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Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix were left fuming after Al-Nassr's defeat to Al-Ahli, as a Portuguese director of their opponents sprinted onto the pitch and celebrated with goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi. In doing so, he appeared to brush Felix's arm, and both he and Ronaldo were left angry at his decision to take to the field after their unbeaten run came to an end.

Ronaldo Araujo is back in Barcelona training after taking a break away from football for his mental health. Following the defender's red card against Chelsea in November, the 26-year-old requested some time off to help him refocus and rediscover his form. Off the back of his footballing pause, he is now nearing a first-team return, while manager Hansi Flick has received a double injury boost.

Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has been trolled by former Juventus team-mate Merih Demiral after his side lost their unbeaten start to the Saudi Pro League season. The Portugal international is attempting to win his first league title with Nassr but Al-Ahli dealt them a 3-2 defeat on Friday evening, much to Ronaldo's chagrin.

Harvey Elliott looks like he has already played his last Aston Villa game as manager Unai Emery revealed the decision over his future was made months ago. The playmaker swapped Liverpool for the Villans on a season-long loan move but he has barely featured for the West Midlands outfit this season. The 22-year-old is now stuck between a rock and a hard place amid his uncertain future.

Premier League clubs face unusual kick-off times this weekend, as the New Year's schedule continues apace. Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea are all in action on Sunday, with 3pm kick-offs being aired live on television. GOAL can explain why the kick-off times are out of the ordinary as the year of 2026 gets underway.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has laid down the gauntlet to Eberechi Eze after dropping him from his XI. The playmaker joined the Gunners from Crystal Palace for an initial fee of £60 million ($81.2m) in August, and after impressing in the first few months of the season, Arteta has barely called upon the 27-year-old in recent weeks. Now, he has gone as far as saying Eze needs to "improve" certain parts of his game.

Wayne Rooney has revealed that Sol Campbell did not speak to him for six months after Manchester United beat Arsenal to end their 49-game unbeaten run at Old Trafford in 2004. The former United striker won a penalty in the game, as he cut in from the right and went down easily under the challenge of Campbell, who claimed his compatriot dived.

Sunderland stalwart Luke O'Nien has brutally trolled Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma following their heated post-match clash at the Stadium of Light. The Mackems defender didn't play in the goalless Premier League draw but still found time to wind up the Italian stopper, while manager Pep Guardiola appeared to play the role of peacemaker after the game.

Chelsea are reportedly 'intensifying' their efforts to recruit Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior following the sacking of Enzo Maresca. The Italian head coach was dismissed after 18 months in charge following a fraying of relations with the club's owners, BlueCo. Now, the Premier League outfit have set their sights on the 41-year-old Englishman, who may have opened the door to a mid-season switch.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca reportedly left the club 'without saying a word to his players' amid his determination to quit. In the wake of the Blues' 2-2 draw with Bournemouth at the end of December, assistant coach Willy Caballero spoke to the media on the Italian's behalf. And as the west London outfit looks for his successor in early 2026, more details over his exit have come to light.

Pedro Neto says he felt "sad" and "surprised" at the news of Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca's sudden sacking. It appeared that tensions between the Italian and the board were heightened when the former Leicester City manager admitted he had endured his "worst 48 hours" at the club in December. Weeks on from those remarks, he has been given the boot - something Neto is disappointed by.

Manchester United have reportedly explored the conditions of signing Brighton star Carlos Baleba in January. The Red Devils tried and failed to recruit the midfielder in the summer as they refused to pay upwards of £100 million ($135m) for the 22-year-old. Despite the Seagulls holding firm on their asking price, Ruben Amorim's team have not given up trying to secure his services.

Mykhailo Mudryk has urged Chelsea fans not to "give up" on him as he hints at a return from his doping suspension. The 24-year-old was provisionally suspended in December 2024 following a positive test for banned substance meldonium, before being charged the following summer. As he appeals the decision, the Ukrainian has posted an update in a New Year's message.

After Napoli beat Bologna on December 22 to win the Supercoppa Italiana, Rasmus Hojlund posted a picture of him holding the trophy, accompanied by the words, "What a great decision looks like." Unsurprisingly, some Manchester United fans didn't react well to the perceived slight on their club. One comment on Hojlund's Instagram photo with more than 14,000 likes sarcastically congratulated the Dane for finding his 'level' before adding, "[The] Premier League is too difficult for amateurs."

Cristiano Ronaldo endured a poor night in front of goal as Ivan Toney's brace helped Al-Ahli beat Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Friday. The former Brentford star had put his side 2-0 up before Al-Nassr rallied to level proceedings by half-time, but Merih Demiral's effort ensured Al-Ahli earned the points before two red cards were dished out in stoppage time.

Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson has completed his £35m transfer to Crystal Palace, barely half a year after scoring the winning goal in the Europa League final. The Wales international was a key part of Ange Postecoglou's team but has fallen out of favour under new manager Thomas Frank. Johnson now gets the opportunity to revive his career at Selhurst Park, with the Eagles currently ahead of Spurs in the Premier League table in tenth position.

Ruben Amorim has declared that no Manchester United player will be allowed to leave the club in the January transfer window, handing blows to wantaway duo Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee. United are still at the gates of the Champions League qualifying spots but there appears to be no chance of the club strengthening in the winter market to boost their chances of finishing in the top four.

Liverpool are reportedly close to finalising a £43m ($58m/€49.3m) transfer for Ecuador international Joel Ordonez, who has impressed at Club Brugge. The Reds defence has come under fire during their unsuccessful title defence and reinforcements are being sought after they missed out on Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi in the summer.

Liam Rosenior has spoken out after being touted to replace Enzo Maresca at Chelsea. The Italian was dismissed from his post on New Year's Day and the Blues are in the process of selecting a new head coach, with Rosenior thought to be the leading candidate at this stage. The 41-year-old has been in charge of the Ligue 1 side for over a year and helped them qualify for the Conference League in his first season.

Mikel Arteta has challenged his Arsenal squad to end their wait for a Premier League title this season. The Gunners have gone close over the past few campaigns, often holding strong positions at the halfway point, but they remain without a trophy since 2020. They are favourites to finish at the top of the pile but will face stern competition from the likes of Manchester City and Aston Villa.

Major League Soccer revealed the 2026 MLS Official Match Ball, introducing a striking red, white, and blue design that nods to the people, places, and culture shaping the sport across North America as the region gears up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Set to debut when the MLS season kicks off on the weekend of Feb. 21–22, the new match ball turns the playing surface into a symbolic map of the league.

Chelsea interim manager Calum McFarlane has revealed his excitement at taking charge of the team after Enzo Maresca's dramatic exit on New Year's Day. The 40-year-old, who takes charge of the club's Under-21s side, will be in the dugout opposite Pep Guardiola when the Blues visit Manchester City on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League.

D.C. United are nearing a club-record signing as the MLS side finalizes a deal worth around $7 million plus add-ons to acquire Romanian international forward Louis Munteanu from CFR Cluj, according to The Athletic. The move could reach $10 million and would mark a cornerstone addition as the club undergoes a major roster overhaul ahead of the new season.

GOAL U.S. writers take a look at some of the biggest storylines of the January transfer window.

GOAL previews the main storylines among Americans abroad this weekend.

Chelsea's season was already bordering on crisis when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Bournemouth on Tuesday night. Expectations are high at Stamford Bridge and a dreadful December brought about questions over just how ready this team is to compete. There was turbulence, sure, but the surprise sacking of Enzo Maresca on New Year's Day could torpedo their 2025-26 campaign altogether.

We're only halfway through the season but Chelsea are looking for a new manager, after parting company with Enzo Maresca on New Year's Day. On the one hand, the Italian's exit is a surprise, given he won both the Conference League and Club World Cup during his first season at Stamford Bridge. However, it had been clear for some time that Maresca wasn't entirely happy in west London, with the former Leicester City boss sensationally going public with a perceived lack of support within the club after last month's Champions League loss to Atalanta.

The USMNT Transfer Notebook tracks American player movements, with the latest developments for those in the U.S. national team pool.

Chelsea's plans for the 2026 January transfer window have been revealed following the dismissal of manager Enzo Maresca. The Italian boss was given the boot on the first day of the year after falling out with the Blues hierarchy, while he also oversaw a run of three games without a win during the festive period. The west London club had a busy summer window but may not be quite as occupied when it comes to incoming arrivals this month.