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Barcelona treble winner Rafinha Alcantara has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 32. The former midfielder confirmed his decision through a video posted across his social media platforms, bringing clarity to a prolonged period of uncertainty since he last played competitive football.

A former financial advisor at Manchester City has reacted to the latest “inexplicable” update in the Blues’ long-running Financial Fair Play (FFP) case. There are still at least 115 charges hanging over the Etihad Stadium, with no verdict being delivered as yet. The Premier League giants have revealed that they remain in the dark when it comes to a final ruling.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a timely boost in his bid for Saudi Pro League title glory, with Al-Nassr seeing a transfer ban lifted by FIFA. World football’s governing body had announced that a number of teams in the Middle East would be prevented from registering new players across several windows. Ronaldo and Co no longer form part of that pack.

Liverpool cult hero Divock Origi has reportedly agreed to terminate his contract with AC Milan and will be free to sign for a new club when the transfer window opens in January. The Belgian striker has not played for the Rossoneri in two-and-a-half years, and is considered one of the worst signings in the recent history of the club.

Alexander Isak may have suffered a fractured fibula, but a broken leg may not have brought his 2025-26 campaign to a close. Liverpool boss Arne Slot has delivered a recovery update on the most expensive player in British football. He is confident that the £125 million ($169m) Sweden international striker will play Premier League football again this season.

Lionel Messi’s sister, Maria Sol, has reportedly been injured in a road traffic accident. The 32-year-old is said to be “out of danger”, as she begins her recovery, but has been left nursing broken bones and burns. Maria Sol had been due to marry a member of Inter Miami’s coaching staff in the new year, but those January nuptials have been postponed indefinitely.

Former Premier League striker Patson Daka appeared to avoid a serious injury after falling on his neck while celebrating a last-gasp equaliser for Zambia at the Africa Cup of Nations. The incident, which briefly silenced a raucous crowd, ended with relief as Daka was able to continue and help his side cling to a precious draw against Mali.

Fulham defender Joachim Andersen suffered a gruesome injury during the Cottagers’ Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest. The Denmark international tangled with Reds forward Igor Jesus during a top-flight contest at Craven Cottage. He was left sporting a nasty blow to his left hand, with one of his fingers having to be snapped back into place. WARNING: This article includes graphic images of an injury that some people may find disturbing.

Jamie Carragher has suggested that Mohamed Salah’s mooted January exit is now effectively off the table, arguing that Alexander Isak’s serious injury has left Liverpool with little margin for manoeuvre in attack. The Reds edged Tottenham 2-1 in their latest Premier League outing, but the result was overshadowed by the sight of their record signing limping away in distress.

This is Legacy, GOAL's feature and podcast series following the road to the 2026 World Cup. Every week, we dive into the stories and the legacies that shaped football’s greatest nations. This time it's a look at Italy’s long and painful fall from grace. From Berlin 2006 to the heartbreaks that followed, this is the story of a four-time world champion lost in footballing exile.

Former Barcelona defender Dani Alves is reportedly set to purchase a Portuguese club and register himself as a player at the age of 42. The former Brazil international saw a rape conviction overturned by a Spanish court in March 2025. He has been freed to rebuild his life away from football, but is considering a return to action in somewhat surprising surroundings.

Wrexham have added fit-again former England international Jay Rodriguez to their squad for the second-half of the 2025-26 campaign. The veteran frontman picked up an unfortunate injury in pre-season. He was left out of Phil Parkinson’s 25-man EFL ranks as a result, but has now been drafted in with immediate effect after seeing Elliot Lee head for the treatment table.

Manchester United's reported stance on Kobbie Mainoo's future has been revealed, with Ruben Amorim seeing his midfield options reduced further after a serious injury to Bruno Fernandes. The playmaker suffered what has been described as a "soft tissue" problem that forced him to come off at half-time in United's 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa. The injury is expected to sideline Fernandes for several weeks, while Mainoo missed the Villa game entirely due to a calf issue.

Pure excitement has been the theme of this Premier League season. Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are locked in a three-way title race while practically the rest of the division is competing for a European place. Indeed, the table is so crowded it feels more like the Championship than the top-flight, with back-to-back wins being all it takes to propel teams from 15th to the top five.

For all his quality as a defender and his overflowing trophy cabinet, John Terry's near-19-year Chelsea career was punctuated by moments of significant controversy - from his early days at Stamford Bridge right through to his peak. His legacy is a complex one as a result, with many recognising him as one of the finest defenders England has ever produced while simultaneously asking serious questions of his character.

Rasmus Hojlund has aimed a brutal dig at Manchester United after winning the first trophy of his loan spell at Serie A title holders Napoli. The 22-year-old striker departed Old Trafford over the summer after enduring two testing campaigns in England. He is now enjoying his football again alongside Scott McTominay, with Supercoppa Italiana success being savoured.

GOAL reviews the standout performances of El Tri players in a year-end stretch marked by injuries for Mexican footballers abroad.

The 2026 World Cup will offer plenty of chances for some legends to be born, but will also be a platform on which big stars might burn out.

Egypt’s second-half resilience earned them a dramatic comeback win over Zimbabwe, with a late Salah strike sealing the victory and propelling the Pharaohs to the top of Group B on Monday. This was after Zambia had fought back to deny Mali a victory in the first match of the day.

Mohamed Salah shrugged off his recent problems at Liverpool to play a starring role for Egypt in their AFCON opener. The forward popped up in stoppage time to score the winner for Egypt in a 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe. The Warriors had shocked Egypt by going ahead in the match but were pegged back when Omar Marmoush equalised. Salah then delivered the killer blow late on to secure victory for The Pharoahs.

Manchester United are preparing to invest in a new midfield partnership next summer as part of a planned overhaul under Ruben Amorim. United have been monitoring several Premier League midfielders, including Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba and Alex Scott, as they assess long-term changes in the centre of the pitch, with the futures of Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo unclear.

Liverpool have issued an update on injured striker Alexander Isak after the big-money summer signing was forced off in Saturday's Premier League win over Tottenham. The striker was injured in a tackle by Micky van de Ven and looked in clear pain as he was helped off the pitch. The Reds have confirmed the Sweden international has subsequently undergone surgery for a leg fracture and is now set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

U.S. men's national team star Weston McKennie says he'd like to stay at Juventus, but his future is in the hands of his agent and the club. The American midfielder's contract expires in June, but having carved out a big role once again in Turin, McKennie is open to staying. Without an extension in place, rumors have been swirling since the summer about McKennie's future.

Lamine Yamal has offered fans an insight into his personal life after giving a tour of his huge mansion on YouTube. The Spain star has also revealed details about his fitness and football routines, interests away from the game and the unusual reason he believes he cannot maintain a relationship. The video has amassed nearly a million views within a few hours of being posted.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has jumped to the defence of Tottenham centre-back Micky van de Ven following his challenge on Alexander Isak during Saturday's Premier League clash at Anfield. Isak could not continue after being injured by the tackle and there are now concerns he has suffered a leg fracture and will be out of action for several months.

Lyon have reached an agreement with Real Madrid over a loan move for Brazil wonderkid Endrick. The Ligue 1 side were seeking a striker following the departures of Alexandre Lacazette and Georges Mikautadze during the summer window, and are set to reinforce their ranks for the second-half of the season with Los Blancos' young forward on his way to France.

With the 2026 World Cup just months away, GOAL looks at the state of the strikers vying for spots next summer.

Liverpool have opted against accelerating their interest in Antoine Semenyo, despite holding initial discussions with the player's camp, allowing Manchester United and Manchester City to move into stronger positions in the race for the Bournemouth forward. The Reds were keen to explore a move for the in-form Ghana international, but have now pulled out, simplifying matters for the forward.

The December 2025 FIFA Men’s World Ranking has been released, showing little movement at the top. Spain remain first after overtaking Argentina in September, with the world champions second and France completing an unchanged podium. The United States climbed two spots to 14th, overtaking Mexico to finish 2025 as CONCACAF’s highest-ranked nation.