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With little over a year to go until the 2027 Women's World Cup kicks-off, some of the front-runners for the trophy are obvious. Spain, the reigning champions, and England, the 2023 runners-up, who beat La Roja in the European Championship final last summer, are right up there. The United States' Olympic triumph in 2024 saw them reinstate themselves at the top of the international game while Brazil, as hosts and South American champions, will fancy their chances, too. This month's Asian Cup, though, has served as a reminder that Japan should also be considered as being right in that mix.

Aitana Bonmati has won each of the last three Ballons d'Or Feminin - but the accolade will go to someone else in 2026. Will it be two-time winner and fellow Barcelona star Alexia Putellas who reasserts herself as the best player in the women's game? Or could there be a new name on the honour roll when the Golden Ball is handed out in Paris in October?

Locatelli’s mistake against Sassuolo still stings: a different decision could have been made. And as for the Dutchman...

Italy is gearing up for its World Cup play-off against Northern Ireland, an opponent that brings back bitter memories

At the age of 18, Ricardo Pepi simply wasn’t ready for the Bundesliga. The forward has since come into his own – but a €40 million transfer fell through at the last minute.

After a total of just over 21 years at BVB, Sebastian Kehl is bidding farewell to Borussia Dortmund. What will be remembered about Kehl the sporting director? A look back.

Manchester City beat Arsenal in the first final of the English football season, with Pep Guardiola schooling former apprentice Mikel Arteta to secure the Carabao Cup at Wembley on Sunday. The contest was decided by two second-half goals from Nico O’Reilly, who twice crept into the Gunners’ box effectively unmarked to score from a pair of almost identical crosses.

Beth Mead's clever reverse pass and Stina Blackstenius' clinical finish will forever be etched in the minds of Arsenal fans as the move that delivered the Gunners an incredible Champions League title in 2025. The north London side were huge underdogs against three-time winners Barcelona, but they fought hard and found a way to get the better of the Catalans in Lisbon last May, capping a European run for the ages.

The Nerazzurri were held up in Florence too: Milan have closed the gap from 10 points to 6, while Napoli have narrowed the gap from 14 points to 7.

GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including big moments from two key USMNT creators

Vinicius Jr scored twice while Federico Valverde again found the net as Real Madrid saw off Atletico Madrid, 3-2, in a frantic derby on Sunday. At no point was either side truly in control of proceedings, yet Real were clinical at the right moments, and despite finishing the game with 10 men following a red card for Valverde, were good value for a win that keeps them firmly in La Liga's title race.

Lionel Messi grabbed a goal, but it was a day for Inter Miami's defenders, as both of their center backs found the net in a back-and-forth 3-2 win over Eastern Conference leaders NYCFC. The Herons took the lead, but were never fully assured with it, and twice had to reclaim a slender advantage to return to South Florida with a hard-earned win - and move to third in the East.

Nico O'Reilly etched his name into Manchester City folklore with a stunning double in the space of four minutes to inspire his side to a 2-0 win over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final. Born in Manchester and raised in City's academy, O'Reilly pounced on a sloppy piece of goalkeeping from Kepa Arrizabalaga to give Pep Guardiola's side the edge in a cagey encounter at Wembley on the hour-mark.

Arsenal's six-year wait for a trophy will go on for at least a few months more after they were beaten 2-0 by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday. The Gunners had been tipped to win an unprecedented quadruple, but they fell short in their first attempt to claim some silverware this season, with Mikel Arteta being defeated by mentor Pep Guardiola.

Barcelona maintained their stranglehold on La Liga's title race on Sunday, though they were made to work hard for their 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano. Ronald Araujo scored the only goal of the game for the Catalans, but disappointing performances from their all-star attack meant they were indebted to yet more stunning saves from goalkeeper Joan Garcia.

Lennart Karl has an exciting few weeks ahead of him: the 18-year-old is set to make his debut for the German national team and is due to play for FC Bayern at his dream club.