📝Bio: 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 wouldn’t 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.⚽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 – what grabbed my imagination was Ronaldo’s 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.
🎯Areas of Expertise:
Social media-specific content
Premier League, Champions League, European & Indian football coverage
Tactical analysis on the Indian national team
World Cup & European Championship tournaments
🌟Favourite Footballing Memory: 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 Ramos’ 93rd-minute header in Lisbon, the goal that crowned Real Madrid’s La Decima and etched itself into footballing history.📝My All-Time XI: Iker Casillas; Phillip Lahm, Sergio Ramos, Fabio Cannavaro, Roberto Carlos; Claude Makélélé, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane; Cristiano Ronaldo, Raúl, Lionel Messi.
Wayne Rooney has delivered his verdict on Harry Kane, hailing him as the finest striker ever to pull on an England shirt but also warning that the Bayern Munich hitman is missing one vital ingredient. Rooney, who once held the nation’s all-time goalscoring record, believes Kane’s unmatched finishing ability makes him the definitive No. 9. Yet the former Manchester United legend also suggested that the 31-year-old lacks a certain streak of nastiness that defined Rooney’s own career.
Former Premier League referee, Mark Clattenburg, revealed a bizarre incident with Cristiano Ronaldo after the Euro 2016 final. The 50-year-old former referee, now better known for trading his black kit for the bright lights of BBC’s Gladiators, was the man in charge when Portugal toppled France to lift their first-ever European Championship nine years ago.
Barcelona have reportedly made a decision on Marcus Rashford’s future amid talk of a stand off with Manchester United over a transfer fee. The England forward has slotted seamlessly into life at the Camp Nou, scoring twice and setting up two more in his last three outings. At 27, he looks rejuvenated, with his performances turning heads in Catalonia and drawing warm praise from fans.
Chelsea fans are "absolutely fuming" and have accused the Blues of exploitation ahead of Jose Mourinho's much anticipated return to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League. The clash has been slapped with a Category AA label, the most expensive tier in the club’s pricing structure, meaning adult general sale seats stretch up to a staggering £83.
Jose Mourinho reportedly wanted 'to attend Chelsea games' before his Benfica appointment last week, but the Blues have no plans to offer a homecoming welcome to 'Judas' for their Champions League tie next week. Fresh from his abrupt sacking at Fenerbahce after failing to secure Europe’s top table through qualification, the 61-year-old is once again prowling touchlines where he believes he belongs.
Lionel Messi's former team-mate, Diego Gomez, scored a contender for the Puskas Award with an insane 35-yard goal for Brighton in the Carabao Cup against Barnsley. The Paraguayan midfielder ripped the Tykes to shreds in the Carabao Cup, smashing home four goals in a performance that will find a place in the Seagulls' folklore.
Nathan Broadhead's super double propelled Wrexham into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup at the expense of a toothless Reading. After a docile first-half, Phil Parkinson's men jumped to life after the break to score twice and progress in the competition where they might come up against an opponent from the Premier League.
Barcelona’s hopes of returning to Camp Nou this weekend have been dashed once again as the City Council refused to grant the licence needed to reopen the stadium. Hansi Flick’s side, amid ongoing renovations, were aiming to host Real Sociedad at a reduced capacity of 27,000 at Spotify Camp Nou, but security concerns have forced the club to look elsewhere.
Mikel Arteta joked that Arsenal players reacted angrily to being nutmegged by Max Dowman. The prospect, who made his Premier League debut in August at 15 years and 235 days, has been training with the first team since last season and even joined the squad on their mid-season Dubai trip. He has emerged as a key figure in the squad and is primed to feature in the Carabao Cup against Port Vale.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is crossing his fingers that Erling Haaland will bounce back in time for the weekend after the striker hobbled out of Sunday’s bruising 1-1 draw with Arsenal due to injury. The Norwegian powerhouse shocked fans at the Emirates when he signalled to the bench after 76 minutes, complaining of sharp pain in his back. Guardiola had little choice but to hook off his star man, raising alarm bells just days before another relentless run of fixtures.
Florian Wirtz opened up on his slow Liverpool start and insisted that he is desperate to bring out his best form amid Jurgen Klopp's "give him time" message. The German star arrived at Anfield with the weight of expectation on his shoulders after tearing up the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen last season. And the £116 million summer signing neither wants sympathy nor excuses for his rusty beginning.
Tottenham's Carabao Cup clash with Doncaster has been thrown into the spotlight after a bizarre twist in the script as academy gem Damola Ajayi is set to line up against his parent club. The 19-year-old attacker, who only burst onto the scene last January with a thunderbolt debut strike against Elfsborg in the Europa League, was sent on loan to Rovers in the summer. Now, in a rare exception to the usual rules, he's been given the green light to feature on Wednesday night against Spurs.
Kyle Walker went out for an expensive dinner with Phil Foden and his other former team-mates ahead of Burnley's trip to Manchester City. The full-back joined a table of City stars at Fenix, a high-end Greek restaurant. Walker, who left City for Turf Moor this summer, is back in Manchester to face his former team on the pitch in the Premier League on Saturday.
AC Milan & Inter have hired the architects behind Manchester United's new stadium to build a 71,500-capacity ground, with San Siro set to be demolished. The €1 billion project will see the two fierce rivals come together off the pitch in a once-in-a-generation move. Work is scheduled to begin in 2027, with doors opening to fans in 2030.
Liverpool Women's manager Gareth Taylor paid a moving tribute to former boss Matt Beard after he passed away at just 47. Taylor admitted the shock has left a "big void" across the Reds' Melwood base and beyond. On Monday, the squad gathered in silence at training, holding a minute of reflection in his honour.
Ruben Amorim put up a passionate defence of Casemiro as he insisted that the Brazilian showed he "cares" with his reckless red card against Chelsea. The Brazilian midfielder had already found the net to double United’s lead, only to undo his own good work with a reckless challenge just before half-time. Already carrying a yellow, he lunged into another rash foul, leaving the referee with no choice but to send him packing.
Liverpool have been left devastated after confirming the sudden death of former women’s team manager Matt Beard at the age of just 47. The news has sent shockwaves through football, with tributes pouring in for a man who transformed the women’s game in England and became the most decorated coach in Liverpool Women’s history.
Ange Postecoglou was satisfied with Nottingham Forest's progress since Arsenal defeat and Swansea collapse despite a 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Burnley. The contest had all the hallmarks of a relegation six-pointer, with both sides desperate for points, but Forest were left licking their wounds after surrendering a lead.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix stole the show with braces as Al-Nassr put five past Al-Riyadh in a thumping Saudi Pro League win. The hosts barely needed to break sweat before tearing Al-Riyadh apart on Saturday night at Al-Awwal Park. Jorge Jesus' men fresh from thrashing Istiklol 5-0 in the AFC Champions League, carried that ruthless edge into the Saudi Pro League, and Felix set the tone within minutes.
Robert Sanchez made unwanted history with a disastrous early red card against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday evening. The Blues’ goalkeeper endured a shaky start, fumbling simple touches, but matters escalated catastrophically when Bryan Mbeumo surged through on goal.