Lists

Nico O’Reilly has been tipped to nail down England’s left-back berth for “the next decade”, with Michael Gray explaining to GOAL why the Manchester City star is an “incredible talent”. With the versatile 21-year-old expected to become a mainstay in the Three Lions’ defence over the course of a 10-year period, what does that mean for United full-back Luke Shaw?

Lionel Messi has shared an emotional message of congratulations after watching his former club Barcelona secure back-to-back La Liga titles in historic fashion. The Argentine legend was among the first to react as the Blaugrana dismantled Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou to move into an unassailable lead at the top of the table.

Gary Neville has referred to Sunday's 95th-minute VAR call that went Arsenal's way against West Ham as a historic turning point that could decide the title. "It's an earthquake, a tremor that lasts just a moment," Neville declared while commentating on the Hammers' 1-0 defeat at the London Stadium. For the Manchester United legend, it was clear: "This is the biggest moment in the history of VAR in the Premier League."

Christian Pulisic missed AC Milan’s 3-2 defeat to Atalanta due to a glute injury, though ESPN reported his absence was largely “precautionary.” No timeline has been given for his return, but the timing is far from ideal: Milan have two league matches left and are clinging to fourth place, the final Champions League qualifying spot, on head-to-head over Roma.

GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including Pulisic and AC Milan facing the prospect of missing the Champions League...again.

Joshua Zirkzee’s future at Old Trafford is under intense scrutiny following a toothless performance during Manchester United’s disappointing 0-0 draw at Sunderland. The Dutch forward has been heavily criticised for his lack of physicality and impact, with pundits and former players suggesting that he lacks the necessary profile to succeed in a Red Devils shirt.

Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has launched a scathing attack on the officiating following Arsenal's controversial 1-0 victory over West Ham. The former goalkeeper was left furious after a late equaliser for the relegation-threatened Hammers was disallowed by VAR, claiming the Gunners benefit from a double standard and would not be leading the Premier League without it.

Chelsea forward Joao Pedro has admitted his astonishment at the defensive prowess of Gabriel Magalhaes, naming the Arsenal centre-back as his toughest opponent this season. The Brazilian striker confessed that, despite facing elite defenders across Europe, the "inspired" form of his compatriot has posed the ultimate test to his attacking instincts.

Vinicius Jr went missing and Real Madrid turned in a spirited yet ineffective performance against Barcelona, losing 2-0 and watching their rivals lift the league trophy in the process. Los Blancos were outplayed throughout, and could never recover from an early deficit in a game that more or less summed up the massive gulf in quality between the two teams.

Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira has admitted that he cannot guarantee midfielder Elliot Anderson will remain at the club next season. The highly sought-after England international is currently attracting intense interest from both Manchester United and Manchester City following his exceptional performances, as his valuation reportedly reaches a staggering £120 million mark.

Barcelona retained their league title in dream circumstances on Sunday night, comprehensively defeating fierce rivals Real Madrid in El Clasico on home soil. La Liga's runaway leaders only needed a point from the showdown at Spotify Camp Nou and would have expected a stern contest against their old foes, but in truth this was a routine victory over a Madrid side in disarray after a week of chaos behind the scenes.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided a candid explanation for his tactical U-turn after substituting Martin Zubimendi just 39 minutes after bringing him on against West Ham. The Gunners boss admitted that the initial reshuffle following Ben White’s first-half injury disrupted the team’s rhythm, forcing him to make a ruthless decision to protect Arsenal's slender lead in the Premier League title race.

Sam Coffey lifted the WSL trophy with Manchester City, Lindsey Heaps scored as OL Lyonnes won the Coupe de France, and Emily Fox helped Arsenal cruise past Aston Villa.

Marcus Rashford emulated Lionel Messi during Sunday's Clasico, scoring a magnificent direct free-kick to help Barcelona establish a 2-0 half-time lead against Real Madrid. The Manchester United loanee found the top corner from range in the ninth minute, becoming the first Blaugrana player to score a free-kick in the fixture since Messi in 2012.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised the match officials for their "brave" decision to disallow a late West Ham equaliser in a tense 1-0 victory for his team on Sunday. The Spaniard insisted that the VAR intervention to award a foul on David Raya was the correct call, one that provided necessary clarity amidst the chaotic final moments at the London Stadium.

Andoni Iraola has left Europe's elite clubs, including Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, in a state of anticipation following a calculated update on his managerial future. The Bournemouth boss insisted he is in absolutely no hurry to jump into a new project despite his impending exit, as he remains fully focused on securing European football for the Cherries.

Cesc Fabregas has led Como to a historic achievement, securing European football for the first time in the club's history after a 1-0 win over Hellas Verona. The milestone comes exactly two years after their promotion to Serie A. With his managerial stock rising rapidly, Fabregas' success in Italy continues to fuel rumours of a potential return to his former club Chelsea.

Jarrod Bowen has launched a scathing attack on officiating standards after West Ham United saw a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser against Arsenal chalked off by VAR. The Hammers captain was left incensed following a five-minute delay at the London Stadium, arguing that the decision to overturn the goal highlighted a problem with the consistency required in the Premier League’s most pivotal moments.

Spain’s World Cup preparations have suffered a devastating blow after Nico Williams was forced off with a muscular injury during Athletic Club's La Liga match against Valencia. Coming just weeks before the tournament and following Lamine Yamal's season-ending injury, the winger's distress on the pitch has sparked major fears over his availability for the national squad.

Weston McKennie has declared that he is ready to transform the immense pressure of a home World Cup into a historic performance for the United States men's national team. The Juventus midfielder insists that while the "butterflies" are inevitable, he feels no fear heading into the 2026 tournament, viewing the global spotlight as a unique opportunity to elevate American soccer to unprecedented heights.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has raised eyebrows by insisting he was "very happy" with his side's 2-2 draw against relegated Burnley on Sunday. The Spanish boss launched a passionate defence of his squad at Turf Moor, remaining steadfastly positive even as their pursuit of Champions League qualification hit a significant roadblock.

The Buccaneers mentor has praised the 28-year-old star, insisting the playmaker has finally cracked the code of his high-intensity system. The midfielder, affectionately known to the Ghost as 'Tito', has shaken off a sluggish start to the campaign to emerge as a key part of the Buccaneers' late charge for silverware.

CAF Confederation Cup qualification was hanging in the balance coming into this game, the stakes couldn’t have been any higher. In a dramatic twist, one of the forgotten Glamour Boys stars rose from the shadows to stamp his mark when it mattered most, etching his name back into the hearts of the supporters. The Soweto giants dug deep and showed real character to script a strong finish to the 2025/26 Premier Soccer League campaign, sealing their place on the continental stage in style with two games left.

As Chelsea and Man City prepared to face off in the Women's FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday, all the talk was about Khadija Shaw. The striker is out of contract in Manchester in a few weeks' time and all the talk is that she will be leaving, with Chelsea in hot pursuit of his signature. So, of course, Shaw took centre stage at Stamford Bridge, scoring twice to knock the Blues out of the competition and send City to Wembley in a dramatic 3-2 win that will go down as a cup classic.

Arsenal took a giant step towards the Premier League title as they secured an incredibly dramatic 1-0 win at West Ham on Sunday, with Leandro Trossard scoring a late winner before the hosts had what they thought was a stoppage-time equaliser ruled out following a VAR check for the ages. It looked like Callum Wilson had struck a dagger to the Gunners’ title hopes when he fired home with seconds remaining but, after an agonisingly lengthy review, the goal was ruled out for a foul on David Raya - much to the disgust of the relegation-threatened Hammers.

Arsenal’s Premier League title charge and England’s World Cup preparations have been dealt a massive blow following a significant injury to Ben White. The versatile defender was forced to withdraw during the first half of Sunday's clash against West Ham United, leaving both Mikel Arteta and Thomas Tuchel sweating over his fitness.

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has opened up about his disastrous 83-day managerial spell at Birmingham City. Reflecting on his brief tenure, he claims that the heavy influence and unrealistic tactical demands from the club's high-profile ownership, specifically Tom Wagner and NFL icon Tom Brady, directly caused the poor results that led to his sacking.

The South African coach has finally addressed the long-standing rumours surrounding Durban City FC chairman and his alleged tendency to interfere with tactical decisions. The former Maritzburg United boss, who is now making waves in Morocco with Raja Casablanca, has provided a rare glimpse into the inner workings of one of South Africa's most prominent football administrators.

Man City will take on Brighton in the Women's FA Cup final later this month, after Liverpool and Chelsea fell in the semi-finals on Sunday. It'll be a first Wembley appearance for the Seagulls, who downed the Reds in a dramatic 3-2 win, and they will be huge underdogs against Man City, the newly-elected Women's Super League champions who won by the same scoreline in extra time at Stamford Bridge, thanks to Khadija Shaw's double.