Lists

Cole Palmer appears to be making the most of his unexpected summer break, having been spotted relaxing in Ibiza alongside Wayne Lineker following his omission from the England squad. The Chelsea star was a high-profile absentee from Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man selection for the upcoming World Cup.

Salford City co-owners David Beckham and Gary Neville have made the ruthless decision to sack head coach Karl Robinson. Despite leading the Ammies to their highest-ever league finish and a trip to Wembley, the former MK Dons and Oxford United boss has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect.

Switzerland’s World Cup preparations have been thrown into chaos after star striker Breel Embolo was sensationally blocked from travelling to the United States. The Rennes forward was forced to remain behind while the rest of Murat Yakin’s squad jetted off to their training base in San Diego.

Real Madrid have moved decisively to secure their first major signing of the summer, reaching a full agreement to bring Inter's Denzel Dumfries to the Bernabeu. The Spanish giants have opted to bypassed lengthy negotiations by triggering a remarkably low release clause to land the Netherlands international.

Cristiano Ronaldo does not want to win the World Cup “because of Lionel Messi”, Eric Djemba-Djemba has told GOAL, with the Portuguese GOAT driven by an insatiable desire to succeed. A global title on North American soil this summer would, however, complete the 41-year-old’s medal collection and see him emulate the achievements of his eternal rival.

Leon Goretzka is on the hunt for a new home as his departure from Bayern Munich looms. The German international, once destined for a move to Italy, is now looking toward the Premier League after a series of collapsed negotiations with Serie A clubs.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has voiced his confusion over the club’s managerial direction following the shock dismissal of Arne Slot. With Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola now the frontrunner to take the hotseat, Carragher believes the Reds have missed a massive trick by allowing Xabi Alonso to slip through their fingers and join Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Barcelona have been handed a significant boost in their pursuit of a permanent deal for Joao Cancelo, with Al-Hilal reportedly softening their financial demands. The Portuguese international has made it clear he has no intention of returning to the Saudi Pro League after a successful loan spell in Catalonia.

Robert Lewandowski is about to hit free agency, as his Barcelona contract expires, with Louis Saha telling GOAL why the prolific Polish striker could be a useful addition for Manchester United. The Frenchman believes a similar impact to that made by Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be enjoyed at Old Trafford, but the addition of a Kylian Mbappe-esque forward is considered to be of more pressing importance to Premier League heavyweights.

Former Portugal team manager Carlos Godinho has expressed a deep desire to see Cristiano Ronaldo finish his legendary international career by lifting the World Cup trophy. With the Al-Nassr forward now 41 heading into the 2026 tournament, those close to the Selecao believe this may be his final chance to secure the one major prize missing from his cabinet.

Romelu Lukaku reached yet another historic milestone as Belgium secured a convincing 2-0 victory over Croatia in their preparations for the 2026 World Cup. The Napoli striker came off the bench to silence any doubts over his match fitness, netting a landmark 90th goal for his country to seal the result in Rijeka.

Ella Toone's last involvement in an England shirt was a memorable one. At Wembley, in front of almost 75,000 fans, the Manchester United star racked up a trio of assists, and added a goal of her own, in an 8-0 thrashing of China as the Lionesses paraded their European Championship trophy across the nation. Now, for the first time in 2026, she is back with her country and is primed to provide a timely boost ahead of Friday's blockbuster clash with Spain.

The 2026 World Cup is almost upon us. In just over a week, the time for talking will stop, and teams will have to prove their credentials with their performances on the pitch in North America. All roads, whether through the United States, Mexico or Canada, will lead to New Jersey on July 19, and the biggest football match on the planet: the World Cup final.

When Marcus Rashford first attempted to speak Spanish, Lamine Yamal fell over laughing. It came during the Manchester United loanee's first training session in Catalunya - or, at least, the first one made public - and after chasing shadows in a rondo, Rashford said something pretty much unintelligible to the Ballon d'Or favourite. Contrast that, then, with the first impression made by Barca's latest English arrival, Anthony Gordon, whose almost fluent Spanish shocked those tuning in for his introductory press conference.

The 2026 World Cup was supposed to be another waypoint on Lamine Yamal's path to becoming a generation-defining superstar, but there is the genuine threat that an injury could deprive the tournament of one of its biggest names. The Spanish wonderkid made everyone sit up and take notice at Euro 2024, and two years on, the 18-year-old seemed primed to seize the limelight once again. But instead, it may well be a waiting game.

Steven Gerrard has been used to explain why Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice cannot be considered a Ballon d’Or contender “just yet”, with Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler telling GOAL why the Gunners talisman “needs to go up a notch” in order to join the global elite. That path is still being trodden by the all-action 27-year-old, who will soon be on World Cup duty with England.

Manchester United have made a statement of intent in the transfer market by reportedly reaching a £38m agreement to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson. With personal terms finalised on a long-term contract, the Brazilian is poised to become the first major acquisition of the Michael Carrick era as the Red Devils look to transform their engine room ahead of the new campaign.

Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers has been tipped for a sensational move to European heavyweights Barcelona or Real Madrid after catching the eye in the Premier League. As the 23-year-old’s stock continues to rise, Unai Emery’s side have simultaneously been warned against making a move for Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus despite a tempting price tag.

Cristiano Ronaldo might have lost a tiny fraction of his peak speed, but former Portugal team-mate Ricardo insists the legendary forward remains a lethal goalscoring machine. Now working as the national team's goalkeeper coach, Ricardo explains how the 41-year-old icon has evolved his game from a tricky dribbler into a devastating striker whose hunger and passion remain totally unmatched.

Scott McTominay is heading into the 2026 World Cup on the back of the most transformative year of his career, fueled by a Scudetto win and a new life in Naples. The Scotland international has been recharging his batteries alongside partner Cam Reading before joining up with his national team-mates for the global showpiece.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has revealed that Lionel Messi has full control over his retirement timeline. Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the World Cup-winning boss explained the elite mentality that keeps the Inter Miami superstar playing at the highest level, insisting the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner remains the absolute best because of his unquenchable thirst for success.

Real Madrid have set their sights on acquiring a new right-back to compete with Trent Alexander-Arnold next season. The Spanish giants are reportedly targeting Inter defender Denzel Dumfries in a cut-price deal, while also advancing in their pursuit of Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate. The club hope to wrap up both crucial transfers before the upcoming World Cup tournament begins.

Jarrod Bowen is facing a career-defining crossroads that could have massive repercussions for his family life following West Ham United’s shock relegation to the Championship. The Hammers captain, who is married to former Love Island star Dani Dyer, is reportedly weighing up his future after the club’s 15-year stay in the top flight came to a heartbreaking end.

MLS will be represented by a record 44 active players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the most of any league in the Western Hemisphere. The league also announced that 103 current and former MLS players will compete in the tournament, highlighting the growing impact of MLS clubs, academies, and MLS NEXT Pro on the global stage.

Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes has seen a remarkable 350 per cent surge in his shirt sales following his crucial penalty miss against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Despite the heartbreak of the shootout defeat, the Gunners' fanbase has rallied behind the centre-back, making his name the most requested on replica kits.

RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande has opened up on the evolution of his game as Europe’s elite clubs scramble for his signature ahead of a potential blockbuster summer move. The Ivorian winger, who has become one of the most feared attackers in the Bundesliga, is currently at the centre of a massive transfer tussle involving Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.

GOAL takes a look at the big storylines and takeaways from camp in the latest installment of the USMNT notebook.

Southampton's dramatic fall from the Championship play-offs has been further illuminated by the release of damning evidence regarding their widespread spying operation. Leaked WhatsApp messages have exposed the culture under head coach Tonda Eckert, where junior staff members felt forced to monitor secret training sessions of rival clubs. The saga, which culminated in the Saints being thrown out of the promotion race, continues to haunt St Mary's as the full extent of the "top-down" plan is finally made public.

France icon Marcel Desailly has strongly defended his compatriot Kylian Mbappe amid recent criticism surrounding the forward's time at Real Madrid. With Jose Mourinho reportedly set to take charge of Los Blancos this summer, Desailly believes the incoming manager must build his tactical system around the prolific attacker rather than expecting him to undertake heavy defensive duties.