Lists

Michael Olise and Lamine Yamal are two of the best right wingers in world football, but Marcel Desailly has told GOAL when Bayern Munich’s superstar Frenchman remains a “step below” Barcelona’s teenage wonderkid. Both forwards continue to post remarkable numbers for club and country, with their awe-inspiring skill sets about to illuminate the 2026 World Cup.

The role that Gary Neville and Roy Keane played in turning Cristiano Ronaldo into a footballing “robot” has been explained to GOAL by Eric Djemba-Djemba, with the Portuguese icon wiping away tears while heading down the path to superstardom. Some rough treatment was handed out during his first spell at Manchester United, but the all-time great has never been the type to back down from a challenge.

Elliot Anderson boasts enough potential to become “one of the very best”, Jack Colback has told GOAL, with the in-demand Nottingham Forest star considered to be an “old-fashioned” midfielder that is capable of doing a bit of everything. That skill set is said to be attracting admiring glances from Manchester, with City and United both mulling over the merits of a big-money transfer bid.

USMNT strikers Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi have become the subject of Premier League transfer predictions, with Brad Friedel telling GOAL that both could end up in the English top-flight. It is suggested that the former may link up with one of the “big boys”, while the latter would benefit from using “mid to lower teams” as another career stepping stone.

GOAL takes a look at the big storylines and takeaways from the opening two days of the U.S.'s camp in the first installment of the USMNT notebook.

Andre Onana has been told why a permanent transfer away from Manchester United needs to be arranged this summer, with the Cameroonian goalkeeper being informed by fellow countryman Eric Djemba-Djemba that demanding fans in England “don’t care” about second chances. A number of costly mistakes across two seasons at Old Trafford have led to Onana suffering a loss of confidence and heading out on loan.

Guillermo Ochoa spoke to GOAL about his dream of chasing a record sixth World Cup, hoping to add one final chapter to a career defined by iconic saves, resilience, and Mexican pride.

Morgan Gibbs-White has been urged to chase a dream at Nottingham Forest that “money can’t buy”, with Jack Colback telling GOAL why the mercurial No.10 can go on to become an all-time great at the City Ground. A former team-mate of the talented England international has also explained what the 26-year-old’s “biggest attribute" is after seeing him become a Premier League superstar.

The former England and West Ham goalkeeper will be on co-comms for the Champions League final, and he made his predictions clear in an interview with GOAL

Manchester United are in the market for midfield reinforcements - amid links to the likes of Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Fede Valverde - with Eric Djemba-Djemba telling GOAL who the Red Devils’ “first choice” should be. Big money is set to be spent at Old Trafford this summer on acquiring a suitable replacement for the departing Casemiro.

Arsenal are understandably keen to see Mikel Arteta agree to an extension of his contract, but could a Premier League and Champions League double lead the Spanish tactician to reassess his options? Domestic dominance has been restored in north London, with a historic European triumph up for grabs, and Ray Parlour has told GOAL what he expects the future to hold for a manager that has already spent six years in his current post.

Interim Italy manager Silvio Baldini has launched a fiery critique against the administration of the national game while warning the federation against pursuing unrealistic managerial targets. The veteran coach expressed deep frustration over systemic issues ahead of the national team's upcoming friendly fixtures, calling for local leadership to rebuild the setup.

Federico Dimarco has hit back at critics who claimed he was “finished” after Inter’s disastrous 2024-25 campaign. The Italy international starred in Inter’s domestic double-winning season and became the first Italian player to win Serie A’s MVP award.

AC Milan winger Rafael Leao has sparked intense transfer speculation after publicly naming Manchester United as the English club he likes to watch most. The Portuguese attacker faces an increasingly uncertain future at the San Siro following the Rossoneri's failure to qualify for the Champions League, which could force the Italian giants to cash in.

FIFA has confirmed the key dates and squad regulations for the 2026 World Cup. Nations must submit their final player lists by June 1, with strict rules in place regarding injuries, replacements and goalkeeper selections.

Manuel Neuer’s return to Germany’s squad has lifted confidence inside the national team camp ahead of the World Cup. Team-mates Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck admitted the Bayern Munich veteran’s reputation alone changes how opponents approach games.

Crystal Palace have initiated formal discussions with former Eintracht Frankfurt head coach Dino Toppmoller as they search for a successor to Oliver Glasner. The South London club look set to repeat history by turning to another former Frankfurt boss to guide them forward following Glasner's decision to step down at the end of the campaign.

Madonna has become the latest celebrity to be spotted wearing Chelsea’s unreleased Nike shirt for the 2026/27 season. The pop icon appeared in a social media video alongside Gymskin, weeks after golfer and lifelong Blues fan Justin Rose showcased the strip at the PGA Championship.

Former Arsenal and AC Milan midfielder Mathieu Flamini has opened up about his incredible parallel career as a green biochemistry pioneer. The 42-year-old Frenchman revealed that he started working on his global eco-friendly firm during his playing days in Italy, heavily inspired by the entrepreneurial drive of his former club president, Silvio Berlusconi.

French football legend Michel Platini has defended international captain Kylian Mbappe after the forward publicly warned against the far right taking power in France. While validating the Real Madrid star's societal stance, the former UEFA president offered some stern advice regarding the immense responsibilities and risks of such high-profile exposure.

Manchester United have opened up significant room for summer spending after repaying £110 million of debt in recent weeks. The move gives Michael Carrick a stronger platform to reshape his squad ahead of the new season.

Italian icon Andrea Pirlo has leaped into the defense of Mikel Arteta's tactical approach, insisting the Arsenal manager has cultivated a unique identity that goes far beyond simple physical football. As the Gunners prepare for a historic Champions League final showdown against Paris Saint-Germain, the former AC Milan and Juventus midfield maestro dismissed suggestions that the North London side rely too heavily on set-pieces.

Eintracht Frankfurt defender Nathaniel Brown has refused to distance himself from growing speculation linking him with a summer switch to Bundesliga titans Bayern Munich. The highly-rated Germany left-back is fully focused on his international duties, but his impressive domestic form has reportedly caught the attention of several top European clubs.

Guti believes a “serious and major” incident inside the dressing room led to Xabi Alonso’s shock dismissal by Real Madrid. The former midfielder also criticised the current squad, claiming the team lacks balance, identity and collective strength.

Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot believes that leading Portugal to ultimate glory at the 2026 World Cup would provide a fittingly beautiful finale to Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic career. The versatile full-back emphasised that the entire footballing world, not just their home nation, will be uniting to support the veteran forward's quest.

Liverpool icon John Barnes has boldly claimed that manager Arne Slot does not need to dip into the transfer market to replace outward-bound forward Mohamed Salah. The former England international also took aim at the departing frontman, accusing him of speaking nonsense online after the legendary attacker appeared to criticise Slot’s tactical approach.

Julian Nagelsmann could be heading for the tattoo studio if Germany win the World Cup. David Raum revealed the Germany boss may have backed himself into a corner after joking about getting matching ink should Die Mannschaft lift the trophy.

Legal expert explains the conditions for Al-Abyad's participation in the African Champions League

Barcelona are reportedly plotting an ambitious summer swoop for Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol alongside ongoing negotiations for Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez. However, the Catalan giants face fierce European competition from Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich, who have already initiated formal inquiries to lure the versatile Croatian international back to Germany.