📝Bio: Soham has been living and breathing football stories for almost a decade, carving his path as a news and SEO writer with an instinct for the big moments. Armed with an MA (Honours) in Sports Journalism from Symbiosis International University, he knew early on that his future wouldn’t be on the pitch but behind the pen, shaping narratives about the game he adores. He joined GOAL in 2017 and has since made his mark covering the Indian Super League, I-League, and the Indian national team. Based in Kolkata, where football is a religion, he grew up watching Bhaichung Bhutia scoring goals for fun in India, before falling head over heels for Real Madrid, a club that now dictates the rhythm of his everyday life.⚽My Football Story: It all began back in 2002. A cricket bat in hand, ready to step out, but then the skies opened up. The rain kept me indoors, and that twist of fate led me to the sofa, beside my father, who had a football match on TV. Little did I know at the time but it was the World Cup final: Brazil vs Germany. Forget the goals – what grabbed my imagination was Ronaldo’s haircut and his iconic celebration. From there, cricket slowly faded and football fever took over. By my teenage years, I was sneaking out of bed at 1am to watch the Champions League - fair to say I was hooked for life.
🎯Areas of Expertise:
Social media-specific content
Premier League, Champions League, European & Indian football coverage
Tactical analysis on the Indian national team
World Cup & European Championship tournaments
🌟Favourite Footballing Memory: The day Mohun Bagan demolished East Bengal 5-3 in the Kolkata Derby, with Chidi Edeh scoring four - a moment when the city turned maroon and green. But nothing beats the spine-tingling sight of Sergio Ramos’ 93rd-minute header in Lisbon, the goal that crowned Real Madrid’s La Decima and etched itself into footballing history.📝My All-Time XI: Iker Casillas; Phillip Lahm, Sergio Ramos, Fabio Cannavaro, Roberto Carlos; Claude Makélélé, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane; Cristiano Ronaldo, Raúl, Lionel Messi.
Jamie Carragher took centre stage when Liverpool kicked off their new era with adidas by unveiling their home and away kits for the 2025-26 campaign early Friday morning. However, as the former centre-back posed in the brand-new kit as part of the official launch materials, he captured attention not just for his throwback look but also for a cheeky post that followed on social media.
Wrexham have been handed an audacious transfer boost as Tottenham star Ben Davies refused to commit his future to Spurs. The experienced Wales international, who has been a fixture at Spurs for over a decade, has acknowledged that decisions about his next move may soon be out of his hands.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr have set their sights on a high-profile defensive addition as they look to lure Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae to Riyadh. According to reports from Foot Mercato, the Saudi Pro League side has entered negotiations with the German champions to explore the possibility of acquiring the South Korean international this summer.
Ruben Amorim has devised a special plan for Rasmus Hojlund if Manchester United complete the signing of Benjamin Sesko deal from RB Leipzig. United are closing in on the signing of Sesko, with the club’s hierarchy now actively negotiating with the German side over a £70 million ($92m) deal.
Alexander Isak’s hopes of securing a switch to Liverpool have taken an unexpected twist, with the Swedish forward now reportedly ready to consider a nuclear option that could see him unilaterally terminate his contract at the club.
Tottenham Hotspur emerged triumphant in a heated North London derby, held for the first time no foreign soil, defeating Arsenal 1-0 at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong. The highly anticipated friendly turned into a showcase for Pape Matar Sarr, who delivered a moment of brilliance to settle the contest in Spurs' favour.
Paris Saint-Germain are closing in on the signing of Illya Zabarnyi from AFC Bournemouth, with the transfer reportedly in its final stages. The 22-year-old Ukrainian centre-back is poised to join the reigning Ligue 1 champions, with only a few minor formalities left before the agreement is officially concluded.
Leeds United are reportedly exploring options to bolster their midfield ahead of the new Premier League campaign, with Portuguese talent Florentino Luís emerging as a serious target. The Whites are reportedly among a trio of English clubs interested in luring the Benfica player to England this summer, as they look to add strength and depth to Daniel Farke’s squad.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has provided a promising update regarding the fitness of Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber, and Riccardo Calafiori ahead of the new Premier League season. Speaking after his side’s narrow 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong, the Spanish manager expressed confidence that the trio will be ready to feature when the Gunners kick off their campaign against Manchester United on August 17.
England midfielder Ella Toone revealed that her beloved grandmother, whom she affectionately called “Nana Maz,” passed away on the morning of the Euro 2025 final against Spain. She played 87 minutes in the final before being substituted, delivering a typically industrious performance as England fought to defend their European crown following a 1-1 draw in regular time.
A pre-season North London derby turned unexpectedly heated when Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta found himself in a physical confrontation with Tottenham Hotspur defender Pedro Porro. The incident, which unfolded in the second half of a tense friendly clash, added an edge to what was otherwise billed as a tune-up match ahead of the new Premier League season.
Jadon Sancho is reportedly open to a drastic pay cut to leave Manchester United and return to Borussia Dortmund on a permanent transfer. After an inconsistent spell at Old Trafford, the winger appears willing to sacrifice his wages for the chance to revive his career in familiar surroundings.
Chelsea reportedly want Marc Cucurella to play an important role in helping Jorrel Hato settle into the Premier League. The Blues are on the verge of securing the services of the Dutch teenage defender from Ajax, with the two clubs finally settling on a fee that surpasses the €40 million (£34m/$46m) mark. The 19-year-old is expected to undergo a medical soon before becoming part of Enzo Maresca’s evolving Chelsea squad.
Vitor Reis has reportedly approached Manchester City's hierarchy with a request to secure a loan move this summer. The 19-year-old centre-back is seeking more consistent game time as he looks to accelerate his development and enhance his chances of breaking into the Brazil national team setup.
Former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry has received strong backing to take over the managerial reins at his former club and eventually succeed Mikel Arteta. Ex-Manchester United and France striker Louis Saha believes Henry’s passion for the game and footballing intellect make him a worthy candidate for the top job at the Emirates Stadium.
Newcastle United were actively pursuing RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa but internal sentiment at St. James' Park suggests that Sesko is edging closer to a move to Manchester United, as revealed by The Daily Mail. This is another massive blow to Newcastle’s recruitment plans given how highly they rate the Slovenian talent.
Wrexham have taken a significant step toward boosting their stadium’s capacity, having officially submitted a planning application to Wrexham City Borough Council. The club aims to add an extra 2,250 seats to the under-construction Kop Stand at the SToK Cae Ras, in a move designed to elevate the venue to international hosting standards.
Cristiano Ronaldo once again demonstrated his relentless drive on the pitch, helping Al-Nassr overturn a one-goal deficit to secure a 2-1 victory over French side Toulouse in a friendly held ahead of the new season. The match, played at Untersberg-Arena, saw the Saudi Pro League side show character and resolve, with Ronaldo leading from the front.
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to defy time and expectations as he marked his latest appearance for Al Nassr with a crucial goal, proving yet again that age is just a number. In a pre-season encounter against French side Toulouse FC at the Untersberg-Arena, the Portuguese icon demonstrated his enduring quality by notching the equalizer during the first half of the match.
Gary Lineker has reignited the eternal football debate by decisively backing Lionel Messi as the greatest player of all time, placing him beyond the reach of Cristiano Ronaldo and other footballing icons. The former England striker and long-time presenter of Match of the Day offered his views on the GOAT debate and insisted Messi is on 'another level'.