Lionel Messi left a loved-up couple in Barcelona stunned when casually wandering past them on his way to a secret visit at the revamped Camp Nou. Few have been granted access inside that venue, with construction work not yet completed, but special treatment is afforded to an icon of the club. Messi has been back in Catalunya after leaving the United States for international duty.
The center midfielder, who was a mainstay for the USMNT during the 2022 World Cup, is in danger of missing out on the 2026 tournament on home soil. Could a new manager at Atalanta change his fortunes?
Ruben Amorim reportedly "canvassed opinion" on Tyrell Malacia's reintegration from several Manchester United first-team players after the Dutch full-back became the only player from the club's 'bomb squad' who failed to secure a move away from Old Trafford during the summer transfer window. Other outcasts like Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony were shipped off as Amorim overhauled the squad.
In the latest 442oons parody clip, Pep Guardiola gets serenaded by the Manchester City squad after winning his 1000th game in management. Featuring a star cameo from referee Michael Oliver, watch as the former Barcelona boss laps up the appreciation before revealing the man who made it all possible...
Lionel Messi is still refusing to confirm his 2026 World Cup plans, with the all-time great leaving Argentina and the rest of a global audience guessing on whether he will form part of a global title defence from the reigning champions next summer. The mercurial No.10 remains part of Lionel Scaloniâs squad for now, but says he does not âwant to be a burdenâ.
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente was bemused following the release of Lamine Yamal from the squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, stating that he had "never seen anything like it." Yamal was released from the Spain squad after he underwent invasive radiofrequency procedure to treat his pubic discomfort, with the Barcelona star set to be out for the next seven to 10 days.
Manchester United have made a "concrete" approach for Elliot Anderson, who is being valued at an eye-watering amount by current club Nottingham Forest. Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim remains keen on signing a new central midfielder in 2026 as he continues to try and build a squad capable of challenging for the biggest honours again, and Anderson is reportedly near the top of his wishlist.
Zinedine Zidane has sparked renewed excitement about his managerial comeback after stating that his return will happen âvery soon.â The former Real Madrid coach has been out since 2021, but with Didier Deschamps set to leave the France job after the 2026 World Cup, speculation has intensified. Zidaneâs comments at recent events suggest the wait may finally be nearing its end.
Thomas Tuchel has called up two new players to the November England squad after seeing Anthony Gordon and Nick Pope withdraw with injuries. Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi is also a major doubt for the World Cup qualifying matches against Serbia and Albania, though he has reported to the camp. Gordon did not travel to Brentford for Newcastle's last Premier League game, while Pope had to be substituted in the second half.
Former Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who managed Endrick last season and has now taken charge of the Brazil national team, has encouraged the promising young striker to "see what's best" for him amid his lack of playing time under Xabi Alonso. Reports are suggesting that Endrick could go out on loan in the upcoming winter transfer window to boost his chances of making it to Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad.
Lionel Messi admits that he and wife Antonela Roccuzzo are âconstantly talkingâ about a future return to Barcelona. They bid an emotional farewell to Camp Nou in 2021 when, amid financial struggles for La Liga giants, no new contract could be agreed. The Messi family headed to Paris, before ending up in Miami, but they remain determined to retrace steps to Catalunya at some stage.
Turkish football has been thrown into turmoil after the nation's football federation confirmed that over 1,000 players and 149 referees are under investigation for involvement in football betting. The scandal has led to emergency suspensions, fixture delays and arrests, raising serious concerns about integrity across the countryâs leagues.
The Premier League has approved Arsenal's application for their game against Everton on December 21 to be pushed forward after Mikel Arteta complained about fixture congestion. With the Gunners progressing to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, where they are scheduled to face Crystal Palace on December 23, the club wanted to avoid playing two matches in the span of just three days.
Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be his last, as he prepares to grace that tournament for a record-shattering sixth time. The evergreen 40-year-old continues to make himself available for Portugal, but recently stated that retirement may not be too far away. He has now joked that he could prolong his remarkable career for another 10 years.
Sunday League side Wythenshawe Vets are âtrying to tap up Wayne Rooneyâ after becoming a viral social media sensation. They have named a number of former Premier League stars in their team this season - including Stephen Ireland and Danny Drinkwater - with ex-Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse scoring seven second-half goals in their latest 13-0 victory.
Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck is reportedly refusing to extend his contract with the club due to disagreements with coach Niko Kovac. The German centre-back is said to be unhappy with the overly pragmatic and unattractive style of football implemented by Kovac. This situation has alerted several top clubs, with Bayern Munich and Liverpool both showing interest in securing his signature.
Rebel United introduces players who prefer to swim against the tide, such as Barcelona and Spain legend Gerard Pique, who has achieved great significance beyond the pitch thanks to his Catalan pride and innovative spirit...
Liverpool manager Arne Slot quipped after Sunday's 3-0 loss at Manchester City that the very best time to judge a team is at the end of the season. "The next best time," the Dutchman argued, "is after 19 games, because then you've all faced the same opponents." However, we don't really need to wait until the halfway point of the Premier League campaign to determine whether Liverpool are capable of retaining their title. The Reds' race is already run after five dreadful defeats in 11 games.
Robert Lewandowski is approaching a defining moment in his career, as the Barcelona strikerâs contract expires in June 2026 and while his priority is to stay, the club has yet to make a decision on whether to offer him an extension. Saudi Arabia is not an attractive option, and if Barcelona close the door, retirement is now a genuine possibility for the legendary goalscorer.
England have been told to wrap Harry Kane in âcotton woolâ from January in order to avoid any injuries that would deliver a World Cup nightmare. Former Three Lions striker Fraizer Campbell, in an exclusive interview with GOAL, admits that Thomas Tuchel would struggle to mount a serious challenge for global glory if his talismanic captain were to be unavailable.
Legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who is a die-hard supporter of Manchester United, has publicly pleaded with Red Devils legend Rio Ferdinand to approach the team management and offer his help to fix a glaring issue. United blew a one-goal lead to draw 2-2 for the second week in a row away at Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday, missing the chance to move into the top four.
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has clarified whether he will be joining the cast of Iâm A Celebrity⌠Get Me Out Of Here contestants in 2025. The ex-England international saw his wife Coleen star on that show last year, with her stock soaring after a runner-up finish, and it has been suggested that Wayne could tread a similar path to the Australian jungle.
Ligue 1 referee chief Amaury Delerue has defended the controversial decisions made by both the on-field and VAR officials during Paris Saint-Germainâs 3-2 win over Lyon. The last-minute defeat left Lyon players furious but Delerue has explained the process behind the officials' decisions and insisted that each call was made correctly.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have been put on high alert after 16-year-old Hertha Berlin sensation Kennet Eichhorn's release clause was revealed. Eichhorn has created history in Germany after establishing himself in the first team and is expected to be on the radar of Europe's elite next summer.
Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul has jumped to the defence of under-fire manager Eddie Howe, who he considers to be a club legend. The English coach is under immense pressure after the Magpies' poor start to the 2025-26 campaign, as they have won just three out of their first 11 Premier League matches and sit just two points above the relegation zone.
The Spanish Football Association (RFEF) has expressed its âsurprise and dismayâ at seeing Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal undergo an âinvasive procedureâ that has led to his withdrawal from the latest La Roja squad. Yamal, who suffered an injury while on international duty in September, had been drafted back into Luis de la Fuenteâs ranks for 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey.
Eni Aluko has spoken out in support of Mary Earps after seeing the former England goalkeeper attract criticism for some of the comments made in her new book. Hannah Hampton, who helped the Lionesses to Euro 2025 glory, was among those to feature in Earpsâ tales. Aluko claims the legendary shot-stopper has every right to share her side of a professional story and should not be âdemonisedâ for doing so.
Casemiro has backed Neymar as Brazil's most decisive player as the Selecao prepare for the 2026 World Cup. Neymar's fitness issues have deprived him of a place under Carlo Ancelotti, sparking fears he will not be at the tournament next year. However, the Manchester United midfielder argued that the team should adjust tactically to give the Santos forward freedom, citing how Argentina played around Lionel Messi on their way to glory in 2022.
Manchester United youngster James Overy has been handed a shock call-up to the Australia senior national team ahead of their upcoming friendly matches this month. Socceroos boss Tony Popovic, who has been left "impressed" by the teenager, has even hinted that Overy could earn a role in his World Cup squad for next summer's tournament in North America.
Ruben Amorim has been subjected to plenty of criticism across his reign as Manchester United manager, and the Portuguese coach is not afraid to dish some out himself. It has been revealed that he gave Manuel Ugarte - a player that he previously worked with at Sporting - a serious dressing down following defeat to Tottenham in the 2025 Europa League final.