The duel between South Africa's football giants is set to grab the limelight as the Premier Soccer League rivals from Soweto clash on Saturday. Both Amakhosi and the Buccaneers will need the points from the game to boost their chances of winning the league title. Apart from the three points up for grabs, the Sea Robbers and the Glamour Boys will be fighting for the fixture's bragging rights.
Paul Pogba is facing more questions of his future, with the former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder enduring a tough return to competitive action with Monaco. After serving an 18-month ban from all football-related activity, the World Cup winner headed to his native France in 2025. Injuries have prevented the 32-year-old from making the desired impact in Ligue 1.
Chelsea have set an unwanted record, with the Premier League heavyweights posting the highest pre-tax losses ever seen in English football. The Blues’ accounts for 2024-25 have been revealed in data released by UEFA. It is claimed that Chelsea moved €407million (£355m/$481m) into the red during their third season under the stewardship of Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly.
FootballCo and OchoCinco Productions have partnered to launch The Late Run with Ochocinco, a brand new weekly podcast hosted by NFL legend and diehard soccer fan Chad Johnson. The first season, which kicks off on Feb. 26, will feature a star-studded list of guests ranging from legends like Rio Ferdinand and Gerard Pique to rapper Rick Ross and comedian Bert Kreischer, all talking about their experience with the beautiful game.
Chad Ochocinco Johnson and Rahimovic sit down with comedy legend Bert Kreischer for a conversation that goes everywhere: soccer culture in Florida, Messi mania in Miami, the World Cup 2026 “last dance” talk, and the comedy Mount Rushmore.
Bert retells The Machine origin story, breaks down what makes a great comedian, and somehow ends up pledging to become a real soccer fan.
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique has sent a clear message to rivals across Europe, including potential knockout stage opponents Chelsea and Barcelona, following his side's progression to the Champions League round of 16. Despite a stuttering 2-2 draw against Monaco at the Parc des Princes, which secured a 5-4 aggregate victory and passage via the play-off round, the Spanish tactician remains convinced that the reigning European champions are still the team that no one wants to face in the business end of the competition.
Bayern Munich legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has launched a scathing attack on the modern state of football, labelling payments to player representatives as "immoral" and calling for urgent global reforms. The former CEO of the German giants is the latest heavyweight to speak out against the rising power of intermediaries, following similar criticisms from Matthias Sammer and Uli Hoeness. Rummenigge warned that the sport is entering a dangerous territory where the financial demands of agents and the resulting salary explosions are becoming impossible for the average fan to justify or even understand.
After a defining era in the Spanish capital, French star Antoine Griezmann is preparing for an unexpected mid-season departure to the United States. As negotiations reach their final stages, one of La Liga's most iconic figures is ready to embrace a fresh challenge across the Atlantic, leaving a massive void in Atletico Madrid, just as the European campaign hits its critical climax.
Jurgen Klopp is seeing questions asked of his future at Red Bull, with reports in Germany claiming that the former Liverpool boss could be axed from his role as Head of Global Soccer. The experienced coach has seen a return to the dugout speculated on, with La Liga giants Real Madrid said to have the Bundesliga and Premier League title winner on their managerial shortlist.
Real Madrid secured their place in the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday night with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Benfica, progressing 3-1 on aggregate. However, the celebrations at the Santiago Bernabeu have been heavily dampened by a disgraceful incident involving a supporter that was broadcast to millions watching around the world. The club moved swiftly to address the situation, confirming that a fan was identified and removed from the premises after being caught on television cameras performing a Nazi salute.
The absence of the midfielder from the Buccaneers starting line-up has been very conspicuous in the last few matches. What makes his absence even more noticeable is the fact that he had an impressive run in the first round of the season, and many expected the former Mamelodi Sundowns star to be as important in the second round. Should he continue to experience limited playtime, then his chances of making it into the Bafana Bafana World Cup squad will be jeopardised.
The former South Africa Under-23 star has been in the United States since January 2023, where he has steadily worked his way into the first team at his Major League Soccer club. The centre-back has grown with consistent performances at the heart of defence. His impressive outings have even sparked calls for him to be considered for senior national team duty with the South Africa national football team.
Former Manchester United and England star Lee Sharpe has told GOAL why struggles under Ruben Amorim may end up working in Kobbie Mainoo’s favour. The 20-year-old midfielder has returned to favour at club level under interim Red Devils boss Michael Carrick and is considered to be in contention for an international recall ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo has his sights set on footballing immortality once again, but England international Ivan Toney is stood firmly in his path. The Portuguese icon entered the 2025–26 Saudi Pro League campaign looking to build on a period of unprecedented dominance, having secured consecutive Golden Boot awards since his arrival in the Middle East. Ronaldo’s goal-scoring exploits saw him hammer home 35 goals in 31 league appearances during the 2023–24 season, a feat he followed up with another impressive 25-goal haul last term. With 21 goals from as many games in the current campaign, he will be confident of taking the crown once again despite Toney's exploits.
As Alessandro Costacurta effectively admitted at the end of a dramatic final night of the Champions League play-offs, he and his fellow pundits in the Sky Sports studio had come to bury Serie A's representatives in Europe - not to praise them. And yet they were left with no option to do so after two remarkable revivals proved that Italian football isn't dead yet.
Manchester United are reportedly ready to sanction the departure of Altay Bayindir this summer as the club continue their aggressive strategy to streamline the first-team squad. The Turkish international, who arrived at Old Trafford with high hopes of challenging for the number one spot, is set to return to his homeland after struggling to break into Michael Carrick’s starting XI. According to the latest reports coming out of Turkey, the Red Devils have reached a formal agreement with Super Lig giants Besiktas to offload the goalkeeper in the upcoming transfer window, marking a significant step in United's mission to reduce their bloated wage bill and recoup funds for future reinforcements.
Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo is involved in Spanish football again, with it being announced that the Portuguese superstar - through his CR7 Sports Investments company - has acquired a 25 per cent stake in Almeria. They are currently competing in the second tier, but ambitious plans for the future are already being drawn up now that Ronaldo is on board.
Erling Haaland has opened up about the tactical influences that have shaped his record-breaking career. While legends like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robin van Persie were expected idols, the Manchester City star surprised many by naming a specific Premier League cult hero as a key inspiration for his movement.
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa has delivered a worrying fitness update on Blancos superstar Kylian Mbappe. The World Cup-winning Frenchman was forced to sit out the second leg of a Champions League knockout phase play-off clash with Benfica. Arbeloa is unsure when his leading goalscorer will be ready for a return to action, with a knee complaint holding him back.
The two biggest rivals in South African football are set to meet for the first time this season in the top-tier assignment. Neither the Glamour Boys nor the Sea Robbers have been doing well in their recent games. However, with the bragging rights at stake, expect some thrilling football from the pair.
The race for the Saudi Pro League title has taken a dramatic turn in favour of Al-Nassr. While Cristiano Ronaldo continues his clinical goal-scoring form, leading his side back to the top of the table, their rivals are reeling under the weight of shocking medical updates. With the confirmed absence of Al-Hilal striker Karim Benzema due to an adductor muscle injury, the path to silverware looks clearer than ever for the Portuguese icon and the Yellow side of Riyadh.
Edinson Cavani has been a name synonymous with elite goalscoring for over a decade, but the sun may finally be setting on one of the most prolific careers in modern football. The 39-year-old, currently plying his trade with Argentinian giants Boca Juniors, has been hit with a blunt ultimatum to hang up his boots. Once the darling of Old Trafford and a hero in Naples and Paris, the Uruguayan is now finding the twilight of his career increasingly arduous as form and fitness continue to fail him in South America.
Manchester United have been urged to hand Harry Maguire a new contract ahead of the experienced defender becoming a free agent this summer. The 32-year-old has spent seven seasons at Old Trafford, but is seeing questions asked of his future as his current deal runs down. Steve Bruce believes that fresh terms should be offered to the former “whipping boy”.
The former Buccaneers midfielder has insisted that just one single player at the Glamour Boys is good enough to break into Abdeslam Ouaddou's starting eleven right now. With both teams struggling for form ahead of the Soweto Derby, there will be several players dreaming of putting their hands up and being the hero for their club.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has reportedly intervened to ask Erling Haaland to ‘stop talking’ to Real Madrid amid growing concerns over his future. The Catalan coach is anxious that constant speculation regarding a move to Spain could destabilise the striker during a critical phase of the season. While the 25-year-old remains a key figure at the Etihad, Guardiola wants all negotiations shelved until the current campaign concludes.
Bruno Fernandes will be remembered as a “great” when the day comes to leave Manchester United, but Lee Sharpe has explained to GOAL why the Portuguese may not secure legend status at Old Trafford. The all-action midfielder has been a talismanic presence for the Red Devils across recent seasons, with transfer speculation suggesting that he could soon be on the move.