Ligue 1 news

Zinedine Zidane surprisingly ignored Real Madrid players and instead chose Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain stars when naming the current players who 'excite' him the most. The man who lifted Champions League trophies with Real Madrid and orchestrated some of their greatest modern triumphs has openly hailed Barcelona’s 18-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal as the player who excites him the most in world football.

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly clinging to the hope that Lamine Yamal could one day be lured away from Barcelona. The teenage wonderkid signed a lucrative contract extension in Catalonia over the summer, after turning 18, but continues to see questions asked of his future. It could be that he once again finds himself heading down the same path as Lionel Messi.

Lyon winger Malick Fofana "belongs" at a cub like Liverpool or Manchester City, according to his agent, with the Belgium international earning comparisons to Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal. The youngster's representative revealed he had offers from Everton and Fulham but opted to reject the Premier League duo in order to continue his development in Ligue 1.

Paul Pogba has been sent a motivational “hurry up” message by former Manchester United team-mate Jesse Lingard as the World Cup winner waits on his debut for Monaco. The French midfielder has not made a competitive appearance of any kind since September 2023. He was stung with a four-year ban for an alleged doping violation at that stage, which was later reduced to 18 months on appeal.

FIFA is redrafting its regulations concerning domestic league games played in foreign countries and seeking legal advice on potentially banning them outright, after UEFA reluctantly approved LaLiga and Serie A matches to be played overseas. The games to be played are Villarreal v Barcelona in Miami and AC Milan v Como in Perth.

Ansu Fati’s explosive start to life at Monaco has reignited hopes of a Spain comeback. The Barcelona loanee has rediscovered his scoring touch in Ligue 1, netting six goals in five games. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has now confirmed that the 22-year-old forward is “on their radar” ahead of upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Paul Pogba's long-awaited return to football has hit another snag after the midfielder suffered a minor thigh strain in training. Having not played an official game since 2023 due to a doping ban, the plan for the 32-year-old to make his Monaco debut this month is now in serious doubt, adding to his frustrating comeback trail as he targets a return to the national team ahead of the World Cup.

Seeing Ousmane Dembele lift the 2025 Ballon d’Or was a deeply emotional moment for Dayot Upamecano. The Bayern Munich defender, who grew up with the Paris Saint-Germain star in Evreux, admitted that watching his France teammate and childhood friend crowned the best player in the world after a sensational season brought him to tears.

Olivier Giroud has revealed that he plans to retire at Lille, calling the French club "most certainly" the last he will play for. The 39-year-old striker, France’s all-time top scorer, returned to Ligue 1 in the summer after a stint in MLS. Despite Lille’s inconsistent form, Giroud remains focused on finishing strong in what could be the final chapter of his storied career.

Months after the explosive dressing-room fight that rocked Marseille and sent Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe out of the club, coach Roberto De Zerbi has said the team are better off without the duo. The pair were sold in response to the altercation that occurred after their first game of the season and De Zerbi has hinted at deeper problems with French midfielder Rabiot as he defended the club's reaction.

Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi opened up on the hardships that shaped him, revealing how his family was forced to sell their factory during Italy’s economic crisis. Football, he says, has never been just fun- it’s been a path of responsibility, social redemption, and personal growth, shaping both his life and his coaching philosophy.

Kylian Mbappe, who needs just six goals to become his country's all-time top scorer, believes he "can score against anyone" ahead of France's World Cup qualifying clash against Azerbaijan on Friday. His participation in the game, however, remains uncertain, with the Frenchman picking up a minor ankle sprain in Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Villarreal in La Liga last weekend.

Former Paris Saint-Germain star Rafinha has explained why the era of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in the French capital never worked. The trio played together at PSG for two years from 2021, when Messi joined the club from Barcelona on a free transfer, and lasted until 2023 when both the Argentine and Neymar left for Inter Miami and Al-Hilal respectively.

EXCLUSIVE: GOAL sat down with the USMNT midfielder to discuss fatherhood, World Cup ambitions and his incredible form for Lyon

Mason Greenwood snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo for another former Manchester United team-mate when naming the best player he's worked with and chose Lionel Messi in the GOAT debate. While Greenwood briefly played alongside Ronaldo during the Portuguese striker's ill-fated second stint at Old Trafford, tensions reportedly ran high between the two as they struggled to build a successful playing relationship.

Former France international Jerome Rothen was scathing in his criticism of the French Football Federation (FFF) for their handling of Bradley Barcola's injury ahead of the World Cup qualifiers. A feud has erupted between the FFF and Paris Saint-Germain following the winger's injury, resulting in further tension in the wake of similar cases with Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue.

Kylian Mbappe’s mother, Fayza Lamari, has opened up on the emotional cost of her son’s fame, revealing how life in Paris “no longer felt human” under the relentless spotlight. Speaking candidly about the pressures that came with superstardom, she reflected on the loneliness, media obsession and the moment she realised her son had “slipped away” during his Paris Saint-Germain years.