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Champions League news

NXGN Lionel Messi Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal & Lionel Messi: From baby baths to GOAT battle?

He's only gone and done it again! A year after becoming the first player to win NXGN twice, Lamine Yamal has finished top of GOAL's annual list of the top teenagers in world football for the third time in a row. It's not as if the outcome of the 2026 vote was ever in any doubt either. Yamal is no longer just the most talented young player in the game today. He's also its most talented player, full stop.

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'That was no fun' - Lang still suffering from thumb injury vs Liverpool

Galatasaray winger Noa Lang has spoken out about the horrific thumb injury he suffered during his team's 4-0 Champions League exit against Liverpool at Anfield. The Dutchman required immediate double surgery after his finger was partially severed by an advertising hoarding. Despite the severe pain and an ongoing UEFA investigation, the attacker remains hopeful of making a quick return.

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Lens reject PSG proposal to postpone top-of-the-table Ligue 1 clash

Lens have officially opposed Paris Saint-Germain's request to reschedule their high-stakes Ligue 1 encounter originally set for April 11. PSG are seeking extra recovery time between their two Champions League quarter-final legs against Liverpool, but their domestic title rivals have hit back. Lens argue that the league should not be treated as a "variable adjustment" to suit the European ambitions of the nation's wealthiest club.

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NXGN 2026: Top 50 teenage wonderkids in football

The annual NXGN lists are back for 2026, as GOAL ranks the world's top teenage talents in men's and women's football, crowning winners that will follow in the footsteps of the likes of Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Vicky Lopez in being recognised as the best young footballers on the planet.

Everton v Chelsea - Premier League

Ex-Chelsea star slams American owners and issues Rosenior warning

Former Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit has sharply criticised the club's American owners for treating the team purely as a business. Amidst defensive struggles and four consecutive defeats, Petit warns that new manager Liam Rosenior may not see out the rest of the season, demanding an immediate change to salvage their fading Champions League qualification hopes.

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How finishing seventh in the Premier League can secure UCL spot

Premier League clubs have been given a huge boost as the race to seal a spot in next season's Champions League hots up. It's now been confirmed that there is a possibility the team finishing in seventh place in the English top flight could qualify for Europe's premier club competition. Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Aston Villa are currently in the top four places, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Brentford next in the table.

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Slot reveals Isak return date for Liverpool

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has delivered a massive fitness update regarding record-signing Alexander Isak. The Sweden international is nearing a return to action following a long-term leg fracture, providing a timely boost for the Reds' European ambitions.

Liverpool FC v Galatasaray SK - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg

Crouch: How Slot can become one of Liverpool's all-time greats

Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch insists that despite mounting pressure, Arne Slot still has a unique chance to cement his legacy at Anfield. The transition from Jurgen Klopp’s era has caused friction and debate among fans regarding the tactical direction. However, Crouch believes the season is far from settled and a historic conclusion remains possible.

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UEFA & Liverpool launch investigation into Lang injury

UEFA and Liverpool have launched an investigation into the advertising hoarding that left Noa Lang requiring surgery after the Dutch winger suffered a serious injury to his right thumb during Galatasaray's Champions League exit at Anfield on Wednesday night. Lang was involved in a collision with the pitchside boards in the latter stages of the loss and had to be stretchered off.

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Galatasaray duo show off battle scars following Liverpool clash

Galatasaray's Champions League exit at Anfield on Wednesday night proved painful in more ways than one, with both Victor Osimhen and Noa Lang ending up in hospital after the 4-0 defeat that sent Liverpool through to the quarter-finals. In the aftermath, the two attackers have since been making light of their shared misfortune, with Lang posting an Instagram story showing the pair on a video call together, both sporting bandaged limbs.

FC Bayern München v Atalanta BC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg

Kane & Bayern tipped to beat Real Madrid in UCL

Two of German football's legendary faces have thrown their weight behind Bayern Munich ahead of their Champions League quarter-final showdown with Real Madrid, with Lothar Matthaus going as far as to tip Vincent Kompany's side to win the treble this season. The Bavarians have been formidable with Harry Kane leading the line this season, and are being heavily backed to collect a haul of silverware.

Harry Kane Ballon d'Or 2025

Kane for Ballon d'Or? Bayern & England star ‘in the discussion’

Harry Kane is “in the discussion” for Ballon d’Or honours, but may need to win the Champions League with Bayern Munich and star for England at the 2026 World Cup in order to land the Golden Ball. Emile Heskey admits as much, with the former Three Lions forward telling GOAL how his fellow striker can earn the prestigious billing of best player on the planet.

Liverpool FC v Galatasaray SK - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg

Galatasaray threaten to sue Liverpool over Lang injury

Turkish giants Galatasaray are reportedly preparing a compensation lawsuit after winger Noa Lang suffered a horrific thumb injury during yesterday's 4-0 Champions League loss to Liverpool at Anfield. The 26-year-old Dutchman sliced his digit open on an advertising hoarding as his side crashed out of the round of 16.

Paris Saint-Germain FC v Chelsea FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg

Chelsea find PSG mole

A mole has been unmasked after Chelsea identified the culprit behind the team news leaks during their Champions League defeats to PSG. Before their last-16 first-leg away at PSG in the Champions League, Rosenior’s entire XI was published. The situation worsened before the return leg when news leaked that Wesley Fofana would be dropped.

Liverpool FC v Galatasaray SK - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg

Van Dijk: Liverpool 'won't get carried away'

Liverpool produced arguably their finest performance of the campaign to date on Wednesday night, blowing away Galatasaray with a display of relentless energy. Despite the 4-0 victory, Virgil van Dijk warned his teammates not to "get carried away" after the victory.

Frequently asked questions

Spanish dark horses Sevilla are currently the most accomplished club in Europa League history, winning the competition seven times. Los Nervionenses won their maiden title in 2006, beating Middlesbrough 4-0 in the final. They defended their crown in the next season, before completing a hattrick of wins in 2014, 2015, and 2016 under Unai Emery.

The newest format, introduced ahead of the 2024-25 season, features 36 teams. Traditionally, all games were two-legged knockout ties. From 2004 to 2009, 40 teams competed. In the 2009-10 season, when the UEFA Cup was rebranded as the Europa League, a total of 48 teams featured.

Inter Milan legend Giuseppe Bergomi, with 96 appearances, holds the record of making the most Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup) appearances in history.

If we consider goals scored in qualifying games and when it was the UEFA Cup, then Swedish icon Henrik Larsson leads the charts with 40 goals. However, without qualifying games taken into account, it's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who is Europa League's top goalscorer ever with 34 goals.

Sparta Prague legend Borek Dockal has the most assists in Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup) history. Dockal made an impressive 24 assists in 62 games in the competition.

Ratko Svilar is the oldest player to ever have featured in the Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup), with the former Antwerp man taking to the pitch at the age of 44 years and 130 days.

Former Swedish striker Roger Lindevall is the youngest player to ever appear in a Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup) game. Lindevall was just 15 years and 335 days when he came on as a substitute for Djurgardens IF in their 2-1 win over Feyenoord on September 29, 1976.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Cristiano Ronaldo, Granit Xhaka, Rui Patricio, Giuseppe Bergomi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Mesut Ozil, Dimitri Payet, and Florian Wirtz are among the most famous players to have featured in the Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup).

Unai Emery, Jose Mourinho, Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Giovanni Trapattoni, Franz Beckenbauer, and Diego Simeone are some of Europa League's (formerly the UEFA Cup) most famous managers ever.