GOAL Exclusive: The American midfielder discusses adversity, gratitude, and why this year’s challenges have prepared him to fight for a World Cup spot.
Manchester United legend Patrice Evra has identified Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique as the "dream" candidate to lead the Red Devils, though he remains keen on seeing former midfielder Michael Carrick given a chance. Speaking on the future of the hot seat at Old Trafford, Evra suggested that Enrique’s tactical genius and personal resilience make him an ideal fit for the scrutiny of the Premier League.
In what could infuriate the Amakhosi fan base again, the national team head coach has not named a single player from the club. However, the Sea Robbers enjoy a high representation, followed by their close Premier Soccer League rivals, Mamelodi Sundowns. Thembinkosi Lorch, who has enjoyed an impressive run, has not been called up again.
An icon of the noughties era, Reebok are finally set to make a return to the football pitch after a 16-year absence. Evoking the days of prime Ryan Giggs and Thierry Henry, a Juventus star will be the face of the brand's comeback in the beautiful game and will wear their brand new boots.
Mohamed Salah's form has been a significant source of concern for Liverpool this season, leading many to wonder if the Egyptian King has finally lost his touch. Former Reds midfielder Didi Hamann has again criticised Salah, arguing that the Egyptian's struggles will not change, as his glory days are over. He urged the management to make immediate changes next season by recruiting new players.
Pep Guardiola can breathe a sigh of relief after Manchester City lynchpin Rodri avoided a playing suspension for his scathing assessment of match officials. The FA confirmed on Monday that an independent Regulatory Commission has sanctioned Rodri for the media comments he made following a controversial 2-2 draw with Tottenham on February 1. While the Ballon d'Or winner has been slapped with a heavy £80,000 fine, he remains available for selection as City continue their hunt for silverware.
Over the years, some high-profile strikers have come out of Mzansi, but recently, the upcoming ones have struggled to reach the standards set by their predecessors. As Hugo Broos looks forward to naming his World Cup squad, he should be scratching his head on whether the available centre-forwards will deliver. Before then, though, a retired striker has shared lessons for the current crop.
GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave their comfort zones in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.
Liverpool's Champions League ambitions have been rocked by the news that Alisson will miss the first leg of their last-16 clash against Galatasaray. The Brazilian shot-stopper, who is still widely considered to be one of the world's top goalkeepers, was a notable absentee as the Reds confirmed their 21-man travelling squad for the daunting trip to Istanbul.
Referees play critical roles in any football competitions but are always on the verge of a severe dressing-down if they make decisions considered biased. The coaches have always expressed their dissatisfaction openly when they feel decisions made were against their teams. Although freedom of expression is allowed, an experienced tactician has cautined his colleagues against public condemnation of the match officials.
Liverpool's preparations for their crucial Champions League clash against Galatasaray took a bizarre turn on Monday morning. While the focus was on who was present at the AXA Training Centre, former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood was left baffled at video footage of a training routine involving some of the club's biggest stars - a clip that was eventually deleted by Sky Sports.
Weston McKennie admits that the USMNT will be under “pressure” to deliver at a home World Cup, but considers that level of expectation to bring with it “extra motivation”. The United States is counting down the days to another major tournament on American soil, with McKennie explaining to GOAL how Mauricio Pochettino’s squad will handle the demands of heat and travel.
Real Madrid have been handed a major boost ahead of their titanic Champions League quarter-final tie against Manchester City, as Kylian Mbappe was spotted back on the grass at Valdebebas. The France international has been away in Paris undergoing conservative treatment on a knee injury, but his return to the club's training base signals a potential turning point for manager Alvaro Arbeloa.
The Soweto giants are seemingly braced to end the 2025/26 campaign without silverware, having ended their decade-long drought barely a year ago with the Nedbank Cup triumph. The Glamour Boys enjoy a massive following in and outside the country. Their struggles are allegedly harming the nation, and something should be done.
Manchester United legend Patrice Evra has called out Theo Walcott, suggesting the former Arsenal winger was "probably drunk" when comparing the current Gunners side to United’s iconic 2007-08 Champions League-winning team. The Frenchman did not mince his words after Walcott suggested Mikel Arteta’s title-chasers could compete with Sir Alex Ferguson's legendary squad, joking that he is a "danger to society" for making the claim.
Manchester United have been told that they made a huge mistake in allowing “phenomenal” David de Gea to leave the club in 2023. That is the opinion of former Red Devils striker Giuseppe Rossi, who returned to Old Trafford to train alongside De Gea and Co in 2019. He has told GOAL why it has taken so long for Premier League giants to get back on the “right path” in the goalkeeping department.
Bayern Munich have received a massive fitness boost ahead of their crucial Champions League knockout stage encounter against Atalanta. Harry Kane, who has been sidelined with a calf issue, was spotted back on the grass on Monday as the German giants completed their final preparations. The 32-year-old striker took part in the full session with the rest of the squad, moving freely and showing no ill effects of the knock that kept him out of domestic action recently.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has delivered a stinging assessment of Xavi Hernandez’s tenure, suggesting the legendary midfielder lacked the winning touch that successor Hansi Flick has already brought to Catalunya. Following an explosive interview where Xavi blamed the hierarchy for various failures, Laporta used a presidential debate to set the record straight on why he opted for a change in the dugout.
Tottenham are hurtling towards disaster. They could be relegated from the Premier League, and at this point of this season from hell, their best hope of staying up may simply be that football can change very quickly. There are still several key players to return from injury for the run-in, but that may prove too little, too late, particularly with the vibes in an almost irreversible tailspin.
The Soweto giants have been struggling for consistency, especially in the final third, where they have not been taking their scoring opportunities. Despite bringing on board players who could help them solve their scoring problems, the Glamour Boys have consistently failed to score more than one goal in most matches this season.
Throwback kings adidas have done it again, delivering a big dose of 90s nostalgia in the form of a new-look Predator. The revival of the German sportswear giant's Equipment franchise, the Predator EQT combines an iconic aesthetic with modern performance innovation.
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has jumped to the defence of Premier League leaders Arsenal, labelling the growing waves of criticism directed at Mikel Arteta’s side as "very unfair." Despite the Gunners sitting seven points clear at the summit following their 1-0 win over Brighton, rival managers and pundits have taken aim at their functional style of play and heavy reliance on set-pieces.
Arsenal will be “annoyed” at failing to win the Champions League, GOAL has been told, but that does not mean that the Gunners will “smash up” Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 of this season’s competition. Former ‘Invincibles’ squad member Jeremie Aliadiere has warned Mikel Arteta’s side against complacency after being handed a supposedly favourable European draw in 2026.
Former Fulham and Benfica striker Carlos Vinicius managed to turn an already simmering Brazilian derby into a full-blown riot with nothing more than a plastic water bottle. Representing Gremio in the second leg of the Campeonato Gaucho final against arch-rivals Internacional, the Brazilian forward proved he hasn't lost his knack for getting under the skin of his opponents.
Grok, the AI tool available on the X social media platform that is owned by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, is facing action from the UK government after allowing users to generate “sickening and irresponsible” posts. The most shocking content relates to the Hillsborough and Heysel tragedies, the death of former Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and the Munich air disaster.
Barcelona talisman Robert Lewandowski has lifted the lid on the drastic lifestyle changes that have allowed him to remain one of the world's most feared strikers at the age of 37. The Polish international, who has scored close to 400 league goals across Europe’s top-five divisions, revealed that he had to cut out sweet treats and specific food groups to maintain his physical edge.
In an explosive tell-all interview, former Barcelona manager Xavi has revealed how the club’s hierarchy apparently blocked his attempts to sign current Arsenal midfield anchor Martin Zubimendi. The legendary Spaniard, who was sacked in 2024, identified the then-Real Sociedad star as the perfect replacement for Sergio Busquets, only to seemingly see his request flatly rejected by the board during a period of intense financial scrutiny at the Catalan giants.
The Masandawana chairman has embraced the Downs-Pirates rivalry, revealing that the heated battle in the Premier Soccer League has also fired up their Champions League ambitions. The two teams have been swapping the top spot in the league almost with every kick of the ball in recent weeks and the title race looks like going down to the wire.
Sandro Tonali has been told that he “deserves to play for a big team”, with the Newcastle midfielder reported to be attracting admiring glances from the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea. The Italy international has been at St James’ Park since 2023, with Giuseppe Rossi telling GOAL why big-money bids for a proven Premier League performer could be tabled during the summer transfer window of 2026.