have requested to make a base, that cost around £15 million ($21m) to build in Kansas City, their own this summer.
Everton have announced Jack Grealish has suffered a stress fracture to his foot, which could reportedly sideline the winger for around two months. The 30-year-old joined the Toffees on a season-long loan from Manchester City at the start of the season in the hope of earning more regular game time. However, this latest injury has put his dreams of being named in the England squad for the 2026 World Cup in jeopardy.
Aston Villa playmaker Morgan Rogers has revealed how he took inspiration from the “no-care attitude” of former Manchester United stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba. The 23-year-old is now an enigmatic playmaker in his own right, capable of match-altering brilliance, and has a regular role with England at the 2026 World Cup in his sights.
Vinicius Junior’s future at Real Madrid remains up in the air as the Saudi Pro League reportedly remain in discussions with the Brazil star's camp over a big-money move to the Middle East this summer. The winger has endured a difficult season with the Spanish giants, having been routinely whistled by the Los Blancos faithful following a recent goal drought which stretched back to October.
The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially begun, and this time, fans won’t just watch history being made, they’ll be able to build a piece of it.
Thomas Tuchel has been told that he must find space in his World Cup plans for Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White. Reds legend and former England international Stan Collymore has explained to GOAL why a proven Premier League performer at the City Ground should be handed tickets on the plane to a major tournament in North America.
From humiliation to redemption, from doubt to eternal glory - this is the story of how Zinedine Zidane rose from the shadows to lead France to their greatest triumph. At the 1998 World Cup, the shy playmaker from Marseille became the face of a new nation, turning pain into pride and silence into legend. This is ICONS - a GOAL podcast and feature series that revisits the last 10 World Cups from unique perspectives, bringing the spirit of the tournament back to life...
The 2026 World Cup will be unlike any before it - bigger in size and scope, without a clear favorite, and staged in some of the most iconic venues in world sport. Here’s everything worth knowing.
Mason Greenwood is preparing for arguably the most high-profile match of his Marseille career so far as Premier League champions Liverpool arrive on the south coast of France. But while the Champions League clash will be talked up as an audition for England's World Cup squad in some grubby corners of the internet, the reality is that the damage done to Greenwood's reputation in his homeland is irreparable - regardless of his exploits at Stade Velodrome.
Everton loanee Jack Grealish has suffered a suspected stress fracture in his foot that could keep him sidelined for 'months'. The winger has been rejuvenated at the Toffees after falling down the pecking order at Manchester City. But his hopes of making it into England's 2026 World Cup squad have been handed a blow after picking up an untimely injury.
Mic'd Up: The former USMNT striker talked about the pre-World Cup mindset, the U.S. striker situation and why Mexico will always be the team under the most pressure.
World Cup winner Kleberson, who once played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United and in MLS, has explained to GOAL how Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi can land himself a record-extending ninth Ballon d’Or in 2026. The Argentine superstar is readying himself for another shot at global glory, which could put him in contention for Golden Ball recognition.
Roberto Martinez has suggested that Cristiano Ronaldo will not be undroppable when Portugal open their quest for 2026 World Cup glory. The evergreen 40-year-old forward remains captain of his country, and an inspiration to millions across the globe, but he is not immune to a spot of bench duty and will be replaced if remarkable individual standards are allowed to dip.
This is Legacy, GOAL’s podcast and feature series following the road to the 2026 World Cup. Every week, we dive into the stories and legacies that shaped football’s greatest nations. Today we look at Spain’s search for a new symbol, 16 years after the golden glow of 2010. From Andres Iniesta’s magic in Johannesburg to the rise of a fearless teenager lighting up Barcelona, it’s the story of Lamine Yamal, and how one young prodigy could lead La Roja back to the top of the world...
Cristiano Ronaldo will not want to stop without a World Cup win that allows him to emulate eternal rival Lionel Messi, the Portuguese’s former Manchester United team-mate Kleberson has told GOAL. A man who knows all about the mindset of an all-time great has also boldly predicted that evergreen CR7 could play on until the age of 50 if he really wants to.
Neymar remains “the most talented player in Brazil”, Kleberson has told GOAL, with Carlo Ancelotti being told that he must find space for the Santos superstar in his 2026 World Cup plans. The man who helped the Selecao to global glory in 2002 has also picked out the natural heir to Neymar’s playmaking crown and explained what a modern day great needs to do in order to join the GOATs.
Cristiano Ronaldo would be prepared to join “the lowest professional league” in order to reach 1,000 competitive goals, claims former Manchester United team-mate Nani, but is not expected to be forced down that path. Instead, the Portuguese GOAT, who is still going strong in the Saudi Pro League for Al-Nassr, is being backed to grace Euro 2028.
Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy has officially secured a prestigious return to international coaching. Following his departure from Old Trafford and a recent managerial stint at Leicester City, the former prolific striker joins Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands backroom staff. He aims to bolster the Oranje attack ahead of the World Cup this summer, marking his third spell with the national side as they prepare for the global stage.
Enzo Fernandez has explained how Lionel Messi is allowing him to live out a “PlayStation” dream. The Argentine midfielder looked up to an iconic countryman when seeking to forge his own professional career. Fernandez could never have imagined at that point what the future would have in store - with World Cup glory being savoured alongside Messi at Qatar 2022.
FIFA says it received more than 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 World Cup during its month-long Random Selection Draw application window, highlighting unprecedented global demand for the first-ever 48-team tournament across the United States, Mexico and Canada. The window ran from Dec. 11 through Jan. 13 following December’s World Cup draw and schedule release.
Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has hit a setback in plans to push through a new offside revolution. The 76-year-old has proposed a radical change to current rules which would benefit attackers but is now facing opposition from both UEFA and the British FAs. The governing bodies believe Wenger's plans are "too drastic" and would have too much of an impact on how the game is currently played.
From knee scooters and crosswords and a World Cup lock screen, USMNT and Houston Dynamo midfielder Jack McGlynn explains how injury recovery sharpened his 2026 push.
This is Legacy, GOAL’s podcast and feature series tracking the countdown to the 2026 World Cup. Each week, we explore the stories and the spirit behind the nations that define the world’s game. Today we look back at France '98; from the heartbreaks of Seville and Bulgaria to the night Zinedine Zidane lifted the trophy in Paris, this is the story of how France broke its curse and forged a winning identity that still defines Les Bleus today.
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