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When Thomas Tuchel was hired as the new England manager in October 2024, he was given a simple brief: Win the 2026 World Cup. Some 20 months on and the tournament now looms large, while confirmation of the Three Lions' squad has crystallised the daunting task at hand for the German tactician as they arrive in North America.

And there we have it. The 2025-26 European football season is in the books, capped by Paris Saint-Germain beating Arsenal in the Champions League final to defend their continental crown. Soon the past nine months or so will become distant memories, such is the speed at which the footballing world moves on, especially when major tournaments on the horizon.

Victor Osimhen is once again at the centre of a global transfer scramble following a major admission from the Nigerian national team camp. After a prolific spell in Turkey with Galatasaray, the former Napoli superstar appears ready to make his next career move, with the Premier League and Serie A clubs on high alert.

The World Cup has had no shortage of iconic moments across nearly 100 years of history. Every four years, billions of fans congregate to watch a tournament that has provided more drama, heartbreak and joy than any other event in sporting history. Football's grandest stage, the World Cup has always offered a platform for legends to be born, but it has also seen reputations destroyed and the downfall of so many famous faces.

GOAL breaks down who stood out and who has work to do after the U.S. win

Canada face Uzbekistan and Republic of Ireland in their final pre-World Cup friendlies, with Jesse Marsch managing injury concerns after Marcelo Flores’ heartbreaking setback and searching for goals from Jonathan David and Cyle Larin.

Christian Pulisic looked back to his best, Ricardo Pepi and Folarin Balogun impressed, and the USMNT offered real reason for World Cup optimism against Senegal.

Khadija Shaw and Alex Greenwood starred as new Women's Super League champions Manchester City did the double on Sunday, thanks to a 4-0 win over Brighton in the FA Cup final. It took Andree Jeglertz's side some time to get going in the capital but once they did, they wasted little time, with two goals in the latter stages of the first half putting City into a commanding position that they never let slip.

Lamine Yamal has opened up on the unique mentality that allows him to thrive on the world’s biggest stages without feeling the weight of expectation. The Barcelona sensation, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top of the game, insists that his lack of nerves stems from doing exactly what he has known since childhood.

Cristiano Ronaldo has conquered the world of football, but the Portuguese icon might be eyeing a shocking second act in Hollywood once he finally hangs up his boots. While the Al-Nassr superstar remains focused on his record-breaking career and his final World Cup in 2026, those who have made the leap to acting believe he can succeed - provided he does just "one thing" right.

Gabriel Magalhaes has opened up on the "painful" experience of missing the decisive penalty in Arsenal's Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The Brazilian defender saw his effort fly over the bar in Budapest, handing the French giants their second consecutive European crown. Despite the personal heartbreak, the centre-back remains defiant and proud of the Gunners' historic season.

Jude Bellingham has faced accusations of arrogance as his profile continues to soar at Real Madrid, but those who saw his emergence first-hand are quick to defend the England superstar. Former Birmingham City team-mate David Davis has opened up on the midfielder’s early days, insisting that what some mistake for conceit is actually the essential self-belief required to reach the pinnacle of the game.

Manchester City are preparing for a transformative summer as the post-Pep Guardiola era begins to take shape at the Etihad Stadium. While speculation has linked the Premier League champions with a blockbuster move for Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, the club's recruitment hierarchy appears to have settled on a different primary target for their midfield engine room.

Jose Mourinho is already drawing up a ruthless recruitment plan as he prepares to take the reins at Real Madrid for a second time. The Portuguese tactician has reportedly identified four key areas of the squad that require immediate investment to end the club's two-year trophy drought, informing the club hierarchy that any title charge must begin with upgrades at centre-back, right-back, left-back, and across the midfield.

England fans are facing a nervous wait over the fitness of Lauren James after the Chelsea superstar was a notable absentee from the World Sevens Football final. Despite her team-mates lifting the trophy at the Gtech Community Stadium, the forward's lack of involvement has sparked immediate concern for the Lionesses ahead of their critical clash with Spain.

Arsenal legend Martin Keown has urged Mikel Arteta to be ruthless in the transfer market following the club's heartbreaking Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. Despite clinching the Premier League title, a 4-3 penalty shootout loss to the French giants in Budapest has sparked predictions of fresh reinforcements, with questions raised over whether the Gunners need an upgrade on new signing Viktor Gyokeres.

Rafael Leao has cast serious doubt over his future at AC Milan after admitting he is ready for a 'new challenge' in a different league. The Portuguese winger, who has been a talismanic figure at San Siro for seven seasons, appears prepared to move on following a turbulent campaign that saw the Rossoneri miss out on Champions League qualification.

The sensational return of Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid has sent shockwaves through the Bernabeu, but no player finds himself under a brighter spotlight than Vinicius Junior. After a season defined by brilliant goals and heated controversies, the Brazilian superstar must now navigate a working relationship with the man who recently questioned his conduct on the European stage.

Cristiano Ronaldo is making the most of a rare break from the pitch, whisking Georgina Rodriguez and their children away for a luxury getaway in Saudi Arabia. The Al-Nassr superstar is soaking up the sun before he shifts his focus to leading Portugal in what is expected to be his final appearance on the global stage.

The European club season drew to a dramatic conclusion on Saturday, with Paris Saint-Germain defeating Arsenal on penalties to retain their Champions League crown. Not since Real Madrid nearly a decade ago had anyone successfully defended the title, making his a truly momentous night for Luis Enrique's men. However, defeat shouldn't take any of the shine off Arsenal's historic campaign, with the Gunners having won the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has weighed in on the club's search for a new manager, suggesting Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has the perfect tactical identity to succeed at Anfield. However, the former Reds captain warned that the Spaniard will face stiff competition for one of the biggest jobs in world football following Arne Slots' sacking.

Brazil have officially confirmed their squad numbers for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, putting an end to the speculation surrounding their talismanic forward. Despite lingering fitness concerns and a fight to secure his place in the final setup, Neymar has been handed the iconic No. 10 jersey once again.

Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal has addressed the constant comparisons to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, outlining his personal ambitions as he continues to break records for club and country. The 17-year-old sensation has become the focal point of a new era for Spanish football following his starring role in their Euro 2024 triumph.

Chelsea have jokingly claimed they "deserve another red card" after brutally mocking Arsenal following their Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The Blues waste no time in reminding their north London rivals of the continental hierarchy shortly after Mikel Arteta's side fell at the final hurdle in Budapest.

Paris Saint-Germain's historic Champions League triumph over Arsenal was overshadowed by late-night chaos as celebrations in the French capital spiralled out of control. What should have been a night of pure footballing joy turned into a major security operation, leaving the city to deal with the aftermath of widespread unrest.

Arsenal's dreams of European glory were extinguished in the most painful fashion as they fell to a penalty shootout defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Despite the heartbreak in Budapest, Mikel Arteta has moved to explain the tactical decisions behind his shootout lineup after Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes missed the decisive spot-kick.

Scotland's World Cup preparations have been rocked by a "cruel" injury to midfield anchor Billy Gilmour, leaving his team-mates and coaching staff in a state of shock. The Napoli star was forced off during the 4-1 friendly victory over Curacao, with Scott McTominay leading the tributes to a player who has become central to the Tartan Army's ambitions.

Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique has offered a surprisingly candid assessment of his side's Champions League final victory, claiming neither the Parisians nor Arsenal truly deserved to win the match. The French giants successfully defended their European crown in Budapest, triumphing 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a cagey 1-1 draw over 120 minutes.