Aitana Bonmati has won each of the last three Ballons d'Or Feminin - but the accolade will go to someone else in 2026. Will it be two-time winner and fellow Barcelona star Alexia Putellas who reasserts herself as the best player in the women's game? Or could there be a new name on the honour roll when the Golden Ball is handed out in Paris in October?
Son Heung-min represents “money very well spent” for MLS and LAFC, Shaka Hislop has told GOAL, with the former Tottenham star helping to open up new markets for North American soccer. The South Korea international moved to the United States in August 2025 and has made a positive go of making it big in Hollywood while operating under the brightest of spotlights.
Alexis Mac Allister has dropped a bombshell regarding his future at Liverpool, admitting he is "very, very sad" that the club have not offered him a new contract. The Argentine midfielder, who played a pivotal role in the club's recent Premier League success, also revealed that he had concrete options to leave Anfield during the summer transfer window.
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has delivered a scathing assessment of Michael Carrick’s current tactical setup, labelling the team "difficult to watch" without a recognised focal point. As the Red Devils prepare for a high-stakes Manchester derby against City, the former midfielder is demanding a major change to the starting XI.
Alisson, Gianluigi Donnrumma and David Raya generate plenty of goalkeeping headlines in the Premier League, but who are more unsung heroes in that department? Ex-Newcastle and West Ham star Shaka Hislop has picked out one “absolute gem” for GOAL, with a new arrival in English football - that starred at the 2026 World Cup - expected to make quite the impact.
Como 1907 president Mirwan Suwarso has announced he will step aside to allow the club's longest-serving supporters to witness their European bow. The chief executive and several high-ranking board members are relinquishing their VIP tickets for the upcoming clash against RB Leipzig, ensuring that those who have supported the Lariani through the lowest depths of Italian football can now enjoy the ultimate high.
Franck Kessie has officially broken his silence on the decision to reject a lucrative move to Juventus in favour of a romantic return to Atalanta. The Ivorian powerhouse, who returns to Bergamo nearly a decade after his departure, revealed that his heart ultimately dictated his next move following his departure from the Saudi Pro League.
France Football has officially revealed the shortlist for the 2026 Men's and Women's Coach of the Year awards, highlighting the tactical masterminds who defined the last season. The nominations for the Johan Cruyff Trophy are heavily dominated by Spanish talent, reflecting a golden era for the nation’s coaching exports across Europe’s top leagues.
Lazio manager Gennaro Gattuso has admitted that he is struggling to enjoy his side’s perfect start to the Serie A campaign. Despite sitting level at the top of the table with Roma and Inter, the former AC Milan midfielder remains wary of complacency within his squad. After securing a hard-fought victory at the Dacia Arena, the Biancocelesti boss revealed that his natural temperament prevents him from celebrating too early in the season.
The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or honors has officially heated up with the unveiling of the nominees for the prestigious Club of the Year awards. Back-to-back European champions Paris Saint-Germain are looking to defend their men's crown against a resurgent Arsenal and a dominant Bayern Munich side, while a treble-winning Barcelona enter the women's category on a fierce mission to reclaim their throne.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has set his sights on winning the Champions League after outlining his long-term vision ahead of Tuesday's opener against Club Brugge. Despite a major summer squad transition and a slow domestic start, the Spanish tactician remains determined to compete for the biggest prize in world football at Villa Park.
Manchester United have struck a significant blow against their fiercest rivals by raiding the Liverpool academy for one of their most promising young talents. The Red Devils have successfully secured a deal for teenage sensation Isaac Konde, further demonstrating their commitment to harvesting the best emerging stars in English football.
Al Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi has jumped to the defence of his superstar attackers after the Saudi giants saw their historic 47-game unbeaten league run come to a crashing halt. Despite fielding a frontline worth over $200m, the league leaders slumped to a shock 2-0 defeat against Neom at the Kingdom Arena.
A 35-year-old German amateur footballer has been taken into custody on suspicion of fatally poisoning his team-mate during an end-of-season trip to Dresden. Prosecutors are treating the tragic incident as an alleged act of revenge, with the victim passing away from septic multi-organ failure shortly after returning home with the club last year.
Liverpool have officially announced a monumental shift in their commercial operations, securing a record-breaking £300 million sponsorship deal with Turkish Airlines that will see a new name grace the famous red jersey. The agreement marks the end of a long-standing partnership with Standard Chartered and signals the club's intent to compete at the very top of the financial rankings in European football.
There is “only” one move that Trent Alexander-Arnold would consider if he fancied heading back to the Premier League, ex-Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock has told GOAL, with the Real Madrid defender seeing an Italian job in Serie A speculated on. The buccaneering England international is into his second season at Santiago Bernabeu, having bid farewell to Anfield in 2025.
Ousmane Dembele has sparked debate across the footballing world by claiming that the Ballon d'Or will remain at Paris Saint-Germain this year. Despite intense competition from across Europe's elite leagues, the Frenchman remains convinced that the Parc des Princes is the only logical home for football's most prestigious individual prize.
Kylian Mbappe has broken his silence on France’s painful exit from the 2026 World Cup, refusing to label the semi-final defeat to Spain as the lowest point of his illustrious career. The Real Madrid superstar remains defiant despite the setback, insisting that the Les Bleus' hunger for international glory remain completely intact.
Julian Alvarez has been included in Atletico Madrid's travelling squad to face Liverpool in their Champions League opener at Anfield on Wednesday. The Argentine forward recently returned to competitive action following intense transfer speculation over the summer, as Diego Simeone's side prepares for another demanding European test on Merseyside.
Barcelona have reportedly instructed Hansi Flick to maintain total silence regarding Jose Mourinho following the Portuguese manager's return to Real Madrid. The Catalan giants are desperate to avoid being dragged into Mourinho's trademark media battles as the historic rivalry threatens to boil over once again.
Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac has praised stand-in captain Waldemar Anton after setting high standards across the squad ahead of their Champions League opener against Villarreal. The central defender has taken over the armband following a serious knee injury to club captain Emre Can, with Kovac highlighting his leadership at Signal Iduna Park.
Dominik Szoboszlai believes that Liverpool must rediscover the ferocious tempo that defined their previous success if they are to overhaul Arsenal in the Premier League title race. The Hungarian midfielder, now serving as one of the club's vice-captains, insists that recapturing that relentless energy is the missing ingredient for the current squad.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has insisted that the Nerazzurri are fully focused on their upcoming Champions League test against Real Madrid, downplaying the narrative surrounding Jose Mourinho's presence in the opposing dugout. The Argentine forward acknowledged the Portuguese manager's legendary status at San Siro but shifted the attention toward the formidable task of facing the Spanish giants.
Injuries at Chelsea mean Beever-Jones is the focal point of the attack for the time being, presenting the England star with a huge opportunity to impress ahead of next summer's World Cup
Ayyoub Bouaddi can “reach world-class Rodri level easily”, former Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna has told GOAL, with the teenage wonderkid expected to become a global superstar on the back of his £86 million ($116m) transfer to the Etihad Stadium. At just 18 years of age, the Morocco international is already being likened to World Cup-winning Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets.
Levante captain Roger Brugue is confident that his team can halt Barcelona's perfect start to the Liga season this weekend. The forward stressed that the Granotas will approach Sunday's encounter without any inferiority complex, banking on their formidable home form to derail the high-flying league leaders at Ciutat de Valencia.
Lille head coach Davide Ancelotti has lavished praise on Real Betis counterpart Manuel Pellegrini ahead of their Champions League league phase opener on Tuesday. The Italian tactician highlighted the Chilean's exceptional longevity and achievements while insisting the La Liga outfit remain formidable opposition despite a 21-year absence from Europe.
Mohamed Salah has proven that class is permanent by shattering a long-standing Turkish Super Lig record during his sensational debut campaign with Trabzonspor. The Egyptian forward, who ended his iconic nine-year association with Liverpool this summer, has hit the ground running in the Black Sea region despite his new club's turbulent start to the season.