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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.

The 25-year-old former AmaZulu player has been doing well for South Africa in the biennial competition, having made two direct contributions to the five goals Hugo Broos' men scored in Group B to finish second with six points behind seven-time champions Egypt. The winger is expected to play a crucial role in the knockout phase.

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.

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.

The 24-year-old is a natural centre-back who is also comfortable at right-back, but that versatility has ironically not counted in his favour in his bid to become a regular at Masandawana. Despite limited opportunities, he continues to be linked with a move away from Chloorkop amid growing speculation about his future. However, his representative has stepped in to clear the air and set the record straight on where the defender stands.

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.

Recently, the AFCON organisers released the list of the players who they feel performed better in the initial stage of the biennial competition. No player from South Africa made the squad despite some strong showings from a couple of them, like the Burnley FC star Lyle Foster, as well as the Mamelodi Sundowns defender Khuliso Mudau.

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.

Things have rapidly deteriorated for the 22-year-old who was only in November 2023 crowned African Football League Most Valuable Player and finished as the tournament’s joint top scorer. He was part of Bafana Bafana’s squad at the 2023 AFCON and even started the opening match against Mali, underlining how highly he was rated at the time. However, injury struck, triggering a painful downhill slide that has stalled what once looked like a soaring career.

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."

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.

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.

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

The 2023/24 Carling Knockout champions have once again lost an influential figure in the dressing room amid their struggles in the Premier Soccer League, where they have been posting inconsistent results this season. Former Amakhosi coach Gavin Hunt, who took over from Steve Barker, will have to find a suitable replacement before club football resumes.

GOAL previews the main storylines among Americans abroad this weekend.

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.

The Sea Robbers, under coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, have been exceptional in the domestic competitions this season, where they have already won two titles. The Buccaneers are also targeting the South African top-flight crown they last won more than a decade ago, but will have to do it without one of their key players.