Lists

France may be cruising at the World Cup, but all is reportedly not well behind the scenes in the Les Bleus camp. Despite a perfect run to the quarter-finals, reports suggest that one of Didier Deschamps' brightest young talents is reaching a breaking point over his peripheral role in North America.

Wayne Rooney described Cristiano Ronaldo's final appearance at a World Cup as "a sad day for football". It wasn't, though. Not really. Ronaldo may be one of the most iconic figures in sporting history, but Spain's victory over an insipid Portugal side, taken in conjunction with Belgium battering the United States, actually made July 6, 2026 a pretty good day for the game.

Jude Bellingham enjoys being a “show-off” and England’s “main man”, Des Walker has told GOAL, with the Three Lions superstar considered to have joined fellow generational talents Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne in an exclusive “big head” club. Bellingham is said to boast positive “arrogance”, with that self belief allowing him to thrive at the 2026 World Cup.

Lionel Messi cut a figure of raw emotion in Atlanta after Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt, admitting he was left "very distressed" by his own performance. Despite leading his nation into the World Cup quarter-finals, the legendary captain struggled to reconcile his creative brilliance with a historic failure from the penalty spot.

Ruben Vargas slotted home the decisive spot-kick as Switzerland defeated Colombia 4-3 on penalties to progress to the quarter-finals of the World Cup. After one of the worst games of the tournament so far had unsurprisingly finished scoreless, Davinson Sanchez and Manuel Akanji both failed to convert from 12 yards out before Gregor Kobel saved from Cucho Hernandez to hand the advantage back to the Swiss. Vargas then stepped up to score to send the outnumbered Swiss fans in Vancouver into ecstasy and leave their Colombian counterparts devastated.

The team's World Cup exit wasn't defined by a singular moment, but by a series of factors that doomed them on the day

Legendary Lionesses goalkeeper Mary Earps has praised England star Jordan Pickford for his explosive power, direct kicking, and unpredictable personality. Having navigated a challenging path to the quarter-finals, including a standout performance against Mexico, the Everton shot-stopper remains the undisputed first choice ahead of a daunting clash with Erling Haaland.

The long wait for more AFC Richmond magic is almost over as Hannah Waddingham has offered a tantalising glimpse into the future of Ted Lasso. With the beloved football comedy set to return to screens shortly, fans are bracing for a major shift in dynamic at Nelson Road.

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has sensationally claimed his side were victims of an "injustice" following their dramatic 3-2 World Cup round-of-16 defeat to Argentina. The Pharaohs surrendered a two-goal lead in Atlanta as the reigning champions mounted a late comeback, but the match was defined by a series of contentious officiating decisions that left the African giants fuming.

Victor Osimhen has enjoyed a spectacular campaign at Galatasaray, but the prolific Nigerian forward has been warned that a high-profile move to Barcelona is highly unlikely to materialise. A former Super Lig rival believes that while Osimhen is an incredibly gifted goalscorer, he lacks the refined technical ability required to fit into the tactical system at Camp Nou.

Former England striker Peter Crouch has jokingly compared himself to viral personality Salt Bae after being caught up in the emotional aftermath of the Three Lions’ dramatic World Cup victory over Mexico. The retired forward admitted he felt like a "full kit w*nker" during his enthusiastic celebrations with captain Harry Kane at the Azteca Stadium.

Tom Brady was left stunned by Lionel Messi and Argentina following their incredible 3-2 victory over Egypt. The NFL icon suggested that the dramatic turnaround in Atlanta might have surpassed his own legendary Super Bowl comeback with the New England Patriots, as the South American side scored three late goals to secure a spectacular quarter-final spot.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s storied relationship with the World Cup has come to a somber conclusion, defined as much by a peculiar lack of individual flair as by Portugal’s early exit. While the legendary forward found the net three times during the 2026 edition in North America, his overall impact on the pitch has been laid bare by a staggering new statistic.

Lionel Messi has matched a spectacular World Cup record previously set by Diego Maradona after inspiring Argentina to a breathtaking 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt. The captain was instrumental as his team overturned a two-goal deficit in the final minutes, securing a quarter-final spot while registering astonishing individual statistics that cement his legacy on the global stage.

In the moments after the United States' World Cup ended, Mauricio Pochettino was asked about his future as manager. It wasn't the time to discuss it, he said, and he was right. The aftermath of a nightmare 4-1 thrashing by Belgium was not the time to talk about whatever comes next, especially when he was the coach in charge of that collapse.

Manchester United are ready to break the bank to secure their top midfield target as INEOS look to overhaul the squad under interim manager Michael Carrick. Having missed out on primary targets earlier in the window, the Red Devils are now refocusing their efforts on a statement signing from Real Madrid.

Endrick has opened up on his devastating miss during Brazil's shock World Cup exit to Norway. The Real Madrid striker missed a golden opportunity before the team suffered a painful 2-1 defeat. He has now promised to learn from the heartbreaking moment and vowed to work tirelessly to ensure the national team bounce back in the 2030 tournament.

Lionel Messi could not contain his emotions at the final whistle in Atlanta as Argentina staged a sensational late comeback to beat Egypt 3-2. After watching old rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar suffer painful exits in previous matches, the Inter Miami star shed tears of joy as the reigning champions secured their place in the quarter-finals.

U.S. Soccer says that the federation will reengage in conversations about Mauricio Pochettino's future after a period of rest and reflection following the U.S. men's national team's World Cup exit. The USMNT lost 4-1 to Belgium on Monday, ending the team's World Cup run and, potentially, ending Pochettino's time in charge of the team.

Lionel Messi made amends for missing a second penalty at the 2026 World Cup by inspiring the most dramatic of comebacks, as Argentina came from 2-0 down with just over 10 minutes remaining to beat a heroic Egypt side 3-2 in a last-16 clash for the ages in Atlanta. Lionel Scaloni's side started as sluggishly as they had performed in their lucky win over Cape Verde by the same scoreline, and Egypt took advantage, with an unmarked Yasser Ibrahim burying a cross from Marwan Attia past Emiliano Martinez with just 15 minutes gone.

USMNT defender Cameron Carter-Vickers has finally returned to pre-season training with Celtic following a devastating Achilles rupture. The 28-year-old was sidelined since October, enduring a gruelling rehabilitation process that cost him a place at the World Cup, but is now ready to step up his recovery ahead of the new campaign.

Cristiano Ronaldo has always been a man who thrives under the bright lights of the stadium, but his future could lie under the even brighter lights of Hollywood. According to former France international Emmanuel Petit, the Portuguese superstar possesses a unique quality that his career-long rival Lionel Messi simply lacks.

Lionel Messi has etched his name into the record books once again, though this time for reasons he would much rather forget. During Argentina's high-stakes World Cup clash against Egypt, the legendary forward set a new tournament benchmark that highlights a rare vulnerability from 12 yards.

The USMNT collapsed against Belgium, and suffered an emphatic loss in the biggest game in the program's history

Jordan Henderson is on the road to a speedy recovery following a freak accident that saw him break his arm while celebrating England's dramatic 3-2 World Cup win over Mexico. The midfielder slipped and fell over an advertising hoarding at the Azteca Stadium, requiring immediate medical attention. He will now undergo surgery but is set to remain with the squad for the rest of the tournament.

Former Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry has called for Kylian Mbappe to test himself in the Premier League before his career concludes. Barry believes the Frenchman should make the move to the Etihad Stadium to ensure he does not mirror Lionel Messi in never playing in England's top flight.

Before he was an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and a world champion, Lionel Messi was already a living legend in the streets of Rosario. Long before he moved to Barcelona's La Masia, the "tiny magician" was making enough waves at Newell's Old Boys that the club’s senior professionals would halt their schedules just to catch a glimpse of his genius.

Following Portugal's heartbreak at the World Cup, speculation is mounting over Cristiano Ronaldo's next move. With Roberto Martinez stepping down, pundits have suggested Ronaldo could take over as national team manager to retain his influence. The bold claim has sparked humorous suggestions that Ronaldo would continue to select himself as a player for the next five tournaments.

If you are planning to visit the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, here's everything you need to know