Gift Orban may only be 23 years of age, but he has already spent time in five different European countries while scoring at a rate of a goal every other game. A move to an elite club likely awaits for a player who went through plenty of hardship as a child, with Orban easily one of the continent's biggest Hidden Gems...
The Women's Asian Cup began on March 1, kickstarting a month that was set to see two of the major tournaments in the women's game take place, with the Africa Cup of Nations to follow on March 17. Incredibly, the latter was postponed just 12 days before it was due to start, but the impact the Asian Cup will have on the continuing club competitions will still be fascinating, as teams across the women's game say goodbye to some of their best players for a few weeks.
Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa has addressed the decision to allow Jude Bellingham to seek specialist treatment abroad. As the Blancos navigate a mounting injury crisis and a dip in domestic form, the manager remains confident in the club's medical supervision of its biggest stars.
Paris Saint-Germain midfield metronome Vitinha has emphatically ended speculation linking him with a blockbuster move to Real Madrid. Despite being a long-term target for the reigning European champions, the Portuguese international has made it clear that his future remains in the French capital, describing any potential exit from the Parc des Princes as a lapse in judgement.
Football charity Street Soccer is proving that the game can still be beautiful, channelling the sport to tackle homelessness head on. They have released their first-ever collaborative jersey, connecting football with art and social impact to raise funds for an important cause.
Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa has provided a positive update on Kylian Mbappe's fitness as the Frenchman battles a persistent knee injury. With a crucial Champions League tie against Manchester City on the horizon, the Blancos boss insists the forward's recovery is firmly on track.
Ally Sentnor, Alyssa Thompson, and Canada's Kailen Sheridan impress, as Canada's backline falls short in the USWNT victory over Canada in the second SheBelieves Cup match.
The Championship is set for a radical transformation next season after English Football League clubs officially agreed to expand the play-off format to include six teams. In a historic move designed to keep the promotion race alive for more clubs deep into the season, the traditional four-team lottery will be replaced by a more inclusive structure that will see teams finishing as low as eighth place retain a shot at reaching the Premier League.
Ethan Nwaneri endured a nightmare evening at the Stade Velodrome as his decisive penalty miss saw Marseille crash out of the Coupe de France. The 18-year-old, currently on loan from Arsenal, blasted his spot-kick over the bar to hand Toulouse a 4-3 shootout victory in Wednesday night's quarter-final clash.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has been handed a six-month driving ban after being caught speeding in his BMW when passing through a 20mph zone. The Premier League tactician, who has confirmed that he will be leaving Selhurst Park when his contract expires in the summer, will not be able to step behind the wheel again for several weeks after accumulating more than 12 points on his license.
Manchester United's defensive crisis seemingly got even worse after a 2-1 defeat at St. James' Park. Concerns are now growing over Noussair Mazraoui after video footage emerged showing the defender limping as he left the stadium.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, INEOS and the Glazers have been told to stop chasing money at Manchester United and focus on winning trophies. The Red Devils have been overtaken by ‘noisy neighbours’ City in Premier League and European pecking orders, with Giuseppe Rossi telling GOAL why those behind the scenes at Old Trafford need to get their priorities in order.
Arsenal consolidated their position at the top of the Premier League with a gritty 1-0 victory over Brighton on Wednesday, but the fallout from the Amex Stadium has been dominated by a staggering statistic. While Bukayo Saka’s strike secured the points, the Gunners are facing accusations of taking gamesmanship to a whole new level after data revealed they spent over half an hour simply waiting to restart the game.
Chelsea’s emphatic 4-1 victory over Aston Villa was marred by a bizarre tactical standoff that left the home side incensed. The Blues performed a pre-meditated team huddle directly on the centre spot to delay the second-half kick-off, sparking a heated confrontation at Villa Park.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire allegedly refused to pay a £50,000 bribe to Greek police that would make his “Mykonos assault case go away”. The England international has been handed a 15-month suspended sentence after being found guilty of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery. The incident in question took place during a family holiday in August 2020.
Love is in the air for Lamine Yamal, with adidas dropping a new pair of signature boots for the Barcelona wonderkid - co-designed by the player himself - in a vibrant tribute to his hometown and in celebration of an upcoming special occasion in Catalonia.
Cole Palmer took centre stage both on and off the pitch as Chelsea secured a dominant 4-1 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park. The Blues talisman poked fun at Amadou Onana’s viral 'three points in the pocket' celebration while simultaneously shattering a statistical hoodoo that had followed him for over 100 Premier League appearances.
Popular TV presenter Laura Woods has hit back at former Premier League manager Alan Pardew following his sensational claim that Arsenal deserve an "asterisk" next to their name should they win the title. The Gunners moved seven points clear at the top of the table after a gritty 1-0 win over Brighton, while rivals Manchester City dropped points against Nottingham Forest. Despite the north London side's commanding position, Pardew was left unimpressed by the pragmatic nature of Mikel Arteta’s tactical approach at the Amex Stadium.
Harry Kane’s relentless pursuit of Bundesliga history has hit a significant snag following news that the England captain will miss Bayern Munich's upcoming clash with Borussia Monchengladbach. The 32-year-old’s absence represents a major blow for Vincent Kompany as the clinical forward was closing in on the all-time single-season scoring mark.
Pierluigi Collina has delivered a blunt assessment of the current state of VAR, comparing the technology’s recent struggles to a crumbling relationship. As football prepares for a suite of radical changes to how the game is policed, the man who once struck fear into the world’s best players suggests that the initial love affair with technology has hit a rocky patch.
Jurgen Klopp is reportedly eyeing a spectacular return to the dugout at the Santiago Bernabeu, cooling any talk of an emotional Anfield comeback. Although currently still serving as a global executive at Red Bull, the iconic German tactician is said to be craving the intensity of elite club management once more.
Thomas Tuchel has been urged to snub the likes of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden by picking “world-beater” Marcus Rashford on the left wing for England at the 2026 World Cup. Former Three Lions star Lee Sharpe has told GOAL the Manchester United academy graduate, who is currently on loan at Barcelona, possesses qualities that his rivals for an international starting berth do not have.
Arsenal have taken a massive step toward their first Premier League title in over two decades, but their ascent is drawing heavy criticism for its lack of aesthetic appeal. Following a gritty 1-0 victory over Brighton on Wednesday, former Newcastle and West Ham manager Alan Pardew delivered a scathing assessment of Mikel Arteta’s side.
Mikel Arteta was caught in a tense exchange after being confronted with Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler’s scathing assessment of Arsenal’s tactical conduct. The Gunners' narrow victory at the Amex Stadium was overshadowed by accusations of cynical gamesmanship and "making their own rules," leaving the Premier League leaders facing a barrage of criticism despite moving seven points clear at the summit.
Chelsea moved within three points of the Champions League places after a dominant 4-1 victory over Aston Villa on Wednesday night, inspired by a sensational hat-trick from Joao Pedro. Despite falling behind early at Villa Park, the Blues showed remarkable resilience to dismantle their top-four rivals and leave boss Liam Rosenior elated with the performance.
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to chase down 1,000 competitive career goals, but will eternal rival Lionel Messi have the same target in mind? Portuguese superstar CR7 appears destined to get there first, as he turns out for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, and a former team-mate of the Manchester United legend has told GOAL why Inter Miami talisman Messi may care more about Ronaldo’s exploits than he likes to let on.
Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has sparked social media outrage after appearing to delete a sarcastic Instagram story targeting interim manager Michael Carrick. Following a 2-1 loss to 10-man Newcastle United, the former midfielder took a public swipe at his ex-team-mate's coaching credentials despite the Red Devils' recent climb to third in the Premier League.
Manchester City’s grip on the Premier League title race loosened further on Wednesday night as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Nottingham Forest. Despite leading twice through Antoine Semenyo and Rodri, Pep Guardiola's side were pegged back by stunning strikes from Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson.