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 continues to look unstoppable for England at the 2026 World Cup, with former Three Lions star Des Walker admitting to GOAL that kicking the prolific striker may be the only way of bringing him to a halt. The record-breaking frontman has been rewriting the history books, with the benefits of a move from Tottenham to Bayern Munich being explained.
Cristiano Ronaldo's dream of World Cup glory has officially come to an end following a heartbreaking defeat to Spain in Dallas. While the veteran forward left the pitch in tears, his former club manager has moved to shield the 41-year-old from the mounting criticism surrounding his final tournament display.
FIFA has sparked a massive debate ahead of the World Cup quarter-finals by appointing an entirely Argentine officiating crew for France's clash against Morocco. The decision has raised eyebrows across the footballing world given the intense recent history and bubbling rivalry between Les Bleus and the Albiceleste, as well as the fact Argentina are likely to be a main challenger to France winning the entire tournament.
Mohamed Salah and his Egypt team-mates were met with an emotional reception at their team hotel following their crushing World Cup exit at the hands of Argentina. Despite the devastating nature of the defeat, the players stood and applauded the travelling fans who had gathered to show their appreciation for the Pharaohs' historic run.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni was unable to finish a post-match interview as raw emotion took hold following a historic World Cup comeback win against Egypt. The Albiceleste boss was moved to tears pitchside as he attempted to process one of the most dramatic nights in the tournament's history.
Egypt forward Mostafa Zico has sparked a global firestorm after sensationally claiming the 2026 World Cup is "fixed" following the Pharaohs' dramatic last-16 exit at the hands of Argentina. In one of the most explosive post-match interviews in the tournament's history, the attacker alleged that officials intentionally manipulated the result to ensure Lionel Messi and the reigning world champions remained in the competition.
The final 20 minutes of England's dramatic, round-of-16 win over Mexico suited Jordan Pickford down to the ground. The Three Lions were down to 10 men, and Thomas Tuchel made the remit clear: To bunker in and keep the ball as far away from goal as possible. Pickford performed his task to a tee.
Kylian Mbappe is on a Lionel Messi-themed revenge mission at the 2026 World Cup, Louis Saha has told GOAL, with France’s talismanic striker determined to right a few wrongs from Qatar 2022. Final agony - despite scoring a hat-trick against Argentina - was endured in the Middle East, but positive progress has been made through another major competition on North American soil.
The 2026 World Cup has been a non-stop festival of football across North America, but fans looking for their daily fix on Wednesday will find the schedule surprisingly empty. After a breathless round of 16 that saw the world's heavyweights battle for survival, FIFA has implemented a tactical pause in the proceedings.
France may be cruising at the World Cup, but all is reportedly not well behind the scenes in the Les Bleus camp. Despite a perfect run to the quarter-finals, reports suggest that one of Didier Deschamps' brightest young talents is reaching a breaking point over his peripheral role in North America.
Wayne Rooney described Cristiano Ronaldo's final appearance at a World Cup as "a sad day for football". It wasn't, though. Not really. Ronaldo may be one of the most iconic figures in sporting history, but Spain's victory over an insipid Portugal side, taken in conjunction with Belgium battering the United States, actually made July 6, 2026 a pretty good day for the game.
Jude Bellingham enjoys being a “show-off” and England’s “main man”, Des Walker has told GOAL, with the Three Lions superstar considered to have joined fellow generational talents Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne in an exclusive “big head” club. Bellingham is said to boast positive “arrogance”, with that self belief allowing him to thrive at the 2026 World Cup.
Lionel Messi cut a figure of raw emotion in Atlanta after Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt, admitting he was left "very distressed" by his own performance. Despite leading his nation into the World Cup quarter-finals, the legendary captain struggled to reconcile his creative brilliance with a historic failure from the penalty spot.
Ruben Vargas slotted home the decisive spot-kick as Switzerland defeated Colombia 4-3 on penalties to progress to the quarter-finals of the World Cup after one of the worst games of the tournament so far had unsurprisingly finished scoreless. A tight and tense encounter had been expected in Vancouver, given how both sides had performed on their respective runs to the last 16.
Legendary Lionesses goalkeeper Mary Earps has praised England star Jordan Pickford for his explosive power, direct kicking, and unpredictable personality. Having navigated a challenging path to the quarter-finals, including a standout performance against Mexico, the Everton shot-stopper remains the undisputed first choice ahead of a daunting clash with Erling Haaland.
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has sensationally claimed his side were victims of an "injustice" following their dramatic 3-2 World Cup round-of-16 defeat to Argentina. The Pharaohs surrendered a two-goal lead in Atlanta as the reigning champions mounted a late comeback, but the match was defined by a series of contentious officiating decisions that left the African giants fuming.
Former England striker Peter Crouch has jokingly compared himself to viral personality Salt Bae after being caught up in the emotional aftermath of the Three Lions’ dramatic World Cup victory over Mexico. The retired forward admitted he felt like a "full kit w*nker" during his enthusiastic celebrations with captain Harry Kane at the Azteca Stadium.
Tom Brady was left stunned by Lionel Messi and Argentina following their incredible 3-2 victory over Egypt. The NFL icon suggested that the dramatic turnaround in Atlanta might have surpassed his own legendary Super Bowl comeback with the New England Patriots, as the South American side scored three late goals to secure a spectacular quarter-final spot.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s storied relationship with the World Cup has come to a somber conclusion, defined as much by a peculiar lack of individual flair as by Portugal’s early exit. While the legendary forward found the net three times during the 2026 edition in North America, his overall impact on the pitch has been laid bare by a staggering new statistic.
Lionel Messi has matched a spectacular World Cup record previously set by Diego Maradona after inspiring Argentina to a breathtaking 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt. The captain was instrumental as his team overturned a two-goal deficit in the final minutes, securing a quarter-final spot while registering astonishing individual statistics that cement his legacy on the global stage.
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