Lists

Arsenal have reportedly pivoted their summer transfer strategy toward RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande after suffering a major setback in their pursuit of Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers. The Gunners were left stunned as London rivals Chelsea swooped in to secure a record-breaking deal for their primary target.

Pep Guardiola has reportedly been offered the chance to become Italy's next head coach after holding face-to-face talks with Paolo Maldini and Leonardo in Barcelona. However, the former Manchester City boss has repeatedly insisted he is enjoying his sabbatical and has no immediate plans to return to management.

Erling Haaland is unlikely to see out the remaining eight years of his contract at Manchester City, Joleon Lescott has admitted to GOAL, but Real Madrid and any other suitors of the Norwegian striker have been warned that any future transfer fee “isn’t going to be small”. The Citizens have their superstar No.9 tied to terms at the Etihad Stadium through to 2034.

Manchester United face a nervous wait over the fitness of Lisandro Martinez after the defender was forced off during Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain. The centre-back, a vital component of both his club and national side, was unable to complete the first half of the prestigious tournament decider in New Jersey.

Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards are set to remain a fixture of the global streaming landscape after securing a major new agreement with Netflix. Following the massive success of their daily coverage during the 2026 World Cup, 'The Rest Is Football' will return to the platform for the upcoming Premier League campaign.

Arsenal have ended their long wait for Premier League title glory, with ‘Invincibles’ squad member Jeremie Aliadiere telling GOAL that Champions League success will now become more of a priority for the Gunners. Mikel Arteta’s side reached the final of that competition last season, but north London is still waiting on a historic first European Cup triumph.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has once again stolen the spotlight by suggesting his short-lived career in sports broadcasting has already reached its conclusion. The legendary Swedish striker, who joined an all-star lineup for the World Cup in North America, used the final broadcast to bid a characteristically blunt farewell to the cameras.

Manchester United have bolstered their attacking options for the future by completing the signing of highly-rated winger Tynan Thompson from Tottenham Hotspur. The 18-year-old moves to Old Trafford in a deal worth a reported £8 million including performance-related add-ons.

Manchester may be about to turn red again, following the departure of Pep Guardiola from the Etihad Stadium, with ex-United star Gary Pallister telling GOAL why a “huge shift” could be on the cards. Sleeping giants at Old Trafford have been shaken from their slumber by Michael Carrick, with Premier League title dreams beginning to form again ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

Marc Cucurella has reaffirmed his commitment to fulfilling one of the most unusual promises of the World Cup following the Spanish national team's final victory over Argentina. The left-back confirmed that he will get a tattoo of coach Luis de la Fuente's face after La Roja were crowned champions at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

Spain captain Rodri has opened up on his emotional journey from a devastating knee injury to lifting the 2026 World Cup trophy in North America. The Manchester City midfielder was named the tournament's best player after leading La Roja to a historic victory over Argentina in the final.

Kylian Mbappe will have been left “devastated” and “fuming” at his trophy failings with Real Madrid and France, Jeremie Aliadiere has told GOAL, with the ‘Galactico’ forward desperate to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League-winning department. That prestigious European prize has remained elusive to a man who is now the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history.

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed he is closing in on becoming Germany's next head coach after agreeing a 'genereous' exit arrangement with Red Bull group. The former Liverpool manager says only formal discussions remain before an official announcement, with the DFB edging closer to appointing its preferred candidate.

Lamine Yamal was at the heart of the celebrations as Spain secured their second World Cup star with a dramatic victory over Argentina in New Jersey. Amidst the joy of the post-match festivities, the Barcelona star shared a quiet, romantic moment with his girlfriend, Ines Garcia Santos, as they celebrated a career-defining achievement.

Manchester United teenager JJ Gabriel is now eligible to make his Premier League debut after turning 15, but the club is reportedly taking a cautious approach to his development. The highly-rated academy forward is expected to feature during pre-season before United decide whether he is ready to step up to the Under-21s or move closer to the senior squad.

Spain forward Nico Williams dedicated La Roja's historic World Cup final triumph over Argentina to his "idol" Neymar. The Athletic Club star provided the vital extra-time assist for Ferran Torres' winner at the New York New Jersey Stadium, ensuring his nation secured their second global crown to equal France and Uruguay.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has reportedly identified Michael Olise as his top priority for the summer transfer window, viewing the France international as the next potential 'Galactico' at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, the Spanish giants are proceeding with extreme caution to avoid a diplomatic fallout with Bayern Munich.

Spain have officially etched their names into the history books after a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final. Luis de la Fuente's side secured their second world title with a superb defensive display, extending their unbeaten run to a record-breaking 38 matches. The triumph in North America sees La Roja surpass the previous all-time record.

With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly presumably disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players now beginning each campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued by injuries and inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he was among a crowded field of contenders again in 2026.

There's no sporting event bigger than the World Cup. It's the pinnacle of professional football, where global superstars are born, dreams die and legends live forever. Sometimes, with just one goal, one pass, one tackle, one block or one save, a previously little-known player can become a national hero, a name eternally etched in the memory of a country's collective consciousness.

After five weeks, a record 104 matches played and 308 goals scored, the 2026 World Cup is officially over. From a purely footballing perspective, FIFA's biggest tournament of all time did not disappoint, with 48 teams doing battle across three host countries and the vast expanse of North America. And when 46 of those nations had been whittled away, only the top two ranked teams on the planet remained: Spain and Argentina.

France’s 2026 World Cup campaign ended in a cloud of toxicity and defensive fragility following a remarkable 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff. While the goal-fest in Miami provided entertainment for the neutral, veteran midfielder Adrien Rabiot was left fuming at the lack of professionalism shown by his teammates during Didier Deschamps' final game in charge.

Harry Kane has confessed that the England squad remains in a "grieving stage" following their heartbreaking semi-final exit at the 2026 World Cup in the United States. Despite the disappointment of missing out on a first global final in 60 years, the Three Lions captain has offered his full support to manager Thomas Tuchel.

Several British television pundits have fiercely condemned the unsavoury post-match behaviour of Leandro Paredes following Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain in New Jersey. The tense fixture boiled over completely at the final whistle, with Paredes ultimately being shown a red card for his part in the ugly scenes.

Lamine Yamal received glowing praise after helping Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the World Cup final. The 19-year-old produced another composed display on football's biggest stage, with former England goalkeeper Joe Hart claiming the Barcelona winger had "completed football" after adding a World Cup winners' medal to his European Championship triumph.

Lionel Messi was left inconsolable at MetLife Stadium as Argentina's quest for back-to-back world titles ended in a shattering extra-time defeat to Spain. The 39-year-old legend, appearing in his sixth World Cup, could not find the inspiration needed to overcome a dominant Spain side, and broke down in tears as the result sank in.

Argentina’s players have been branded "classless" and an "embarrassment" after turning their backs on Spain during the World Cup trophy presentation. Following a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat in extra-time, Lionel Messi and his team-mates refused to watch as their opponents celebrated at the New York/New Jersey Stadium.

Argentina's president has confirmed that a public holiday will be granted to honour the squad's tournament campaign in North America. Despite losing the showpiece finale to Spain in extra time, Javier Milei announced that the players and coaching staff will be allowed to choose the exact date for the upcoming celebrations.

At the end of a gruelling battle of footballing philosophies, Spain are world champions once again. It was control vs chaos in the 2026 World Cup final as Luis de la Fuente's pass masters came up against the holders and experts in the dark arts, Argentina. Ultimately, after 120 minutes of bruising action, La Roja (and football) would prevail 1-0, leaving Lionel Messi disconsolate.