At an event in Belo Horizonte last week, Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva made a joke at the expense of Neymar, whom he described as a "work-from-home player". Unsurprisingly, it didn't go over well. Neymar's inclusion in the Selecao is no laughing matter in Brazil. The rights and wrongs of Carlo Ancelotti calling up a half-fit has-been have been the subject of heated debate for months now.
United States men's national team star Folarin Balogun is expected to seek a move away from Monaco during the summer transfer window. The talented 24-year-old forward has reportedly attracted substantial interest from England, prompting the Ligue 1 club to establish a firm valuation for their asset as internal contract negotiations stall.
Peter Shilton remains England’s record appearance maker for now, on 125 caps, but appears destined to hand that piece of history over to Harry Kane. The legendary Three Lions goalkeeper has told GOAL why the perfect candidate is ready to overtake him, while comparing a history-making goalscorer of the present to fabled No.9s of the past such as Jimmy Greaves and Gary Lineker.
Martin Odegaard led Erling Haaland and the Norway squad in a viral 'Viking Row' celebration after securing their place in the World Cup knockout stages. The squad joined supporters in the celebration following their victory over Senegal, and the post-match scenes quickly went viral on social media.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has urged football fans to remain grounded despite firing Norway into the knockout stage of the World Cup. The clinical forward netted twice in a thrilling victory over Senegal to guarantee progress, but he quickly dismissed any suggestions that his nation are genuine contenders to win the tournament.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes there is no longer any debate over Lionel Messi’s status among football’s all-time greats after the Argentina captain’s record-breaking start to the 2026 World Cup. Messi scored twice in a 2-0 win over Austria, helping Argentina reach the knockout stage and setting a new men’s World Cup goalscoring record.
Kylian Mbappe admitted he struggled to stay composed after a severe storm in Philadelphia forced a lengthy suspension during France's World Cup clash with Iraq. The France captain revealed the disruption tested the squad mentally before he scored twice in a 3-0 victory to help his side overcome the challenging circumstances.
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has fiercely defended under-fire forward Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of their vital second World Cup group fixture against Uzbekistan. Addressing the media following a disappointing opening draw with DR Congo, the manager insisted that empirical data justifies the 41-year-old striker's position in the side despite growing public scrutiny.
Kylian Mbappe insisted there is no personal battle with Lionel Messi despite the pair continuing to climb the World Cup scoring charts. The France captain scored twice in a 3-0 win over Iraq to move level with Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals, while France secured their place in the knockout stages with a second straight victory.
Lionel Messi confessed to feeling "very angry" after uncharacteristically missing an early spot-kick during Argentina's 2-0 World Cup victory over Austria. However, the legendary forward quickly recovered his composure in Dallas, netting a brilliant double to officially become the highest goalscorer in the history of the tournament.
Mikel Arteta's sayings, habits and general attitude towards football have divided opinion. The Arsenal manager has rewritten the playbook of what coaches are supposed to say, and much of it has rubbed fans and pundits alike up the wrong way. One of his favourite terms? The usage of 'finishers' instead of 'substitutes'.
Amine Gouiri struck late as Algeria came from behind to beat Jordan 2-1 in a crucial Group J clash in San Francisco. The Desert Warriors responded after a disappointing first half and turned the game around through set-piece goals. Jordan's defeat confirms their elimination from the tournament on their World Cup debut.
Croatian supporters have declared their all-time greatest player a "national hero," a "football genius," and even a god, and they're not ready to say goodbye just yet.
A match loaded with star power - Erling Haaland, Sadio Mane and Martin Ødegaard among them - needed an unlikely spark, and Norway backup right back Marcus Pedersen provided it after a tense opening 42 minutes. Then Haaland took over, twice powering past a bewildered Senegal defence to seal a 3-2 win and send Norway into the knockouts for the first time since 1998.
Kylian Mbappe bagged his second consecutive brace as France made it two wins from two at the 2026 World Cup by beating Iraq 3-0 on Monday evening. After watching Lionel Messi score twice against Austria earlier in the evening, Mbappe did likewise during a storm-delayed Group I encounter in Philadelphia, meaning he remains one goal behind his former Paris Saint-Germain team-mate in this year's Golden Boot race, and two off the Argentine's overall tournament tally of 18.
Miroslav Klose has sent a classy message to Lionel Messi after the Argentine icon officially surpassed him as the highest goalscorer in World Cup history. The 38-year-old climbed to the top of the mountain alone following a clinical performance against Austria as the defending champions continued their pursuit of more glory.
Lionel Messi has hailed a "truly spectacular" night in Dallas after becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history during Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria. The Inter Miami star netted twice to secure La Albiceleste's place in the round of 32 while surpassing Miroslav Klose's long-standing record.
Manchester City and Belgium winger Jeremy Doku has become a father for the first time after welcoming a baby boy during the World Cup. The 24-year-old was granted special leave from the Red Devils' camp in the United States to travel to London for the birth of his son.
Harry Kane finds himself at the centre of a bizarre supernatural tug-of-war ahead of England’s crucial World Cup clash with Ghana. After a spiritualist claimed he would use voodoo to stop the Three Lions captain, world-famous psychic Uri Geller has stepped in to provide a metaphysical shield for the Bayern Munich star.
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