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Arsenal and England star Declan Rice has paid a glowing tribute to international team-mate Harry Kane, admitting it has been an "honour" to play alongside the prolific striker. The dynamic midfielder revealed how Kane actively drives standards within the England camp as the Three Lions look to secure a place in the World Cup knockout rounds.

Argentina star Lionel Messi's double against Austria saw him break the World Cup scoring record. The achievement left his team-mates full of admiration, with Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes and Lisandro Martinez all paying tribute to the captain's enduring brilliance and influence.

South Africa find themselves at a crossroads in their global showpiece campaign as they prepare for a high-stakes final group-stage encounter with South Korea. After a disappointing opening loss to Mexico and a hard-fought draw against Czechia, the Mzansi side must find a clinical edge to secure their spot in the knockout rounds.

Joe Hart has raised concerns over the adidas Trionda ball being used at the 2026 World Cup after noticing a recurring pattern in goals scored from distance. The former England goalkeeper believes shots struck without spin are causing major problems for goalkeepers, with several high-profile keepers struggling to judge the ball's flight.

Real Madrid have reportedly made a formal enquiry regarding the availability of Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie as their extensive summer recruitment drive continues. Newly appointed manager Jose Mourinho is said to be determined to secure a versatile, left-footed centre-half ahead of his first season back in the Bernabeu dugout.

The South African legend has called on the national team skipper to step into the moment and embrace the weight of leading his country on football’s biggest stage. As the 2026 FIFA World Cup unfolds in North America, Mokoena insists the Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper has already shown he belongs among football’s elite.

Lionel Messi's two goals helped Argentina defeat Austria in their Group J match, but Lionel Scaloni was also impressed by his captain's work without the ball. The Albiceleste coach praised Messi's commitment and influence, while warning that the path to defending the World Cup will remain difficult despite their strong start.

Fulham are in the process of finalising a deal to appoint Alvaro Arbeloa as the club’s new head coach on a three-year contract. The former Real Madrid manager is on the verge of moving to Craven Cottage following the departure of long-serving boss Marco Silva, with advanced negotiations covering backroom staff and first-team squad planning.

Arsenal have successfully agreed a multi-million-pound transfer fee with Leicester City to secure the services of highly-rated starlet Jeremy Monga. The newly-crowned Premier League champions moved swiftly to see off rival interest from across Europe, ensuring the talented teenage winger chooses north London as his next destination.

Thiago Silva has completed a surprise return to Fluminense after leaving Porto. The veteran defender has signed a deal until the end of 2026 and is set to begin training with the Brazilian club next week. His arrival strengthens Fluminense's ambitions as they look to compete for major honours in South American football.

England have been blessed with some great goalkeepers down the years - from Gordon Banks to David Seaman - but where does current No.1 Jordan Pickford sit among those? Another iconic shot-stopper, the Three Lions’ record appearance-maker Peter Shilton, has taken on the challenge of answering that question during an exclusive interview with GOAL.

At an event in Belo Horizonte last week, Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva made a joke at the expense of Neymar, whom he described as a "work-from-home player". Unsurprisingly, it didn't go over well. Neymar's inclusion in the Selecao is no laughing matter in Brazil. The rights and wrongs of Carlo Ancelotti calling up a half-fit has-been have been the subject of heated debate for months now.

The Taegeuk Warriors star has detailed the tactical blueprint his side will use to neutralise South Africa in their decisive 2026 World Cup encounter. The Asians are wary of the unique threat posed by the speed of Hugo Broos’ team and the ball-playing ability of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

United States men's national team star Folarin Balogun is expected to seek a move away from Monaco during the summer transfer window. The talented 24-year-old forward has reportedly attracted substantial interest from England, prompting the Ligue 1 club to establish a firm valuation for their asset as internal contract negotiations stall.

Peter Shilton remains England’s record appearance maker for now, on 125 caps, but appears destined to hand that piece of history over to Harry Kane. The legendary Three Lions goalkeeper has told GOAL why the perfect candidate is ready to overtake him, while comparing a history-making goalscorer of the present to fabled No.9s of the past such as Jimmy Greaves and Gary Lineker.

Martin Odegaard led Erling Haaland and the Norway squad in a viral 'Viking Row' celebration after securing their place in the World Cup knockout stages. The squad joined supporters in the celebration following their victory over Senegal, and the post-match scenes quickly went viral on social media.

The Village Boys have moved to clarify reports regarding financial instability within their camp as they prepare for a historic maiden campaign in the Betway Premiership. Despite rumours suggesting the club is struggling to meet its obligations, the hierarchy has insisted that the situation is under control and their pre-season plans remain unaffected.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has urged football fans to remain grounded despite firing Norway into the knockout stage of the World Cup. The clinical forward netted twice in a thrilling victory over Senegal to guarantee progress, but he quickly dismissed any suggestions that his nation are genuine contenders to win the tournament.

Arsenal have identified Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers as their leading transfer target as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his Premier League-winning squad. The England international is reportedly open to a move to the Emirates Stadium, although any deal could cost as much as £100 million.

Atletico Madrid have reportedly blocked any potential transfer of Julian Alvarez to La Liga rivals Barcelona as a matter of honour. Instead, the Spanish heavyweights have shifted their attention towards the Premier League, where they are actively exploring a sensational swap deal with Arsenal that would bring Viktor Gyokeres to Madrid.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes there is no longer any debate over Lionel Messi’s status among football’s all-time greats after the Argentina captain’s record-breaking start to the 2026 World Cup. Messi scored twice in a 2-0 win over Austria, helping Argentina reach the knockout stage and setting a new men’s World Cup goalscoring record.

Brazilians legendary goal scorer Daniel Mudau has thrown down the gauntlet to the 32-year-old, urging the Namibian marksman to remain at Chloorkop for at least another season. Despite a challenging campaign and mounting speculation regarding his future, the veteran striker has been told in no uncertain terms that he has unfinished business with Masandawana.

Kylian Mbappe admitted he struggled to stay composed after a severe storm in Philadelphia forced a lengthy suspension during France's World Cup clash with Iraq. The France captain revealed the disruption tested the squad mentally before he scored twice in a 3-0 victory to help his side overcome the challenging circumstances.

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has fiercely defended under-fire forward Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of their vital second World Cup group fixture against Uzbekistan. Addressing the media following a disappointing opening draw with DR Congo, the manager insisted that empirical data justifies the 41-year-old striker's position in the side despite growing public scrutiny.

Kylian Mbappe insisted there is no personal battle with Lionel Messi despite the pair continuing to climb the World Cup scoring charts. The France captain scored twice in a 3-0 win over Iraq to move level with Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals, while France secured their place in the knockout stages with a second straight victory.

Lionel Messi confessed to feeling "very angry" after uncharacteristically missing an early spot-kick during Argentina's 2-0 World Cup victory over Austria. However, the legendary forward quickly recovered his composure in Dallas, netting a brilliant double to officially become the highest goalscorer in the history of the tournament.

Amakhosi have bolstered their technical bench by confirming that a former Bafana Bafana winger will serve as the second assistant coach to new head coach Fernando Da Cruz. The announcement comes at a perfect time for the former PSL star, who has just secured his prestigious CAF A coaching license.

Mikel Arteta's sayings, habits and general attitude towards football have divided opinion. The Arsenal manager has rewritten the playbook of what coaches are supposed to say, and much of it has rubbed fans and pundits alike up the wrong way. One of his favourite terms? The usage of 'finishers' instead of 'substitutes'.

Argentina international Julian Alvarez has rocked Atletico Madrid by publicly demanding a transfer away from the Metropolitano Stadium this summer. The prolific forward expressed his desire to move on, as Catalan giants Barcelona position themselves to secure his signature ahead of several other elite European suitors.