Nottingham Forest will be hoping to see Brazilian defender Murillo spend another decade at the City Ground, with legendary former Reds centre-half Des Walker telling GOAL why the enigmatic South American can hit individual targets without seeking a transfer elsewhere. A long-term contract is ensuring that no sale needs to be considered any time soon.
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.
Arsenal are reportedly set to complete a surprise move for former Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier, with the Frenchman set to arrive at the Emirates Stadium on a free transfer. The 26-year-old is expected to undergo a medical shortly as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his goalkeeping department following the player's departure from Elland Road.
FC Copenhagen and adidas have officially pulled back the curtain on the club's new home kit for the 2026-27 season, delivering a design that leans heavily into the club's deep-rooted identity. The jersey serves as a tribute to the Danish capital, incorporating historic heraldry into a modern performance look.
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.
The long wait for more AFC Richmond magic is almost over as Hannah Waddingham has offered a tantalising glimpse into the future of Ted Lasso. With the beloved football comedy set to return to screens shortly, fans are bracing for a major shift in dynamic at Nelson Road.
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.
Victor Osimhen has enjoyed a spectacular campaign at Galatasaray, but the prolific Nigerian forward has been warned that a high-profile move to Barcelona is highly unlikely to materialise. A former Super Lig rival believes that while Osimhen is an incredibly gifted goalscorer, he lacks the refined technical ability required to fit into the tactical system at Camp Nou.
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.
Manchester United are ready to break the bank to secure their top midfield target as INEOS look to overhaul the squad under interim manager Michael Carrick. Having missed out on primary targets earlier in the window, the Red Devils are now refocusing their efforts on a statement signing from Real Madrid.
Endrick has opened up on his devastating miss during Brazil's shock World Cup exit to Norway. The Real Madrid striker missed a golden opportunity before the team suffered a painful 2-1 defeat. He has now promised to learn from the heartbreaking moment and vowed to work tirelessly to ensure the national team bounce back in the 2030 tournament.
Lionel Messi could not contain his emotions at the final whistle in Atlanta as Argentina staged a sensational late comeback to beat Egypt 3-2. After watching old rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar suffer painful exits in previous matches, the Inter Miami star shed tears of joy as the reigning champions secured their place in the quarter-finals.
U.S. Soccer says that the federation will reengage in conversations about Mauricio Pochettino's future after a period of rest and reflection following the U.S. men's national team's World Cup exit. The USMNT lost 4-1 to Belgium on Monday, ending the team's World Cup run and, potentially, ending Pochettino's time in charge of the team.
Lionel Messi made amends for missing a second penalty at the 2026 World Cup by inspiring the most dramatic of comebacks, as Argentina came from 2-0 down with just over 10 minutes remaining to beat a heroic Egypt side 3-2 in a last-16 clash for the ages in Atlanta. Lionel Scaloni's side started as sluggishly as they had performed in their lucky win over Cape Verde by the same scoreline, and Egypt took advantage, with an unmarked Yasser Ibrahim burying a cross from Marwan Attia past Emiliano Martinez with just 15 minutes gone.
USMNT defender Cameron Carter-Vickers has finally returned to pre-season training with Celtic following a devastating Achilles rupture. The 28-year-old was sidelined since October, enduring a gruelling rehabilitation process that cost him a place at the World Cup, but is now ready to step up his recovery ahead of the new campaign.