Ritabrata Banerjee

Ritabrata Banerjee

News writer

📝Bio: Ritabrata has been living and breathing football for nearly two decades. Has a bachelor's degree in Business Management but took up sports journalism as a career path to live and breathe football. He joined GOAL in 2017 and has since made his mark covering the Indian Super League, I-League, and the Indian national team. He has also been part of Goal's coverage team at the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017. Based in Kolkata, where football is a religion, he grew up idolising Bhaichung Bhutia and continues to support East Bengal FC. 

⚽My Football Story: My football journey began in 1999 with the Kolkata derby when I was a seven-year-old and watched a live football match for the first time. The 2002 World Cup solidified my love for the game. In a cricket-obsessed nation, football continues to remain my true passion.

🎯Areas of Expertise:

  • Social media-specific content
  • Premier League, Champions League, World Cup, Euros, European & Indian football coverage
  • Tactical analysis of the Indian national team, Indian Super League clubs and European teams
  • News & SEO content writing

🌟Favourite Footballing Memory: East Bengal winning the ASEAN Club Championship in 2003, beating then AFC Champions League runners-up BEC Tero Sasana of Thailand, remains my most cherished football memory alongside watching the 'little Argentine' lifting the 2022 World Cup in Doha.

📝My All-Time XI: Manuel Neuer; Philipp Lahm, Sergio Ramos, Paolo Maldini, Roberto Carlos; Sergio Busquets, Zinedine Zidane, Andres Iniesta; Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Phenomenon, Lionel Messi.

Articles by Ritabrata Banerjee
  1. Haaland dresses up as Santa Claus amid fine festive form

    Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland dressed up as Santa Claus to spread Christmas joy among the kids in Manchester amid his fine festive form for the Cityzens. After an injury-laden 2024-25 campaign, the Norwegian striker is back to his very best as he has already scored 23 goals in 22 matches across all competitions and has kept his side at the top of the table heading into the New Year.

  2. Rashford on target as Barca struggle past minnows

    Andreas Christensen and Marcus Rashford were on target for Barcelona in the second half as the La Liga champions secured a hard-fought 2-0 win over third-tier Spanish side CD Guadalajara in a Copa del Rey round of 32 clash on Tuesday. The minnows fought tooth and nail throughout the match and had successfully kept a clean sheet until the 76th minute but Hansi Flick's side eventually prevailed.

  3. Liverpool set to lose wonderkid for NOTHING

    Liverpool are set to lose their wonderkid for free as Leeds United are ready to snap up 15-year-old attacker Kai Morrall. The youngster joined Liverpool's U-9 side in 2017 and has since then progressed through the ranks. But now, after eight years, the Morall has parted ways with the Reds mutually and is on his way to join Leeds' youth team.

  4. Quenda set to undergo surgery ahead of Chelsea move

    New Chelsea signing Geovany Quenda is all set to undergo surgery ahead of his Chelsea move. The Blues secured a transfer for the Sporting CP wonderkid earlier this year and an agreement was reached between the two clubs where Quenda will formally complete his move to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2026. Now, just months before the move, the teenager has picked up a serious injury.

  5. England and Spain stars DOMINATE FIFA Women's Best XI

    England and Spain stars dominate FIFA Women's Best XI as Hannah Hampton, Leah Williamson, Lucy Bronze and Alessia Russo have been picked from the reigning European champions' squad. From Spain, Barcelona stars like Aitana Bonmati, Alexia Putellas and Patricia Guijarro were named in the team after the players reached the finals of Women's Champions League and Euro 2025.

  6. Leeds eye €20m swoop for in-form Sevilla winger Ruben Vargas

    Leeds United are eyeing a €20m swoop for in-form Sevilla winger Ruben Vargas in the January transfer window. Vargas completed a permanent transfer to the La Liga side in January 2025 on a five-and-a-half-year contract and has slowly established himself as a key member in Matias Almeyda's starting lineup. Leeds are looking to bolster their squad after a poor start to their 2025-26 campaign.

  7. Salah tipped to make shock return to Serie A

    Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah has been tipped to make a shock return to Serie A as Reds legend opens up on 'solution' to the Egyptian's transfer saga. After slamming the club and manager Arne Slot publicly for keeping him out of Liverpool's starting lineup following their clash against Leeds, Salah returned to action against Brighton last weekend.

  1. Bellingham slapped with ban after being sent off for Dortmund

    Jobe Bellingham has been slapped with a ban after being sent off during Borussia Dortmund's draw with Freiburg in the Bundesliga. Bellingham's miserable start to life in Germany continued on Sunday as the 20-year-old was shown a straight red card in Dortmund's disappointing 1-1 draw. The youngster joined the Bundesliga side from Sunderland in the summer after playing a starring role in the Black Cats' promotion.

  2. Barnes set for talks with Scotland over allegiance switch

    Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes is all set for talks with Scotland boss Steve Clarke over switching allegiance from England ahead of World Cup 2026. Barnes, who was born in Burnley, has Scottish connections from his mother's side and is thus eligible to represent their national team. The 28-year-old has featured only once for England back in 2020 against Wales.

  3. Maresca makes Palmer selection call ahead of Carabao Cup clash

    Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has made a big Cole Palmer selection call ahead of the club's upcoming Carabao Cup quarter-final clash against Cardiff City in midweek. In what has been an injury-hit 2025-26 campaign for the Blues and England playmaker, Palmer opened the scoring in Maresca’s side's 2-0 victory over Everton last weekend in the Premier League.

  4. Greenwood scores late winner vs Monaco to send OM third in Ligue 1

    Mason Greenwood scored a late winner against AS Monaco to earn the Man of the Match trophy as Marseille climbed up to third place in Ligue 1. The former Manchester United forward is enjoying another prolific season at the Orange Velodrome under Roberto De Zerbi. He is currently leading the Golden Boot race in France, two goals clear of Rennes' Esteban Lepaul and Strasbourg's Joaquín Panichelli.

  5. Lord Alan Sugar urges Spurs to bring in Klopp to replace Frank

    Former Tottenham chairman Lord Alan Sugar has urged the club to bring in Jurgen Klopp as their new manager amid widespread calls for Thomas Frank's sacking after Sunday's humiliating 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest. Spurs suffered their third loss in their last five league matches at the City Ground as they dropped to 11th place in the Premier League table.