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Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior has been urged to abandon Brazil’s iconic number 10 shirt following a series of underwhelming performances for the Selecao. Critics suggest that the winger is struggling under the psychological weight of the jersey, which is traditionally reserved for "creative geniuses" like Neymar. Amid a lack of goals for his country, a former international defender has delivered a blunt reality check regarding his role in the national setup.

The Neymar chants began just moments after Hugo Ekitike put France 2-0 up on Brazil at the Gillette Stadium. It was the last thing Carlo Ancelotti would have wanted to hear, but probably the first thing he would have expected in the circumstances. The Italian's decision to leave out the Selecao's all-time leading goal-scorer from his latest squad had dominated the build-up to Thursday's high-profile friendly in Foxborough.

You cannot fault Thomas Tuchel when it comes to honesty. This is a coach who said on national radio that his mother finds star player Jude Bellingham "repulsive", who told England fans at Wembley off for being "silent" in a friendly against Wales and said Bukayo Saka's goal tally for the Three Lions, the highest of any Arsenal player in history, was not good enough.

This is Legacy, GOAL’s feature and podcast series following the road to the 2026 World Cup, and every week, we revisit the stories, moments, and myths that shaped the global game. This week, we revisit the extraordinary, turbulent and often unbelievable road to England's triumph in 1966. This is the rise, the redemption, and the lasting weight of '66 - the story of the only time football truly 'came home'...

Neymar has detailed the immense emotional burden while toiling for full fitness at Santos. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain superstar says the pressure to perform in his homeland is "crushing" as he eyes a World Cup spot with Brazil. Despite the weight of expectation, the veteran forward took time to laud former team-mate Kylian Mbappe’s elite finishing.

First on the bench, then the match-winner, and finally an emotional leader too: Deniz Undav has made the most of his role as a substitute. Still, he shouldn’t get his hopes up too much.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has dismissed the possibility of a replacement team entering the 2026 World Cup, insisting there is "no plan B" if Iran decide to withdraw. Despite escalating geopolitical conflict and direct threats of withdrawal from Iranian officials, the governing body remains committed to the Asian nation’s involvement. Infantino confirmed that discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump have taken place to ensure the squad is welcomed on North American soil this June.

Former Wales international James Chester has explained why Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac may be “the best owners in football”. A couple of Hollywood superstars arrived at Wrexham when completing a stunning takeover in 2021. They have overseen three successive promotions across a five-year reign, with huge investment being made in the football club and local community.

The striker, born in 2007, has already undergone his medical; he will arrive in Italy in June and join Milan Futuro

National coach Julian Nagelsmann has warned the DFB squad to adapt their style of play ahead of the World Cup, following their 2-1 victory in a friendly against Ghana.

Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has launched a blistering attack on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following their controversial decision to strip the Lions of Teranga of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco. The veteran shot-stopper believes administrative failures are actively undermining the immense progress made by the continent's elite players.

Romelu Lukaku has broken his silence regarding the escalating tension between himself and Napoli, insisting he would "never turn his back" on the club. The striker has spent the international break in Belgium recovering from an injury, a move that reportedly left the Partenopei hierarchy frustrated and sparked rumours of a significant fallout.

Craig Bellamy has addressed links to the Celtic job following a crushing blow to his aspirations with the Welsh national team. The 46-year-old has garnered significant praise for his rejuvenation of the squad, guiding them to a World Cup play-off semi-final where they were eventually eliminated on penalties by Bosnia.

Former France international Christophe Dugarry has launched a scathing attack on Rayan Cherki, questioning the immense hype surrounding the Manchester City playmaker. Despite his recent €36.5 million move to England and an impressive debut season across all competitions, the 1998 World Cup winner believes the 22-year-old is far from being the finished article for the national side.

Thomas Tuchel has plotted a diplomatic course through the storm that has followed the withdrawals of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka from the England squad, saying the optics may look bad but he has “100% trust” in their integrity. The Arsenal duo will be unavailable for the clash against Japan at Wembley after reporting discomfort following their recent club commitments.

The big match between Arezzo and Ascoli ends 1–2: the away win changes everything at the top of the table.

Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella has openly flirted with a potential return to his boyhood club, Barcelona. Speaking during the international break in Catalonia, the Spanish defender admitted that an offer from the Spanish giants would be incredibly tempting. While he remains happy in London for now, his comments raise fresh questions about his long-term future at Stamford Bridge.

ATLANTA -- Mauricio Pochettino insisted his full focus is on the World Cup with the USMNT but did not rule out a future return to Tottenham after being asked about the club’s managerial vacancy following manager Igor Tudor’s dismissal, adding that “never say never” in football. Pochettino last coached Spurs from 2014-19.

Despite being a regular starter for VfB Stuttgart, Deniz Undav is nothing more than a permanent substitute when wearing the DFB jersey. Julian Nagelsmann explains his decisions, whilst Undav provides the perfect response.

Lamine Yamal continues to rewrite the record books for both club and country, but Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente believes the 18-year-old is only scratching the surface of his potential. Speaking ahead of the friendly against Egypt at the RCDE Stadium, the manager reflected on the incredible trajectory the winger has taken since his senior debut.

Barcelona are facing a complex goalkeeping dilemma ahead of the 2026-27 season. While Joan Garcia is the only long-term certainty, sporting director Deco is exploring new targets like Alex Remiro. However, the club must first solve the complicated future of veteran Marc-Andre ter Stegen, whilst also deciding whether to activate a break clause for Wojciech Szczesny this June.

The Rossoneri have withdrawn from the race to sign the 19-year-old Corinthians midfielder.

In their friendly against Ghana, the German national team are awarded a handball penalty that has a long and tragic history.

Borussia Dortmund face a massive battle to keep hold of their star defender Waldemar Anton ahead of the upcoming transfer window. Premier League giants Manchester United and La Liga heavyweights Atletico Madrid have both registered a strong interest in acquiring the 29-year-old. Dortmund, however, are desperate to retain his services as he has become an indispensable leader.

The legal team representing Rafa Mir has taken a firm stance by requesting that his upcoming trial be held in public, directly opposing the prosecution's preference for closed-door sessions. Under the guidance of lawyer Jaime Campaner, the defence argues that there is no justification for a private trial and insists on the importance of public scrutiny regarding the evidence presented by the prosecution.

After a poor performance against Belgium, Mauricio Pochettino is demanding more from his team - and a bigger role for Gio Reyna could be one of the key decisions vs Portugal.

Allegations from the Bosnian newspaper Klixba: tensions are mounting ahead of the Zenica match, which will decide the World Cup qualification.

In the latest development of a long-running legal battle, a court in Nantes has officially thrown out Cardiff City's claim for £104 million in compensation. The Bluebirds had argued that the death of Emiliano Sala in January 2019 had a direct impact on their sporting success, specifically suggesting that his goals could have prevented their subsequent relegation from the Premier League.

A curious little episode for the Serbian striker.