📝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.
Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has seen his latest attempt to overturn European Union sanctions on him fall flat. The Russian-Israeli oligarch failed in his bid at the bloc’s highest court to lift restrictions first slapped on him in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Kylian Mbappe has climbed another rung on French football’s ladder of greatness as the Real Madrid sensation etched his name above Thierry Henry by netting his 52nd international goal, becoming France’s second-highest scorer of all time. Only Olivier Giroud now stands between him and the ultimate record.
Jamie Vardy has revealed that he received special advice from Chelsea's ex-Leicester boss Enzo Maresca before completing a sensational free transfer to Cremonese. After 13 unforgettable years at the King Power Stadium, the 38-year-old striker has swapped the East Midlands for northern Italy, penning a one-year deal with the Serie A outfit.
Harry Kane is closing in on more England history as the Bayern Munich star eclipsed the great Bobby Moore during the Three Lions' victory over Serbia. Kane’s appearance was his 109th in an England shirt, nudging him past World Cup-winning skipper Moore (108) and into fifth place on the list of all-time most-capped players.
Manchester City have been dealt a huge blow just days before the Manchester derby after Omar Marmoush was spotted in a leg brace and on crutches following a knee injury sustained on international duty. The 25-year-old forward, a January signing who has quickly become a favourite under Pep Guardiola, suffered the problem in Egypt’s World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso on Tuesday.
England captain Harry Kane struggled to hold back the tears in an emotional speech to Djed Spence after his ex-Tottenham team-mate earned a first Three Lions cap to become the country's first openly Muslim player. The crushing 5-0 victory over Serbia in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday night was about far more than the scoreline. For Spence, it was the moment dreams became reality.
Ivan Toney is not ready to give up on his World Cup dream despite being left out of the latest England squad without any warning from Thomas Tuchel. Since swapping Brentford for Al-Ahli last summer, the striker has impressed in Saudi Arabia. Last season, he rattled in 23 league goals in 30 games, finishing just two shy of Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally, while forming a deadly strike force alongside Roberto Firmino and Riyad Mahrez.
Marc Guehi may have seen his dream transfer to Liverpool fall apart on deadline day, but the Crystal Palace captain certainly didn't let it affect his mood with England. Instead, the 25-year-old made an emphatic statement during the latest Three Lions World Cup qualifiers, emerging as one of the standout performers.
Erling Haaland turned World Cup qualifying into his personal showcase on Tuesday night, scoring five times in Norway's 11-1 demolition of Moldova in Oslo. The Manchester City striker was unplayable, ensuring Stale Solbakken's side maintained their flawless start to the campaign and stayed firmly perched at the top of Group I with 15 points from five matches.
Florian Wirtz admitted that he's still adapting to the rigours of Premier League football and claimed he has "no idea" when his first Liverpool goal will come. The German playmaker, who has dazzled on international duty, is still finding his feet in England after joining one of Europe's most demanding divisions.
Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup dreams suffered a major blow as the Super Eagles laboured to a draw against South Africa, leaving fans furious and making 'embarrassing' comparisons to Manchester United’s recent struggles. The result leaves Nigeria precariously placed in their group, with only one win in eight matches.
Real Madrid fans have reason to celebrate as Jude Bellingham posted an upbeat update on social media following his return to training at Valdebebas. The English midfielder had been sidelined since he underwent surgery to mend his shoulder that got dislocated during a clash against Rayo Vallecano back in November 2023.
Barcelona have confirmed that their iconic Camp Nou will not be ready to host their upcoming La Liga fixture against Valencia on Sunday, September 14. With construction delays and pending licenses causing significant setbacks, Hansi Flick's men will instead be forced to play at the Johan Cruyff Stadium, the 6,000-capacity ground primarily used by the club's B team and women's side.
Oleksandr Usyk is set to play alongside John Terry, Michael Owen, Kaka & Roberto Carlos as the world heavyweight boxing champion has signed up for a Legends Charity Game against Portugal. He’s beaten the biggest names in boxing, but now Usyk is preparing to swap gloves for boots. The world’s undisputed heavyweight champion will lace up his football boots in Lisbon next week as he lines up in a star-studded charity clash.
Cole Palmer remains an injury doubt ahead of Chelsea's Premier League return against Brentford this weekend. The English forward's status remains unknown. With the Blues looking to maintain momentum after wins against West Ham and Fulham, the absence of their brightest spark is a headache Enzo Maresca could do without.
Former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou reportedly dined with Evangelos Marinakis before clinching the Nottingham Forest job. The Australian was unveiled as the club's new head coach, following the swift dismissal of Nuno Espirito Santo. The deal may have been wrapped up in a hurry this week, but the seeds were planted months ago.
Tottenham midfielder Dejan Kulusevski left fans reeling after posting a startling image from his recent knee surgery. The 25-year-old shared a graphic photo showing his kneecap held open during the operation, surrounded by surgeons.
Thomas Tuchel took aim at three England forwards after the Three Lions struggled past Andorra in World Cup qualifying. England may have collected another three points in their march towards the 2026 World Cup, but the atmosphere at Villa Park told its own story. As the final whistle sounded on a 2-0 win over Andorra, thousands of empty seats glared back at Thomas Tuchel.
Harry Kane was pleased to get the "job done" against Andorra despite a sluggish performance from the Three Lions in World Cup qualifying. The 2-0 scoreline looked routine on paper, but the performance from Thomas Tuchel’s men was anything but inspiring. Still, the mission was accomplished, with the Three Lions now boasting four wins from four qualifiers in Group K.