Donny Afroni

Cristiano Ronaldo maintains an unbreakable bond with his roots, returning to the island of Madeira to escape top-level competition. The 41-year-old brought his fiancee Georgina Rodriguez and their children to this corner of the Atlantic, which they have identified as their favourite vacation spot for 2026, to spend time with family.

Manchester United have stepped up their search for a midfield anchor after holding a private meeting with the representatives of Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes. With Casemiro’s departure now confirmed for the end of the season, the Red Devils have identified the Brazil international as the leading candidate to overhaul their engine room.

Manchester City will be without key January signing Marc Guehi for their Carabao Cup final showdown against Arsenal at Wembley on Sunday. Despite other winter arrivals being eligible, the England international has been sidelined by a new rule. Pep Guardiola has been left exasperated after the former Crystal Palace defender was officially ruled out.

Joao Felix found his name on the scoresheet in the Saudi Pro League for the first time in 2026. The former Chelsea and Barcelona man had gone 14 matches without a goal, a streak stretching back to a 2-2 draw with Al-Ettifaq in December. Despite the lack of goals, Felix remained a vital cog in the Al-Nassr machine, providing seven assists in his previous 10 outings before finally finding the back of the net again with a brace.

The numbers behind Erling Haaland's recent performances make for grim reading by his own sky-high standards. After a blistering start to the campaign that saw him net 19 times in his first 17 Premier League appearances, the goals have dried up significantly. The striker has now managed just three goals in his last 12 league outings, a run of form that has left pundits stunned.

The huddle, which has become a staple of Chelsea's pre-match routine, is believed to be the brainchild of Willie Isa — Chelsea's ‘cultural architect’ who was recruited from rugby league. Isa reportedly developed the ritual in conjunction with Reece James and other senior figures in the dressing room to foster a sense of collective identity and strength.

Alexandra Popp's special connection to Borussia Dortmund has never been a secret in the football world. Now the sensation is complete: The three-time Champions League winner is joining BVB from VfL Wolfsburg on a free transfer. The 34-year-old has signed a three-year contract in Dortmund, binding her to the club until June 30, 2029.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has never been one to shy away from tactical scrutiny, often acknowledging the noise surrounding his team selections. Following the stalemate at the London Stadium, the spotlight has fallen firmly on his handling of Rayan Cherki, whose impact as a substitute stood in stark contrast to the starters' output.

Former Arsenal star and current pundit Paul Merson has delivered a blunt assessment of the challenges facing Arne Slot at Liverpool. While the former Feyenoord boss hit the ground running in the Premier League, Merson believes that the grace period afforded to him will be remarkably short if silverware does not follow. Merson suggested that without trophies, Slot risks being viewed in the same light as managers who have struggled to make a lasting impact at Tottenham Hotspur.

Lionel Messi was left out of Inter Miami's squad as they played out a goalless draw against Charlotte. But the decision to leave Messi out of the squad was strategic rather than injury-related as, having played the full 90 minutes against Nashville SC in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16 just days prior, the Inter Miami coaching staff opted to protect their prized asset.

Manchester City’s hopes of recapturing the Premier League crown took a significant hit against West Ham, leaving them trailing Mikel Arteta's Arsenal by nine points. While City still hold a game in hand over the Gunners, the stalemate at London Stadium felt like a missed opportunity to pile pressure on title-chasing rivals. Despite the growing gap and City’s recent inconsistency, Pep Guardiola remains adamant that the race is still alive.

Real Madrid showed no mercy to Elche in their last league match, sealing a resounding 4-1 victory that keeps the pressure on Barcelona. But Arda Guler stole the show, leaving his manager reaching for superlatives. The young playmaker’s strike was the highlight of a busy night at the Bernabeu, and Alvaro Arbeloa was quick to point out just how rare such a goal is in modern football.

Arsenal star Eberechi Eze might be known as one of the Premier League's coolest customers on the ball, but the England international was left completely speechless this week following a surprise encounter. The Gunners midfielder was caught on camera turning into a total fanboy at the club's training ground when the legendary Romario made an unexpected appearance.

Alan Shearer has sharply criticised Pep Guardiola after Manchester City suffered a 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid. Shearer expressed his surprise at the line-up, which indicated Guardiola's preference for an attacking style of play when facing a team of Real Madrid's stature away from home. The Newcastle United legend says City "got what they deserved" in the end, given their tactics and approach to the game.

Barcelona’s midfield options have received a significant lift as Gavi prepares to step back onto the pitch for the first time in over half a year. The club confirmed on Saturday that the 21-year-old is ready to feature in the matchday squad once again, with it marking the end of a long and difficult road to recovery for the La Masia graduate.

Chelsea legend Ashley Cole is clearly a huge fan of Burnley defender Kyle Walker, crowning him as one of the best full-backs of the Premier League era. Asked by GOAL to choose among some of the star players to have played in the English top flight in that position, the former England international picked Walker as his No.1.

Arne Slot has reached the 100-game milestone as Liverpool head coach, but the landmark comes at a time of significant turbulence for the Dutchman at Anfield. Despite a record-breaking start to his tenure on Merseyside, the former Feyenoord boss is currently facing the most scrutiny of his career as the Reds' form continues to falter, with Slot bizarrely saying it's the "nicest club to struggle at".

Cristiano Ronaldo Jr became the centre of attention, but not for his goal-scoring skills, after a tense incident during a Saudi Pro League's under-15 derby. The young Al-Nassr talent couldn't hide his frustration in a high-intensity match against Al-Hilal, demonstrating that he has inherited not only his father's talent but also his competitive and volatile temperament under pressure.