England striker Ollie Watkins has staunchly defended Jeremy Doku following widespread criticism over the Belgian winger's decision to leave the World Cup to attend the birth of his first child. Watkins hit back at viral comments labelling childbirth as a "disgusting moment", insisting that welcoming a firstborn is a blessing that transcends football.
Lionel Messi has cemented his status as the greatest to ever do it by becoming the outright leading goalscorer in World Cup history. The Inter Miami star overtook German legend Miroslav Klose during Argentina's high-stakes Group J encounter with Austria on Monday.
Canada are preparing for a crucial World Cup clash with Switzerland while rallying around injured midfielder Ismaël Koné after his devastating tournament-ending injury.
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Thibaut Courtois has opened up about his long-term future at Real Madrid, admitting that while he dreams of retiring at the Bernabeu, the final decision rests with the club. The 34-year-old Belgian international remains at the top of his game and is widely regarded as one of the premier goalkeepers in world football.
Nico Schlotterbeck has opened up about the emotional toll of his tournament-ending injury, admitting he needs time to come to terms with the blow. The Borussia Dortmund star was ruled out of the 2026 World Cup after suffering a serious ankle injury during the group stages.
Turkey’s long-awaited return to the World Cup stage turned into a nightmare after they were dumped out of the tournament with a group stage game to spare. Despite the intense backlash following defeats to Australia and Paraguay, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has taken a definitive stance on the future of head coach Vincenzo Montella.
Another major tournament, another debate raging around Portugal's continued selection of Cristiano Ronaldo. The veteran forward's anonymous performance in his country's World Cup opener against DR Congo has reignited the now-biennial discussion over whether or not he should still be starting for the Seleccao at the grand old age of 41. Although you shouldn't expect anything to actually change so long as Roberto Martinez is in charge, the manager must learn when to take action.
Brazil icon Roberto Carlos believes the Selecao are ready to turn a corner at the 2026 World Cup provided they can successfully reintegrate Neymar into the starting XI. Speaking during the tournament in North America, the legendary left-back offered a candid assessment of the current squad compared to rivals Argentina while backing Carlo Ancelotti’s side to make a deep run.
Harry Kane lives for scoring goals, but will England’s record-shattering captain be keeping an eye on how the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are faring at the 2026 World Cup? Three Lions legend John Barnes has addressed that Golden Boot battle during an exclusive interview with GOAL, as individual ambition is blended with the collective pursuit of global glory.
Raphinha's World Cup campaign has been thrown into doubt after the Brazil winger suffered a hamstring injury against Haiti. His wife, Natalia Belloli, has revealed the emotional phone call that followed, while Brazil continue to monitor his recovery in the hope he can still play a part later in the tournament.
Belgium’s World Cup campaign has hit a stuttering start following two consecutive draws, but while the points tally is a concern, it is the performance levels that have drawn the sharpest tongue in football. Zlatan Ibrahimovic did not hold back when assessing their latest stalemate against Iran, delivering a scathing review of the Red Devils' toothless display.
Cape Verde head coach Bubista has expressed his deep disappointment following a controversial incident during his side's 2-2 World Cup draw with Uruguay. Bubista hit out at a perceived lack of sportsmanship from Uruguay, citing Marcelo Bielsa's own reputation for fair play as an additional reason for his frustration.
Scott McTominay has become a talismanic presence for Scotland and Napoli, but will the former Manchester United midfielder fancy another shot at life in the Premier League? Kenny Miller has explained to GOAL why the revitalised 29-year-old has no need to consider a retracing of steps at club level after finding professional and personal dreams to live in Italy.
Germany have suffered a major setback ahead of the World Cup knockout rounds after Nico Schlotterbeck was ruled out of the tournament with a serious ankle injury. The Borussia Dortmund defender sustained the problem against the Ivory Coast, forcing Julian Nagelsmann into a defensive reshuffle at a crucial stage of the competition.
Declan Rice has revealed he has been managing nerve pain in his hamstring since December while coping with a packed season for club and country. The England midfielder still impressed in a 4-2 win over Croatia, assisting Harry Kane, but sparked concern after limping off. He has also criticised the ‘crazy’ football calendar after playing 55 matches for Arsenal this season.
Premier League legend Alan Shearer has raised questions over Cristiano Ronaldo’s influence within the Portugal setup, suggesting head coach Roberto Martinez may not even be "allowed" to substitute his captain. As the 41-year-old icon competes in what is likely his final World Cup, the debate over his role in the starting XI has reached boiling point.
A Ghanaian witch doctor who previously claimed responsibility for an injury suffered by Cristiano Ronaldo during the 2014 World Cup has turned his attention to Harry Kane. Nana Kwaku Bonsam says he is working to stop England's captain from making an impact against Ghana, while Thomas Tuchel's squad remain focused on their World Cup ambitions.
Raphinha's family has strongly denied claims made by former Brazil international Vampeta that the Barcelona winger is dealing with financial and family problems. The retired midfielder suggested a move to Al-Hilal could help resolve the alleged issues, but the player's cousin publicly accused him of spreading false information.
Brazil playmaker Lucas Paqueta has hailed the return of Neymar to first-team training as the Selecao prepare for their final Group C showdown against Scotland. The Santos superstar has been sidelined with a calf injury during the opening stages of the 2026 World Cup but is now closing in on a return to action in Miami.
Austria boss Ralf Rangnick has hailed Lamine Yamal as one of football’s brightest young talents after Spain’s emphatic 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia. The former Manchester United manager believes the Barcelona winger has the potential to reach a level comparable to Lionel Messi, provided he remains grounded and continues his development.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has refused to be drawn into a war of words with Carlo Ancelotti after the Brazil boss suggested his team "don't play high intensity football". Speaking ahead of his side’s World Cup group stage clash against Austria, Scaloni instead chose to frame the Italian's comments as a compliment to his tactical setup.
Bukayo Saka has returned to full England training after concerns over the Achilles issue that affected the closing stages of his season with Arsenal. Thomas Tuchel remains cautious over the winger's workload, with England focused on keeping one of their key attacking players fit and ready for the latter stages of the World Cup.
The “biggest issue” facing Bukayo Saka has been highlighted by England legend John Barnes, during an exclusive interview with GOAL, as the Arsenal winger is told that “goal output” is not important at the 2026 World Cup. Fresh from a memorable Premier League title triumph at club level, a star turn at Emirates Stadium is facing plenty of challenges on the grandest of international stages.
England made a winning start to their World Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia, but the performance was a bit mixed, even if the dominant start of the second half will have sent fear through some of the Three Lions' main rivals for global glory. For the most part, Thomas Tuchel seemed to get his selection mostly right. Jude Bellingham more than justified his place in the team, while having Anthony Gordon start so that Marcus Rashford could provide an X-factor off the bench paid off.
Lionel Scaloni has emphasized the unity of his Argentina squad as they rally around captain Lionel Messi following a wave of misinformation regarding his family. The Inter Miami superstar has been the subject of shocking false reports during the 2026 World Cup, forcing both the manager and the Messi family to take a public stand.
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