Lists

Once hailed as Lionel Messi's heir, Ansu Fati's promising career was derailed by injury setbacks and uncertain loan spells, but the Spanish prodigy has finally found his fire again at Monaco. His electrifying resurgence is cemented by breaking a decades-old Ligue 1 scoring record, as he became the fastest player to reach five goals.

Adam Wharton revealed Thomas Tuchel's explanation for his latest England snub as the Crystal Palace star was left out of the upcoming Wales and Latvia clashes. After being recalled for the World Cup qualifiers last month, Wharton was forced to pull out due to an adductor injury. Following his recovery and strong performances at Palace, many expected the midfielder to be reinstated for the October internationals. However, Tuchel, had other plans.

MLS has been told that it needs to change its recruitment strategy when it comes to bringing overseas stars to the United States, with Gus Poyet telling GOAL of how that process could be tweaked to the benefit of everybody. Efforts to expand the domestic game Stateside have tended to focus on the acquisition of household names on the field, but could that process be expanded to include bigger names in the dugout?

Vitinha's growing influence at Paris Saint-Germain has been formally recognised by his teammates, who have chosen him to be the deputy to captain Marquinhos. The appointment comes just after Vitinha made his 100th Ligue 1 appearance, cementing his status as a key figure for Luis Enrique's side.

Wayne Rooney has continued his back and forth with under-fire Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, pointing out that the Portuguese should “expect to be criticised” given how desperate the situation has become at Old Trafford. Amorim continues to see his future called into question after just 50 games in charge of the Red Devils, with positive results proving hard to come by.

Antonio Conte-managed Napoli want to sign a new right-back in January and, in a shocking turn of events, it is understood that Brentford full-back Michael Kayode is on their shortlist as the manager searches for depth behind Giovanni Di Lorenzo.

Moises Caicedo made his feelings known on comparisons to legendary Chelsea defensive midfielders N'Golo Kante and Claude Makelele after scoring an outrageous goal against Liverpool. His tenacious tackling and ability to dictate the game have drawn inevitable comparisons to two of Chelsea's greatest-ever. But Caicedo is having none of it.

World Cup-winning captain and Ballon d’Or winner Fabio Cannavaro has taken charge of Uzbekistan, leading the Asian underdogs into uncharted territory ahead of their first-ever World Cup campaign in 2026. For a nation long on promise but short on global recognition, his arrival marks the beginning of an audacious new era built on ambition.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri is reportedly on Real Madrid’s radar once more, with the Spanish giants prepared to part with €150 million (£130m/$175m) in order to bring the midfielder onto their books. The Ballon d'Or winner is, however, considered to be a priceless commodity at the Etihad Stadium and the Premier League heavyweights have no intention of parting with a prized asset.

Jack Grealish has been backed for an England recall by Michael Owen following his flying start to life on loan at Everton. The 30-year-old has been nothing short of sensational since swapping Manchester City for a season-long loan move to the newly-built Hill Dickinson Stadium and Owen believes this change of scenery is exactly what the star needed.

Despite the thumping 4-1 loss to Sevilla, the Barcelona board has kept full faith in manager Hansi Flick. Although critics have raised eyebrows over his mentorship and tactical prowess, the main decision-makers at the club have confidence in his project.

From selling cookies on the streets of Moreno to wearing Argentina’s iconic sky-blue and white, 21-year-old Lautaro Rivero’s journey reads like a football fairy tale. Once a street vendor helping his family make ends meet, the River Plate defender has now been called up to Lionel Scaloni’s senior squad and is eyeing a spot at the 2026 World Cup.

Christian Pulisic vowed to 'work 10 times harder' after his penalty miss cost AC Milan the chance to go top of the Serie A table heading into the international break.

Chelsea wonderkid Estevao Willian, who continues to make an impressive contribution during a productive debut campaign at Stamford Bridge, has been urged to replicate a key quality that Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal possesses. The Brazilian teenager is being tipped to reach the very top after making an immediate impact in English football, with there still plenty of potential for him to unlock.

Legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon's son Louis, a winger, has made his Serie A debut for Pisa - 30 years after his father made his bow in the league. The 17-year-old, part of Pisa’s squad since 2023, made his first Serie A appearance on Sunday, albeit in a difficult 4-0 defeat against Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.

Former England international Jonjo Shelvey missed a crucial penalty in his debut game for UAE third division side Arabian Falcons. The 33-year-old, who represented the Three Lions six times between 2012 and 2015, was signed recently by the Dubai-based outfit and has been named their skipper too.

Tom Bischof is emerging as Bayern Munich’s breakout star this season, blending youthful energy with relentless ambition. The German midfielder, who calls himself a “mentality monster,” has quickly adapted to the rigors of Allianz Arena, thriving under Vincent Kompany and embracing Bayern’s winning mentality as he aims to make an immediate impact on both the domestic and European stage.

Fabio Capello blasted the lack of courage from both Juventus and AC Milan in a 'boring' affair, a sentiment shared by Juve fans who booed their side off the pitch after a fifth straight draw.

If we have learned one thing above anything else so far in the Premier League this season, it is to not turn off your television or leave your seat early. There was yet more late drama but this time champions Liverpool were the victims and not the beneficiaries of the added time as they were dealt a late sucker punch by Chelsea's Brazilian wonderkid Estevao.

Florian Wirtz's Liverpool team-mates have been blamed for the £116 million ($156m) man's slow start to life at Anfield by Germany legend Rudi Voller. After joining the Reds in June on a long-term contract until at least 2030, Wirtz made a bright debut in the Community Shield, providing an assist against Crystal Palace, though Liverpool eventually lost on penalties. However, things have gone south since then.

Chelsea’s defensive injury crisis continues to deepen, with Reece James being forced to withdraw from the latest England squad. The Blues captain had been called upon by former Stamford Bridge boss Thomas Tuchel for upcoming clashes with Wales and Latvia. James will play no part in those fixtures after picking up a knock, with his place in the Three Lions’ ranks going to Manchester City full-back Nico O’Reilly.

Napoli manager Antonio Conte has broken his silence on his decision to bench star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne in the 2-1 comeback win over Genoa, stating the two have a good understanding. The move, which came days after a visibly frustrated De Bruyne reaction against AC Milan, sparked rumours of a rift between the two, but both men have since put those whispers to rest.

GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave the comforts of the United Kingdom in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.

Former Espanyol president Joan Collet was caught up in a physical altercation in the VIP area after the final whistle of the club's clash with Real Betis, capping a frustrating day for the Catalan club both on and off the pitch.

Premier League giants Manchester City sent a scout to watch over the Ligue 1 fixture between RC Lens and AJ Auxerre last week. It has been reported that the scouting team had four players on their shortlist.

Former Brentford and West Ham United star Said Benrahma faces a court appearance and the threat of jail or a fine over an alleged attack by one of his XL bully dogs. If found guilty, the 30-year-old forward could be handed a custodial sentence. The charges in question relate to Benrahma’s spell in English football, with the alleged incident taking place in July 2023 when the ex-Hammers winger was based in Hornchurch, east London.

Wayne Rooney has jumped to the defence of under-fire Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou, branding the mounting calls for his sacking "absolutely crazy". The former Manchester United star has urged patience amid growing unrest at the City Ground after a disastrous start to the season. Rooney is no stranger to short-lived managerial spells himself, having been sacked by both Birmingham and Plymouth.

Bayern Munich have officially confirmed that contract talks are underway with Dayot Upamecano after weeks of speculation surrounding the defender's future at Allianz Arena. Club president Herbert Hainer has publicly addressed the situation, assuring fans that negotiations are progressing as Bayern look to secure the French defender’s long-term future, whom they see as a crucial figure in Vincent Kompany’s evolving defensive setup.

Alexis Sanchez admitted the 'excitement overcomes me' as he helped Sevilla dismantle a poor Barcelona side at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.