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After a 36-year wait, Argentina returned to the summit of world football with their 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar. Though he didn’t feature, Sergio Aguero told GOAL it remains one of the greatest moments of his life, while backing the current squad to carry that same hunger, identity, and competitive edge into the 2026 tournament.

Freddy Adu has explained to GOAL when - amid chats with NBA legend Kobe Bryant and completing a “crazy” transfer - things felt “real” for him and as though he had bucked the trend by cracking Europe as an American soccer player. Having burst onto the scene as a 14-year-old wonderkid, Adu helped to pave the way for the likes of Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie to follow in his footsteps.

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel has told GOAL why he would have sided with Harry Redknapp or Glenn Hoddle over Roberto De Zerbi as another managerial merry-go-round is set in motion. With Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor passing through north London this season, Premier League survival hangs in the balance without a familiar face being turned to for inspiration.

Golden Glove leader David Raya and Emi Martinez have been snubbed as Mark Crossley draws up his list of the top three Premier League goalkeepers for GOAL. The former Nottingham Forest and Wales shot-stopper has explained the skill set that an “ideal” No.1 must possess, with superstar performers at Manchester City and Liverpool considered to boast those qualities.

Cesc Fabregas has been told why his career path could lead back to Chelsea or Barcelona, with the World Cup winner doing a “remarkable” job as manager of Como. The former Spain international stepped into the dugout after hanging up his boots in Italy. He is now chasing down Champions League qualification, with Massimo Ambrosini telling GOAL why a return to familiar surroundings could be agreed at some stage.

Daniel Munoz is considered to be one of the Premier League’s most complete right-backs, but the Crystal Palace defender has been told who ranks above him in those stakes and why a dream transfer to Manchester United “might not happen”. That assessment has been delivered to GOAL in an exclusive interview by former Eagles striker Clinton Morrison.

Freddy Adu has told GOAL why Gio Reyna’s unique skillset could be crucial to the USMNT cause at a home World Cup. The United States is, alongside Mexico and Canada, preparing to play host to FIFA’s flagship event in 2026. Reyna is hoping to play a prominent role at that event but, having endured form and fitness issues at club level, has been informed of what he needs to bring to Mauricio Pochettino’s squad in order to make the cut.

Michael Owen has told GOAL why he remains confident that Alexander Isak will justify his record-shattering £125 million ($166m) price tag at Liverpool. The Swedish striker became the most expensive player in British football during the summer transfer window of 2025. He has endured an injury-hit debut campaign at Anfield, but is being backed to prove his worth.

Former Coventry striker Clinton Morrison has told GOAL why there is “always a fear” that Frank Lampard could leave the Premier League-bound Sky Blues and return to Chelsea. In his current coaching post, ex-England international Lampard is close to delivering promotion back into the top-flight. He is, however, seeing a third stint as manager at Stamford Bridge speculated on.

Freddy Adu knows all about the challenges of being a teenage wonderkid and is hoping that Cavan Sullivan will soon be shown the level of trust by the Philadelphia Union that his exciting potential deserves. The MLS history-making 16-year-old remains part of the first-team fold in Philly, but ex-USMNT star Adu has told GOAL why the youngster “should have started more games than he has”.

Oliver Glasner has been informed that he may have talked himself out of contention for Manchester United’s managerial post, with the Crystal Palace boss receiving a “stepping stone” warning. The Austrian was considered to be a leading contender to take charge at Old Trafford following Ruben Amorim’s departure, but Clinton Morrison has told GOAL why a more scenic route to the top may have to be taken.

With the countdown on to a home World Cup in the summer of 2026, who will be chosen to take on captaincy duties for the USMNT? There are several prominent candidates in the running there, with Tyler Adams back in contention having filled the armband at Qatar 2022. Freddy Adu has revealed his pick to GOAL, with a Landon Donovan comparison being used to explain why Christian Pulisic may be overlooked.

Declan Rice is being held up as the perfect role model for England international team-mate Adam Wharton, with the Crystal Palace midfielder having one obvious area of his game to address. The 22-year-old playmaker is considered to be one of the Premier League’s hottest prospects, but he is yet to score a goal for the Eagles. Clinton Morrison has addressed that shock statistic with GOAL and explained who Wharton needs to look at for inspiration.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic decided against bringing his unique brand of “chaos” to the dugout as a coach, with former AC Milan team-mate Massimo Ambrosini telling GOAL why “ego” management led the enigmatic Swede down a different path. The former striker, who retired at the age of 41, is now working as an advisor to the Rossoneri board at San Siro.

Everton’s loan agreement with Manchester City for Jack Grealish includes a £50 million ($67m) purchase option, but the England international is expected to go for less than that figure in the summer transfer window. Richard Dunne, who spent time on Merseyside at the Etihad in his playing days, has told GOAL why - amid MLS and Wrexham talk - Grealish could become a cut-price option for someone.

Christian Pulisic has reached double figures again on the goal front for AC Milan this season, but the USMNT star has gone 12 games without finding the target and has drawn a complete blank since the turn of the calendar year. The American forward remains a talismanic presence for the Rossoneri, but club legend Massimo Ambrosini has told GOAL why end product has dried up in 2026.

Aston Villa are being backed to complete a memorable double in 2026, with Champions League qualification being secured through their Premier League standing and a first trophy win in 30 years. Former Villans defender Richard Dunne has told GOAL how landing major silverware and finishing strongly in top-flight competition can help to keep Unai Emery on board.

Could there be a Bruno trade at Manchester United this summer as club captain Fernandes heads for the exits and Brazilian star Guimaraes arrives from Newcastle? Questions continue to be asked of how long Fernandes will stick around at Old Trafford, but former Red Devils and Magpies striker Michael Owen has told GOAL why any thoughts of replacing the Portuguese playmaker should be shelved.

Sporting directors and global heads of football are not an entirely new concept, but they do generate plenty of questions when it comes to who should have the final say in any transfer business. Nottingham Forest are among those to have reignited that lively debate in 2025-26, as ex-Arsenal and Brazil star Edu is phased out at the City Ground, with ex-Reds striker Marlon Harewood discussing a very modern phenomenon with GOAL.

Federico Chiesa, who has endured a tough couple of years at Liverpool, is considered to be a “fragile guy” and has been told that a return to his native Italy could be the best option for all concerned. Struggles for fitness and regular game time continue to plague the Italian winger in England, with Massimino Ambrosini telling GOAL why a change of scenery in 2026 would make a lot of sense.

Barcelona duo Lamine Yamal and Sydney Schertenleib are the winners of NXGN 2026 after coming out on top in GOAL's annual lists of football's top teenagers (players born on or after January 1, 2007). It marks the second straight year that Barca have provided the No.1 player on both lists, following Yamal and Vicky Lopez's triumphs in 2025.

Manchester City have been informed as to who the “best replacement” for Pep Guardiola will be, while Vincent Kompany is being backed to return to the Etihad Stadium at some point. Former Blues captain Richard Dunne has told GOAL what the future could look like in a coaching capacity, with two highly-decorated managers set to see their respective contracts expire in 2027.

Trent Alexander-Arnold made his England debut in 2018 but has only taken his tally of caps to 34, with Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel taking to snubbing Real Madrid’s former Liverpool defender on a regular basis. Michael Owen, who also spent time at Anfield and Santiago Bernabeu in his playing days, has told GOAL why the buccaneering full-back may have seen his 2026 World Cup dream dashed.

The Premier League have been warned that they would be “ruining their own competition” by hitting Manchester City with a 60-point penalty at this stage of the season, with a “stupid” Financial Fair Play (FFP) saga continuing to drag on. Potential sanctions in a 115-charge case are still being mooted, with Richard Dunne telling GOAL when a ruling will likely be delivered.

Thomas Tuchel has admitted that Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman has a “chance” of making England’s 2026 World Cup squad, but would an opportunity such as that be arriving too early for the 16-year-old forward? GOAL has put that question to Michael Owen, a man that knows all about making a senior breakthrough with the Three Lions as a teen sensation.

Nottingham Forest’s surge to third in the Premier League table as a newly-promoted club “will never happen again”, Mark Crossley has told GOAL, with that achievement deserving greater recognition. The Reds, alongside Newcastle, boast the record for highest finish secured immediately after stepping into the big time since a bold new era for English football was embraced in 1992.

Emi Martinez appeared destined to leave Aston Villa in the summer of 2025, only to end up staying put, but could the World Cup-winning goalkeeper finally get his move 12 months on? The enigmatic Argentina international has remained an important part of Unai Emery’s plans in the West Midlands, but Emile Heskey has told GOAL why a sale is likely to be agreed in the next transfer window.

Steven Gerrard has been informed that his dream of managing Liverpool has “died”, with an emotional return to Anfield being ruled out. There was a point, when winning the Scottish Premiership title at Rangers, that Gerrard was considered to be a Reds boss of the future. Emile Heskey has told GOAL why that may no longer be the case for his former teammate.

When West Ham left Upton Park things were never going to be the same, but ex-Hammers striker Marlon Harewood has told GOAL why the London Stadium can still be an “amazing place”. Many disgruntled fans, of the home and away variety, have failed to take the former Olympic venue into their hearts. It does, however, tick many important boxes for an ambitious East End outfit.