France and Premier League legend Emmanuel Petit has brutally crushed Harry Kane’s hopes of winning the Ballon d'Or, claiming the striker "disappeared" when things got tough for both club and country. The former midfielder argued that despite Kane's heavy goalscoring metrics in Germany, his failure to show up in the critical knockout matches of the Champions League and the 2026 World Cup leaves him trailing behind Europe's elite.
Bayern Munich are set to open formal discussions with Harry Kane regarding a contract extension, with the England captain entering the final year of his current deal. The 32-year-old striker is aware of the German champions' intention to secure his long-term future, as he remains fully settled in Munich following a prolific stint in Germany.
Przemyslaw Frankowski has lauded former team-mate Victor Osimhen as one of the finest strikers on the planet, placing the Nigeria international in the same bracket as Erling Haaland and Harry Kane. The Stade Rennais man, who shared a dressing room with the Super Eagles star in Turkey, believes the forward’s relentless ambition sets him apart from the rest of the elite pack.
With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly presumably disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players now beginning each campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued by injuries and inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he was among a crowded field of contenders again in 2026.
Harry Kane has confessed that the England squad remains in a "grieving stage" following their heartbreaking semi-final exit at the 2026 World Cup in the United States. Despite the disappointment of missing out on a first global final in 60 years, the Three Lions captain has offered his full support to manager Thomas Tuchel.
The 2026 World Cup has reached its conclusion, with Spain emerging triumphant as they captured another global title. A memorable tournament in North America saw superstar performers from every corner of the planet take centre stage. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham all illuminated proceedings, but Rodri signed off with the best player prize.
The 2026 World Cup is over, and so is the race for the prestigious Golden Boot - the award given to the tournament's top scorer. With the expanded 48-nation tournament coming to a close, following a month of thrilling action in North America, which star has taken home the illustrious award? Here, GOAL lists the tournament's most prolific performers.
England’s World Cup journey ended on a high note on the pitch, but the post-match celebrations were marred by an ugly confrontation in the mixed zone. Following the Three Lions' thrilling 6-4 victory over France in the bronze medal match at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, police were forced to intervene during a media session with captain Harry Kane.
Harry Kane faces a defining summer following England's disappointing exit from the World Cup, but his club future at Bayern Munich is becoming increasingly clear. Despite persistent rumors linking the Three Lions captain with a romantic return to Tottenham or a blockbuster move to Real Madrid, the goal-scoring machine appears settled in Bavaria.
England at least managed to put a bit of shine on their World Cup campaign. The highly-entertaining, 6-4 win over France in Saturday's bronze-medal match didn't change the fact that they collapsed in the semi-final against Argentina three days earlier, but it did at least save a little bit of face.
United States President Donald Trump has offered an unlikely critique of Thomas Tuchel's tactics following England's dramatic World Cup semi-final exit against Argentina. The American leader questioned the decision to drop captain Harry Kane into a deep defensive role after the Three Lions surrendered a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 in Atlanta.
And so the wait goes on. England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina on Wednesday means their quest for a first international trophy since 1966 will stretch into a seventh decade. The hope is that drought will come to an end in two years' time when the Three Lions co-host the 2028 European Championship, but will England ever again reach a World Cup final, never mind lift the most famous trophy in the sport?
It was a surprise, in truth, that it took reporters so long to ask Harry Kane about his future. The England striker stood there in the mixed zone, after a devastating 2-1 loss to Argentina, faced with the damning end to a remarkable season. And not until the third question did someone ask the England captain what might be next for him.
Comprehensive match preview of France vs England at World Cup 2026. We talk tactics, team news and more ahead of this third place playoff clash in Miami.
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
