Lists

Manchester City have taken a massive step toward securing their midfield future by agreeing a staggering British record transfer fee for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson. The England international is set to become one of the highest earners at the Etihad as the club prepares for life after Pep Guardiola.

Chelsea winger Pedro Neto has been grabbing headlines for more than just his performances on the pitch at the 2026 World Cup. The Portugal international has found himself the subject of significant social media attention after being unofficially crowned the most handsome player at the tournament.

The Soweto giants have signalled their intentions for the 2026/27 Premier Soccer League season by confirming a triple swoop for some of the country's most exciting talents. The Buccaneers are leaving no stone unturned in their quest for domestic and continental dominance, securing the services of Neo Rapoo, Aphiwe Baliti, and Matome Mmolai to bolster the squad.

Nicolas Pepe rolled back the years with a magnificent individual performance to fire Ivory Coast into the World Cup knockout stage. The experienced attacker netted a historic brace against Curacao to ensure the Elephants progressed beyond the tournament's group stage for the first time in their footballing history.

Bafana Bafana legend has singled out Bucs forward for immense praise following South Africa’s historic 1-0 victory over South Korea. The Soweto giants' striker spearheaded the attack as Hugo Broos’ side secured their passage into the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup.

The Brazilian FA (CBF) has taken the extraordinary step of filing a formal complaint to FIFA following refereeing controversy in their World Cup clash with Scotland. Despite securing a 3-0 victory, the Selecao hierarchy are furious over a disallowed Vinicius Jr goal and are demanding that the match official never takes charge of their games again.

The 27-year-old has opened up on the mental resilience required to overcome his opening-match horror show at the 2026 World Cup. After a red card against El Tricolor threatened to derail his tournament, the midfielder returned to inspire South Africa to a historic victory over the Taegeuk Warriors.

Reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain have reopened formal negotiations with local government officials to purchase the iconic Parc des Princes. The ambitious French capital club aims to secure permanent ownership of the venue to facilitate a massive redevelopment project that will significantly increase the stadium's matchday capacity.

Former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda expects newly appointed Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho to construct his entire tactical framework around Kylian Mbappe. The ex-France international believes the duo share an identical elite mindset focused completely on winning trophies and correcting the structural issues that plagued the club last season.

Austrian Bundesliga outfit SV Ried have moved quickly to spend some of the record transfer fee they received after selling the 24-year-old winger to Mamelodi Sundowns. The club have announced South African midfield starlet Jaedin Rhodes has officially secured a move to Europe following an impressive individual campaign in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

Real Madrid are weighing up an audacious transfer strategy that could see former academy star Nico Paz act as the key to unlocking a deal for Inter's Alessandro Bastoni. Jose Mourinho is desperate to bolster his defensive line at the Bernabeu, and a complex series of negotiations involving the Argentine midfielder may provide the perfect solution.

The Bayern Munich centre-back has offered a public apology following his emotional reaction to being substituted during the Taegeuk Warriors' 1-0 defeat to South Africa. The defender was seen visibly frustrated on the touchline as the Asians fell to a shock loss against Hugo Broos’ side in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

As the Pep Guardiola versus Sir Alex Ferguson debate rages on, Peter Shilton has told GOAL how legendary Nottingham Forest boss Brian Clough compares to iconic managers of the modern era. One of the most charismatic coaches to ever grace a dugout would have relished the opportunity to lock tactical horns with the likes of Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti.

Germany legend Lothar Matthaus has launched a scathing critique of Julian Nagelsmann's tactical setup following the national team's bitter World Cup setback against Ecuador. The iconic former captain vehemently argued that current skipper Joshua Kimmich is being severely restricted by his controversial deployment in the right-back role.

RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande has officially addressed the mounting speculation regarding his future as Liverpool step up their pursuit of the Ivorian starlet. The 19-year-old winger has become one of the most sought-after properties in world football following a breakout season in the Bundesliga and a series of dazzling performances at the World Cup.

Jurgen Klopp has delivered a scathing assessment of Germany's tactical approach following their unexpected 2-1 World Cup defeat against Ecuador. The former Liverpool manager warned that Die Mannschaft will not coast through the knockout rounds unless they dramatically alter their current playing style and psychological application.

Abafana Bes'thende have reinforced their attacking options with the acquisition of Siyabonga Mtombeni, a striker whose physical profile has already sparked major excitement. Former Baroka FC head coach Dan Malesela has offered a glowing yet cautionary appraisal of the forward, drawing direct parallels to a legendary figure from his own playing days.

Real Madrid defender Eder Militao has hailed the tactical flexibility of Carlo Ancelotti as Brazil gear up for the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup. Despite being sidelined through injury, the centre-back has closely monitored the Selecao’s progression and believes the veteran coach has successfully ironed out early frailties.

Hayden Hackney is a man in demand, with former Middlesbrough star Gary Pallister telling GOAL why the talented midfielder could tread a similar career path to England international and £130 million ($172m) Manchester City transfer target Elliot Anderson. Having proven himself in the EFL ranks, classy playmaker Hackney is ready to take the Premier League by storm.

Germany striker Deniz Undav has issued a rallying cry to his team-mates, insisting his team-mates must become more "nasty" to survive in the World Cup knockout rounds. The Stuttgart forward’s assessment comes in the wake of a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Ecuador, a result that has sparked a difference in opinion between the playing squad and manager Julian Nagelsmann.

Paris Saint-Germain have identified Strasbourg defender Guela Doue as the ideal candidate to strengthen their defensive options ahead of the upcoming campaign. The French champions are eager to secure a reliable right-back who can provide high-quality cover for established star Achraf Hakimi following a barren search last summer.

The sight of Terry Butcher soaked in blood is forever etched into the memory of England supporters, but which member of the Three Lions’ class of 2026 is most likely to recreate that image? The man himself has answered that question during an exclusive interview with GOAL, as warriors such as Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Harry Kane chase down World Cup glory.

South Africa erupted in celebration after the team secured a historic 1-0 victory over South Korea to book their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32. The result marks the first time the nation has ever progressed beyond the group stages of the global showpiece, sparking high praise from one of the continent's greatest coaching minds.

Sweden have secured their place in the knockout stages of the World Cup for the eighth time in their history following a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Japan. However, goalscorer Anthony Elanga has made the surprising admission that he was completely unaware a point was sufficient to see the Blue and Yellow through to the round of 32.

Legendary striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was reduced to tears on live television after witnessing Bosnia-Herzegovina secure a historic place in the World Cup knockout rounds. The iconic former forward, speaking during an emotional punditry appearance, revealed his immense pride and personal connection to the Balkan nation's monumental sporting achievement.

José Mourinho has joked, during an exclusive appearance on the Beast Mode On Podcast, that he considers an ‘Invincibles’ campaign with Benfica in 2025-26 to be his ninth league title. No silverware was secured in Lisbon at the end of an unbeaten season, but the newly-appointed Real Madrid manager is rightly proud of an achievement that few clubs at the highest level can claim to have emulated.

In the immediate aftermath of their league title win, the Buccaneers’ boss cast doubt over his long-term future at the club after admitting that the emotional and physical toll of the job had left him "tired" and needing time to reflect before committing to the project for another season. But now Buccaneers fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief following reports that the Moroccan tactician will stay on to build on his domestic success by conquering the continent.

Former Scotland international Craig Burley has heavily criticised Neymar following his emotional return to the international stage for Brazil. The outspoken television pundit claimed the iconic attacker looked visibly sluggish and off the pace during his substitute appearance, questioning whether his inclusion in the squad was merely a sentimental decision.

Thomas Tuchel definitely didn't want to be in this situation. After England's tournament-opener, in which the Three Lions rather comfortably saw off Croatia, it was presumed that the German coach would be thinking about rotation by now. His hardest opponent was out of the way, meaning another win, over Ghana, would secure top spot with a game to spare. Instead, he has to stick with the big guns after an incredibly frustrating draw with the Black Stars.