đBio: Soham has been living and breathing football stories for almost a decade, carving his path as a news and SEO writer with an instinct for the big moments. Armed with an MA (Honours) in Sports Journalism from Symbiosis International University, he knew early on that his future wouldnât be on the pitch but behind the pen, shaping narratives about the game he adores. He joined GOAL in 2017 and has since made his mark covering the Indian Super League, I-League, and the Indian national team. Based in Kolkata, where football is a religion, he grew up watching Bhaichung Bhutia scoring goals for fun in India, before falling head over heels for Real Madrid, a club that now dictates the rhythm of his everyday life.â˝My Football Story: It all began back in 2002. A cricket bat in hand, ready to step out, but then the skies opened up. The rain kept me indoors, and that twist of fate led me to the sofa, beside my father, who had a football match on TV. Little did I know at the time but it was the World Cup final: Brazil vs Germany. Forget the goals â what grabbed my imagination was Ronaldoâs haircut and his iconic celebration. From there, cricket slowly faded and football fever took over. By my teenage years, I was sneaking out of bed at 1am to watch the Champions League - fair to say I was hooked for life.
đŻAreas of Expertise:Â
Social media-specific content
Premier League, Champions League, European & Indian football coverage
Tactical analysis on the Indian national team
World Cup & European Championship tournaments
đFavourite Footballing Memory:Â The day Mohun Bagan demolished East Bengal 5-3 in the Kolkata Derby, with Chidi Edeh scoring four - a moment when the city turned maroon and green. But nothing beats the spine-tingling sight of Sergio Ramosâ 93rd-minute header in Lisbon, the goal that crowned Real Madridâs La Decima and etched itself into footballing history.đMy All-Time XI:Â Iker Casillas; Phillip Lahm, Sergio Ramos, Fabio Cannavaro, Roberto Carlos; Claude MakĂŠlĂŠlĂŠ, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane; Cristiano Ronaldo, RaĂşl, Lionel Messi.
England midfielder Ella Toone revealed that her beloved grandmother, whom she affectionately called âNana Maz,â passed away on the morning of the Euro 2025 final against Spain. She played 87 minutes in the final before being substituted, delivering a typically industrious performance as England fought to defend their European crown following a 1-1 draw in regular time.
A pre-season North London derby turned unexpectedly heated when Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta found himself in a physical confrontation with Tottenham Hotspur defender Pedro Porro. The incident, which unfolded in the second half of a tense friendly clash, added an edge to what was otherwise billed as a tune-up match ahead of the new Premier League season.
Jadon Sancho is reportedly open to a drastic pay cut to leave Manchester United and return to Borussia Dortmund on a permanent transfer. After an inconsistent spell at Old Trafford, the winger appears willing to sacrifice his wages for the chance to revive his career in familiar surroundings.
Chelsea reportedly want Marc Cucurella to play an important role in helping Jorrel Hato settle into the Premier League. The Blues are on the verge of securing the services of the Dutch teenage defender from Ajax, with the two clubs finally settling on a fee that surpasses the âŹ40 million (ÂŁ34m/$46m) mark. The 19-year-old is expected to undergo a medical soon before becoming part of Enzo Marescaâs evolving Chelsea squad.
Vitor Reis has reportedly approached Manchester City's hierarchy with a request to secure a loan move this summer. The 19-year-old centre-back is seeking more consistent game time as he looks to accelerate his development and enhance his chances of breaking into the Brazil national team setup.
Former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry has received strong backing to take over the managerial reins at his former club and eventually succeed Mikel Arteta. Ex-Manchester United and France striker Louis Saha believes Henryâs passion for the game and footballing intellect make him a worthy candidate for the top job at the Emirates Stadium.
Newcastle United were actively pursuing RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko and Brentfordâs Yoane Wissa but internal sentiment at St. James' Park suggests that Sesko is edging closer to a move to Manchester United, as revealed by The Daily Mail. This is another massive blow to Newcastleâs recruitment plans given how highly they rate the Slovenian talent.
Wrexham have taken a significant step toward boosting their stadiumâs capacity, having officially submitted a planning application to Wrexham City Borough Council. The club aims to add an extra 2,250 seats to the under-construction Kop Stand at the SToK Cae Ras, in a move designed to elevate the venue to international hosting standards.
Cristiano Ronaldo once again demonstrated his relentless drive on the pitch, helping Al-Nassr overturn a one-goal deficit to secure a 2-1 victory over French side Toulouse in a friendly held ahead of the new season. The match, played at Untersberg-Arena, saw the Saudi Pro League side show character and resolve, with Ronaldo leading from the front.
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to defy time and expectations as he marked his latest appearance for Al Nassr with a crucial goal, proving yet again that age is just a number. In a pre-season encounter against French side Toulouse FC at the Untersberg-Arena, the Portuguese icon demonstrated his enduring quality by notching the equalizer during the first half of the match.
Gary Lineker has reignited the eternal football debate by decisively backing Lionel Messi as the greatest player of all time, placing him beyond the reach of Cristiano Ronaldo and other footballing icons. The former England striker and long-time presenter of Match of the Day offered his views on the GOAT debate and insisted Messi is on 'another level'.
Everton had emerged as a surprise contender in the race to secure Manchester Cityâs Jack Grealish on a loan deal alongside West Ham and Napoli. However, a report from BBC indicates that Everton have taken a step back from any potential pursuit of the 29-year-old midfielder.
Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford are already forming a bond at Barcelona, with the teenage sensation emulating the Manchester United loanee's iconic goal celebration during a training session. Rashford's move to the Spanish champions was the culmination of a long-term effort behind the scenes as the England international had been eager to leave Old Trafford following a breakdown in his relationship with Ruben Amorim.
Florian Wirtz demonstrated his growing influence at Liverpool with a standout performance in the clubâs final pre-season fixture in Asia, as the Reds secured a comeback victory over Yokohama F. Marinos at the Nissan Stadium. The German midfielder, who only recently joined the Merseyside club from Bayer Leverkusen, was instrumental in turning the game around after Liverpool had fallen behind early in the second half.
Oliver Glasner is fuming at Crystal Palace's transfer activity with the FA Cup winners already fighting to keep Arsenal target Eberechi Eze. Fresh off completing the high-profile capture of Viktor Gyokeres, the Gunners have now shifted their focus to Eze and are reportedly preparing a formal bid in the region of ÂŁ60 million ($81m).
Newcastle Unitedâs star striker Alexander Isak is not alone in feeling disillusioned with the clubâs current trajectory. Reports have emerged suggesting that several members of the squad are losing faith in the clubâs supposedly ambitious plans, many of which were central to the vision laid out by owners, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), after their high-profile takeover in 2021.
Bryan Mbeumo has offered glowing praise for former teammate Ollie Watkins, calling the Aston Villa forward a âcomplete strikerâ amid growing speculation of a transfer to Manchester United. Ruben Amorim has intensified his search for a new centre-forward and reportedly has Watkins at the top of his wish list alongside RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko.
Manchester Cityâs Norwegian sensation Erling Haaland has long been a source of admiration for young footballers across the globe, and the 24-year-oldâs influence continues to grow with every game he plays. Among those looking up to him are Brightonâs emerging Greek talents, Charalampos Kostoulas and Stefanos Tzimas, who recently shared their thoughts on the prolific forward during a light-hearted Q&A session.
Manchester City have completed the signing of goalkeeper James Trafford from Burnley, beating Newcastle United to his signature. The 22-year-old, who originally left the Etihad for Turf Moor in 2023, rejoins on a long-term contract, committing to a five-year deal with an option for an additional season.
Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a potential summer swoop for Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope. The 33-year-old has been a reliable presence for the Magpies since joining from Burnley and he has been zeroed by the Old Trafford hierarchy to provide competition to an inconsistent Andre Onana.