FEATURES

Michael Carrick is getting the bulk of plaudits for Manchester United’s resurgence since he took charge, but there is another undeniable factor to consider when analysing the uplift in performances and results at Old Trafford. Lisandro Martinez admittedly made his long-awaited first appearance after 301 days out through injury while Ruben Amorim was still in charge, but the true impact of his return is only being felt now.

Can Nico Paz be the World Cup’s next breakout star? The Como playmaker has the tools to follow James Rodríguez’s iconic 2014 path - and shine on the biggest stage.

GOAL ranks the top 25 players in MLS. And while No. 1 should be of little surprise, there is plenty of talent littered all over the league.

GOAL sat down with the midfielder to discuss the upcoming World Cup and what kept him motivated in the years between USMNT appearances

USWNT legend Hope Solo returns to the pitch once again for TST, this time fielding teams in both the Women's 7v7 competition and Mixed 7s.

Why does Cristiano Ronaldo always have so much bad luck?!... First, Erik ten Hag didn't recognise his unrivalled ability at Manchester United, then Fernando Santos ruined his 2022 World Cup bid with Portugal. And now, the powers that be in Saudi Arabia are conspiring to make sure his trophy drought in the Middle East extends to three-and-a-half seasons. Give the guy a break!...

When Manchester City signed Vivianne Miedema on a free transfer from Arsenal in the summer of 2024, it felt like one of the biggest coups in Women's Super League history. The Cityzens were not only signing the league's all-time top-scorer, they were also directly weakening a title rival in the process.

At the 2002 World Cup, Ronaldo arrived looking for redemption. While sporting one of the most unique haircuts in football history, the Brazil striker found exactly what he was searching for. This is ICONS - a GOAL podcast and feature series that revisits the last 10 World Cups from unique perspectives, bringing the spirit of the tournament back to life...

At the tail end of October, Dimitar Berbatov appeared on Rio Ferdinand's podcast and pleaded for patience with Liverpool's struggling superstar summer signing Florian Wirtz. "He will be unbelievable, trust me," the Bulgarian told his former Manchester United team-mate. "I’m sure that everybody [at Liverpool] sees his quality, and they’ll give him that time that he needs to fit into the team. And I guarantee you, he’s going to be a success.

James Rodriguez is reportedly nearing a deal to sign with Minnesota United, which would be a perfect short term agreement for both parties ahead of the World Cup

Manchester City ran riot against Newcastle to rubber-stamp their place in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal. Pep Guardiola again rang the changes but still watched his side ease to a 3-1 win on the night to complete a 5-1 drubbing on aggregate over last year's winners. Omar Marmoush scored two quick-fire goals while Tijjani Reijnders added another in a clinical first-half display from the hosts.

The non-profit organization has forged relationships with MLS and U.S. Soccer, and ahead of the World Cup sees chances to further grow

GOAL sat down with the goalkeeper to discuss 2025 challenges, 2026 hopes, and changing perceptions once again

Crystal Dunn’s retirement left teammates emotional and reflective. Her 12-year international career shaped players from Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson to Croix Bethune and Sophia Wilson.

Real Madrid have paid a heavy price for failing to replace Toni Kroos following his retirement in 2024, but then doing so was always going to be a tough task. For starters, the ex-Germany international ranks as one of the finest deep-lying playmakers of the modern era.

The nature of Chelsea's Carabao Cup semi-final exit at the hands of London rivals Arsenal on Tuesday has been polarising, to say the least. It was a contest that largely reflected the dour weather at the Emirates Stadium, as a turgid first half passed by almost entirely without incident and the second period followed a similar pattern before Kai Havertz - a former Chelsea player, of course - bagged a late winner on the break.

As investment in the women’s game continues to grow, each and every transfer window feels bigger and bigger, as both the anticipation and likelihood of new record transfers and big money moves for the game’s greatest stars increases. In that sense, January is never as headline-grabbing as the summer window, but there has still been plenty of eye-catching business over the last few weeks - especially in the Women’s Super League.

Three years ago, Cristiano Ronaldo stunned the sporting world by joining Al-Nassr. Six months later, the Portuguese trailblazer was joined in the Saudi Pro League by a number of high-profile players, including Karim Benzema, Neymar, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte. Some of those superstars were clearly past their prime, but the mere fact that they were willing to move to the Middle East felt significant.

GOAL looks at why some of the USMNT's biggest stars will remain at their clubs following a rumor-filled January transfer window

Ahead of the transfer window closing, GOAL grades the USMNT-related deals completed during January.

Barcelona secured safe passage through to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey with a 2-1 win over Segunda Division outfit Albacete on Tuesday. The Catalan giants were made to wait until the 39th minute before Lamine Yamal opened the scoring, and Ronald Araujo later netted the second of the night, though Javi Moreno's strike set up a nervy ending to the encounter.

Arsenal are into the final of the Carabao Cup after beating Chelsea 1-0 on Tuesday, prevailing 4-2 on aggregate. The Gunners showed little attacking appetite at the Emirates having entered the game with a lead to protect, and ultimately their visitors didn't ask enough meaningful questions to ever put their place at Wembley in serious doubt.

Chelsea missed out on a place in the Carabao Cup final as they failed to find a breakthrough in the second leg of their semi-final with Arsenal before eventually losing 1-0 on Tuesday to fall to a 4-2 aggregate defeat. The Blues defended resolutely and had the better of the game in the second half, but couldn't create enough opportunities before Kai Havertz put the tie to bed in stoppage time.

The January transfer window offered admittedly few high profile moves, but there were certainly some significant deals that will have an impact this year and for those to come.

Pulisic’s fitness is again a talking point after his latest absence for AC Milan, with the World Cup looming and careful management now critical.

Yazbek tells GOAL why Australia is circling the USMNT clash, how MLS has changed him, and why the World Cup feels within reach.

Atlanta United massively underperformed last year, but continuity on the pitch and a club legend in the dugout may yet change their fortunes.

Casemiro said he had "many more memories to create" when announcing that he was leaving Manchester United at the end of the season, and he has certainly delivered on that promise thus far. In the two games since his departure was confirmed in January, he has played his part in a tantalising 3-2 win at Arsenal before leading from the front in the equally dramatic 3-2 victory over Fulham.

And there we have it. The January transfer window is closed for another year, and though it was a relatively quiet month when it came to big-money deals, that does now mean we could be set up for another blockbuster summer in terms of comings and goings.