Lists

Frank Leboeuf knows what it takes to win the World Cup and he has told GOAL that he hopes 2026 “is dedicated to Cristiano Ronaldo” when it comes to another bid for global glory. FIFA’s flagship event is heading to the United States, Canada and Mexico, with Portugal being advised on how best to handle their evergreen frontman when it comes to collective efforts to steal a prestigious trophy away from Lionel Messi and Argentina.

Kylian Mbappe has been told, during GOAL’s exclusive interview with Frank Leboeuf, why he “cannot compare” to Zinedine Zidane in any discussion regarding the GOAT of French football. Even a second World Cup win, while becoming Les Bleus’ all-time leading scorer, may not be enough to lift the current Real Madrid superstar above the Blancos “icon” of the past.

West Ham fanatic Danny Dyer is being backed to support son-in-law Jarrod Bowen with whatever career choice he makes in upcoming transfer windows. Former Hammers forward Marlon Harewood has been discussing some big decisions with GOAL as Bowen mulls over options that could see him push for a move that would make certain members of his family unhappy.

Former Manchester United winger Nani is adamant the disciplinary issues which current head coach Ruben Amorim is having to combat at the club would never have occurred under legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson. The Scot was able to maintain order in the Red Devils dressing room by famously using the ‘hairdryer treatment’ when he felt a certain player had stepped out of line back in the day.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has pinpointed why the Blues are unlikely to win the Premier League title this season, as he also reflected on his "worst 48 hours" remarks following the win over Everton on December 13. After the victory over the Toffees, the Italian manager stated he just endured the "worst 48 hours" since he moved to Stamford Bridge in 2024.

Tottenham captain Cristian Romero has been charged by the Football Association (FA) following his red card in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat against Liverpool. The Argentina international received his marching orders after picking up a second caution for kicking out at Reds defender Ibrahima Konate in a Premier League match that was full of contentious moments.

Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli explained how he helped fellow Brazilian Gabriel Jesus during his ACL recovery period. The Brazilian striker spent almost a year on the sidelines after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in January this year. After recovering from the injury, Jesus returned to action in the Champions League earlier this month against Club Brugge.

Florian Wirtz would be receiving far more criticism if he was producing his current Liverpool form for Bayern Munich, according to Germany legend Thomas Muller. The Vancouver Whitecaps forward has weighed in on the performances of the Reds midfielder, who turned down interest from two European giants in favour of a big-money move to Anfield in the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a major transfer boost in their pursuit of €50m-rated Brazilian wonderkid Rayan as the teenager has broken ties with his agent ahead of the January transfer window. Rayan has emerged as one of South America’s most coveted prospects this season, and interest from Europe’s elite is now beginning to crystallise into concrete plans.

Manchester United target Carlos Baleba has outlined his ambition to become the "best midfielder in the world" as he looks to lead Cameroon to glory at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Brighton and Hove Albion ace has named several stars who he is studying closely in his attempts to be regarded as one of the greatest players in his position.

Coventry City and Southampton have both been charged by the Football Association (FA) following the unsavoury scenes at the end of their 1-1 draw in the Championship on Saturday afternoon. An ugly melee broke out between both sets of players and club staff, with Sky Blues manager Frank Lampard later apologising for his part in the scuffle at St. Mary’s.

Real Madrid have requested Barcelona's financial records from 2010 to 2018 as the Negreira case intensifies. Madrid president Florentino Perez used the club's traditional Christmas address to launch a blistering attack on Spanish football authorities regarding the hotly debated scandal. The club chief labelled the affair the "biggest scandal in football history".

Ruben Amorim has reiterated Manchester United must avoid repeating past "mistakes" in the upcoming January transfer window by only signing players who they "know" want to play for the club. The Portuguese manager previously confirmed the Red Devils are prepared to enter the winter market if the "perfect" additions for the long term become available.

Al-Nassr thrashed Iraqi side Al-Zawraa 5-1 to end the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two with a 100 per cent record. After skipping the first five group games, Cristiano Ronaldo finally played a continental match as he provided an assist in the game. However, it was Kingsley Coman who stole the limelight as his brace helped Al-Nassr bulldoze past their opponents.

Xabi Alonso is struggling to maintain order in the Real Madrid dressing room because it is full of big-name players who believe they "deserve" to start every game, according to his former Spain team-mate Cesc Fabregas. The Como head coach has laid bare the reason why he believes his compatriot has found himself under pressure at the Bernabeu this season.

Wrexham have rejected a shock bid for summer signing Josh Windass as Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac's side make their transfer stance clear ahead of the January window. The 31-year-old became Wrexham's third signing in the summer transfer window after the Welsh club secured their third consecutive promotion to the Championship. The midfielder joined them as a free agent after leaving Sheffield Wednesday.

AC Milan's clash with Como will no longer be played in Australia in February, Serie A have confirmed. The ambitious proposal by Lega Serie A to stage a historic league fixture between Milan and Como in Perth, Australia, in 2026 has now been called off due to unacceptable terms and conditions laid down by the Asian Football Confederation and the Australian FA.

Chelsea have received a huge boost ahead of their crunch Premier League clash with Aston Villa after manager Enzo Maresca confirmed Estevao and Liam Delap are both available for Saturday’s game at Stamford Bridge. The Blues are looking to stretch their three-match unbeaten streak when they lock horns with Unai Emery’s visitors, who have won their last 10 fixtures in all competitions.

Antoine Semenyo is good enough to play for either Real Madrid or Barcelona, at least that's according to the Bournemouth star's personal coach. The Ghanaian winger is in the midst of a transfer tug of war with a number of Premier League sides hoping to lure the Cherries ace away from the Vitality Stadium when the January transfer window opens next week.

Bayern Munich are closely monitoring Cardiff City teenager Dylan Lawlor, with the Bundesliga giants alerted to the defender’s rapid rise by Wales manager Craig Bellamy. talkSPORT have reported that the German champions have taken a serious interest in the 19-year-old, whose development in League One has not gone unnoticed across Europe.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has issued fitness updates on midfield pair Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo ahead of their Boxing Day welcome of Newcastle. United kick off festivities on Friday night as they look to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon and get their top-four push back on track having claimed one from point from their last two games.

Once the undisputed No. 1 at Manchester United, Andre Onana now describes his life in Turkey as "perfect", a striking contrast to the turbulence that defined his final months at Old Trafford. He found himself surplus to requirements early in the campaign, first dropped in favour of the inconsistent Altay Bayındır before United moved again to recruit Senne Lammens. For a player regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world as recently as 2023, the writing was on the wall that a reset was no longer optional, but essential.

GOAL looks inside the numbers, tactics and trends for key U.S. internationals in Europe this season.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has revealed the reason he wouldn't swap Cole Palmer for Morgan Rogers ahead of Aston Villa's Boxing Day clash at Stamford Bridge. Unai Emery's side make the trip to the capital in a bid to extend their winning run to eight matches following their 2-1 victory over Manchester United at Villa Park last weekend, a result that keeps the Villans in the title race.

Vinicius Jr sent a heartfelt message to Endrick after the Brazilian star sealed a loan move to Lyon. The move represents a decisive step away from the Santiago Bernabeu spotlight and towards regular football. The 19-year-old has struggled to force his way into the picture under new head coach Xabi Alonso and will now spend the remainder of the campaign in Ligue 1 with Lyon, a club eager to harness his raw potential.

Lyon have been sent a stark warning about new signing Endrick after the Brazilian striker completed his loan move to the French side on Tuesday. Endrick was expected to depart Real Madrid in the New Year owing to a lack of playing time under Los Blancos boss Xabi Alonso. The 19-year-old registered just 12 minutes of league action in the first half of the season.

Roberto Martinez has outlined why Cristiano Ronaldo is still an undisputed starter for the Portugal national team. Ronaldo turns 41 in February but captains the Selecao and is expected to play a prominent role for Martinez's side at the 2026 World Cup next summer. And the Portugal boss has explained that the staff analyse 'three pillars' to determine his continued selection.

Cristiano Ronaldo is aiming to become the first player in history to score 1,000 professional goals, but Portugal coach Roberto Martinez does not view it as a "goal". The Portugal captain, whose career has been defined by shattered records and relentless ambition, has his sights set on finishing at the very top, yet those closest to him insist the pursuit of the landmark milestone is not driving his every move.

Enzo Maresca has responded to transfer speculation linking Chelsea with a move for Antoine Semenyo. The Bournemouth ace is being courted by a number of Premier League sides ahead of the January transfer window with the Ghana star's fine form for the Cherries a key reason behind interest in his services from a number of the division's big hitters this winter.