France news

Paul Pogba is being sensationally tipped to make France’s 2026 World Cup squad, with Bacary Sagna telling GOAL why the mercurial midfielder remains in contention for selection by Didier Deschamps. Pogba is now on the books at Monaco, but remains short on match sharpness after serving an 18-month doping ban. He has 91 international caps to his name.

Paul Pogba could line up against his former club Juventus on Wednesday night for the first time since parting ways with the Italian giants under the cloud of a doping ban in 2024. If he's fit, that is, with his highly-anticipated comeback at Monaco - after more than two years out of competitive action - being hampered by niggling injuries. As his former employers come to town, Pogba finds himself at another crossroads.

Kylian Mbappe is being backed to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with former France international Bacary Sagna telling GOAL why the Real Madrid superstar is destined to land a prestigious Golden Ball at some stage. He is considered to be the leading contender to claim that prize in a World Cup year, as he prepares to chase down a second global title with Les Bleus.

From humiliation to redemption, from doubt to eternal glory - this is the story of how Zinedine Zidane rose from the shadows to lead France to their greatest triumph. At the 1998 World Cup, the shy playmaker from Marseille became the face of a new nation, turning pain into pride and silence into legend. This is ICONS - a GOAL podcast and feature series that revisits the last 10 World Cups from unique perspectives, bringing the spirit of the tournament back to life...

Paris Saint-Germain defender Lucas Hernandez has been accused of human trafficking and illegal employment in a complaint filed against the player and his wife at a court in Versailles. The complaint comes from a Colombian family who worked for Hernandez. The full bck joined PSG in 2023 after spells with Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid and was part of France's 2018 World Cup-winning squad.

Michel Platini is undoubtedly one of the greatest footballers of all time. Playmaker, assister, goal-scorer: Platini was a complete player, capable of leaving an indelible mark on world football between the late 1970s and mid-1980s. He was the perfect No.10, embodying the true essence of the shirt number both then and now.

There really is nothing like the World Cup. Even just qualifying generates a level of nationwide excitement that the club game simply cannot match, which is why we witnessed truly joyous scenes all across the globe during the November international break, as 14 more countries booked their seat at next summer's festival of football in North America.

Ousmane Dembele put himself in contention for the Puskas Award after scoring an incredible lob in Paris Saint-Germain’s 3-0 victory over Lille on Friday evening. The Ballon d’Or winner, who had already found the net in the first half, doubled his side’s lead in outrageous fashion as the Parisians leapfrogged title rivals Lens and moved to the top of Ligue 1.

This is Legacy, GOAL’s podcast and feature series tracking the countdown to the 2026 World Cup. Each week, we explore the stories and the spirit behind the nations that define the world’s game. Today we look back at France '98; from the heartbreaks of Seville and Bulgaria to the night Zinedine Zidane lifted the trophy in Paris, this is the story of how France broke its curse and forged a winning identity that still defines Les Bleus today.

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso has confirmed the club still don’t know when Kylian Mbappe will return after the France superstar was diagnosed with an injury to his left knee. Mbappe picked up a knock in training and is expected to miss forthcoming crunch clashes with Real Betis and Atletico Madrid, and Alonso isn’t able to put an exact date on when he’ll be back in the side.