Coming into the 2025-26 season, few - if any - were carrying the kind of momentum that Chloe Kelly was. She was the Lionesses' hero in the summer, scoring the penalty that delivered the 2025 European Championship title after also enjoying huge moments in the quarter-and-semi-finals to get England into that title-deciding clash with Spain. With a permanent move to Arsenal secured after all that, having helped the Gunners win the Champions League in May while on loan, Kelly felt primed for a huge season.
Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior has issued a statement accusing Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni of directing a racial slur at him during Tuesday's clash between the two sides in the Champions League. Vinicius scored the winning goal early in the second half at the Estadio da Luz but the game was subsequently stopped for 10 minutes after the Brazil international reported alleged racist abuse to match referee Francois Letexier.
Jose Mourinho has sensationally claimed that Benfica 'cannot be a racist club' after Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior accused one of his players of abuse during Los Blancos' 1-0 win over the Portuguese side in the Champions League knockout play-offs. Instead, the former head coach of the Spanish club has claimed that the Brazilian international incited Tuesday night's chaos in Lisbon.
Vinicius Jr scored the only goal of an otherwise controversial fixture as Real Madrid beat Benfica 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off. The Brazilian forward's second-half strike was followed by a lengthy delay for an alleged racist remark from a Benfica player to Vinicius. Play continued, and Madrid held on for a crucial lead in the tie.
Wrexham came agonisingly close to picking up a huge win in their bid to gain promotion to the Premier League on Tuesday night. The Red Dragons were held to a 2-2 draw by play-off rivals Bristol City, despite leading twice on the road. However, the result does mean Phil Parkinson's side go level on points with sixth-placed Derby, who currently occupy sixth spot in the Championship.
Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni has publicly apologised for celebrating Juventus star Pierre Kalulu's red card during the Derby d'Italia at the weekend weekend. The Italian centre-back revealed in a press conference that he has received death threats after replays showed him diving and deceiving the referee, prompting him to dismiss the Juve man and give Inter the advantage.
Real Madrid's Champions League play-off clash against Benfica descended into chaos after Vinicius Junior gave Los Blancos the lead in the first leg in Lisbon. The Brazilian winger fired in an unstoppable opener just five minutes into the second half, but his celebration sparked ugly scenes and a 10-minute delay ensued as the goal-scorer accused Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of racism.
Folarin Balogun scored two goals inside 18 minutes in Monaco's Champions League knockout round playoff with Ligue 1 rivals Paris Saint-Germain. The goals were Balogun's fourth and fifth in the Champions League this season and among the most vital scored in the striker's career. Balogun is the first American with a brace in a UCL knockout game.
Liam Rosenior has been warned that "three or four" bad results could spell the end of his Chelsea tenure, with that readiness to chop and change the very reason he will struggle to be a long-term success at Stamford Bridge. Rosenior has made a strong start to life as the club's head coach, going unbeaten in his first five league games and securing a Champions League last-16 place, but one former Blue believes things could change very quickly.
Manchester United fan and social media influencer Frank Ilett, better known as The United Strand, has hit the milestone of 500 days without cutting his hair until his beloved Red Devils win five games in a row. Ilett came close to shaving off his curls last week, before United drew with West Ham, halting their run at four wins in a row, agonisingly short of his target.
With fewer than four months until the 2026 World Cup kicks off, uncertainty surrounds matches scheduled for Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Town officials say they will not issue FIFA the required entertainment license until a dispute over roughly $7.8 million in public safety funding is resolved, ESPN reported.
Manchester United have no intention of allowing Barcelona to re-negotiate their asking price to sign Marcus Rashford this summer. A £26 million ($35m) fee has reportedly been agreed between the two clubs for the Blaugrana to keep the England international on a permanent basis beyond the summer, although several reports have suggested that La Liga's champions are keen to lower that fee if possible.
Mikel Arteta has suggested that Arsenal could make a pioneering change to their pre-match routine as a result of a string of injuries in the build-up to matches. Sunday marked the fifth occasion this season that a Gunners player has encountered a problem just minutes before kick-off, as Riccardo Calafiori pulled out of the starting line-up.
Former Manchester United backroom member Steve McClaren has opened up on what caused the infamous falling out between Cristiano Ronaldo and ex-head coach Erik ten Hag before the football icon's departure to Saudi Arabia at the end of 2022. The Portugal international was released from the club following a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, where he slammed the Red Devils' owners, as well as his manager and team-mates.
Premier League legend Wayne Rooney has claimed that leaders Arsenal do not have a single world-class player, despite the Gunners sitting at the top of the standings this season. The former Manchester United and Everton striker also believes that the obvious nerves from club legends are causing theM to stutter in their bid to win the title this term.
U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes named a 26-player roster for the 2026 SheBelieves Cup, marking her second edition of the tournament in charge. The squad features the return of nearly all U.S.-based players abroad, with Chelsea forward Catarina Macario the lone notable absence and no uncapped players included.
The fallout from Barcelona's shock 2-1 defeat to Girona has taken a dramatic turn following a night of officiating chaos at the Estadi Montilivi. While Hansi Flick’s side surrendered a crucial lead and slipped behind Real Madrid in the Liga title race, the post-match narrative has been dominated by a controversial winning goal from Fran Beltran. The Blaugrana are now fuming over what they perceive as a systemic bias, leading to an explosive "against everyone" rallying cry from within the dressing room.
Borussia Dortmund have once again dipped into the South American market to secure one of Brazil's most highly-rated youngsters, reinforcing their reputation as Europe’s premier finishing school. The Bundesliga giants have finalized a deal to sign 17-year-old left-back Kaua Prates from Cruzeiro, continuing a long-standing tradition of recruiting emerging talent before they become household names. This strategic move represents a significant investment in the club's defensive future, ensuring they remain ahead of the curve in the global hunt for elite modern full-backs.
The arrival of Liam Rosenior at Stamford Bridge has sent ripples through the Premier League, sparking a heated debate over whether the former Hull City boss has the gravitas to survive the Chelsea pressure cooker. While the Blues have opted for a tactical mind praised by his peers, questions remain over his ability to command a dressing room of superstars, with Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher leading the scepticism regarding the manager's public persona.
Real Madrid-owned Endrick, who is currently enjoying a loan spell at Ligue 1 side Lyon, is being tipped to seal a “very special” transfer to Manchester United. The Brazilian wonderkid has found the going tough at his parent club, amid fierce competition for places, and a permanent move away from Santiago Bernabeu is being speculated on for the summer of 2026.
The right flank at the Allianz Arena is witnessing a renaissance that has evoked memories of the club's golden era. A Bayern Munich icon has heaped praise on the blossoming chemistry between Michael Olise and Konrad Laimer, going as far as to compare their dynamic to the legendary tandem of Arjen Robben and Philipp Lahm. However, amidst the praise comes a stark warning to the board regarding the Austrian defender's future.
Tottenham have been brutally informed that there is no chance of Harry Kane pulling on their famous lilywhite shirt again. The England captain severed career-long ties with Spurs in 2023 as the club’s all-time leading scorer and lifted his trophy curse in Germany with Bayern Munich. A return to the Premier League has been mooted, but Bobby Zamora has told GOAL why such a switch is unlikely to happen.
Ex-Liverpool player Jordon Ibe will appear in court after being charged with actual bodily harm, having initially been arrested at Luton Airport and taken into custody on January 30. According to the Metropolitan Police, Ibe has been charged in relation to an alleged assault on December 14.
The fallout from a volatile Derby d’Italia has taken a legal turn as Juventus directors Giorgio Chiellini and Damien Comolli have been hit with significant suspensions. The Italian sporting judge delivered the verdict following a heated half-time confrontation at San Siro, where the duo cornered referee Federico La Penna regarding the controversial dismissal of Pierre Kalulu - an incident that has left the Bianconeri hierarchy fuming at the standard of officiating in Serie A.
The fallout from the Derby d'Italia has turned ugly as Luciano Spalletti launched a scathing attack on his Inter counterpart. After Juventus lost 3-2 in a match marred by Pierre Kalulu's controversial red card, the Bianconeri boss was left fuming by "unacceptable" insults directed at his defender by Christian Chivu, adding fuel to the fire of a simulation scandal involving Alessandro Bastoni.
Jorge Jesus admits that Al-Hilal have “more economic power” than Al-Nassr, having seen Cristiano Ronaldo go on strike amid questions of how wealth is distributed among clubs controlled by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). The agitated Portuguese GOAT is playing again, with his manager in Riyadh appreciating why frustration has boiled over.
One regular weekend of refereeing, that's all we ask for. Will never happen. At least not in the current climate - because if the fourth round of the FA Cup taught us anything, it's that the absence of VAR definitely doesn't mean an absence of controversy. The first half of the Aston Villa-Newcastle game alone made a compelling case for the continued use of technology for offside decisions and penalty claims.
Manchester United and Liverpool have been given Christian Pulisic transfer advice, with Tab Ramos telling GOAL that the USMNT star could be a “dangerous player” in the right Premier League team. The former Chelsea winger is seeing a return to English football speculated on after seeing his stock soar at AC Milan and delaying the signing of a new contract.
Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has delivered a stark warning to Bruno Fernandes, urging the captain to consider his future at Old Trafford amid ongoing uncertainty under the INEOS regime. While acknowledging Fernandes' dedication, Saha believes Chelsea star Cole Palmer would be the "perfect replacement" should the Portuguese playmaker depart, tipping the England international for a sensational and controversial return to Manchester to fill the creative void.
Jose Mourinho is preparing for an emotional reunion as his Benfica side host Real Madrid in a high-stakes Champions League play-off on Tuesday. With "The Special One" dominating the pre-match narrative, speculation is mounting over a potential return to the Santiago Bernabeu. Amidst the noise, the Portuguese manager has finally addressed the rumours and clarified the existence of a unique clause in his contract that has Europe’s elite on high alert.