Lists

Kylian Mbappe has suggested that football's current "era of excessive consumption" is making it impossible for elite players to maintain peak performance. The Real Madrid superstar expressed his deep gratitude for his career but admitted that expectations have become unrealistic at the top level.

Former New York Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips has warned Cristiano Ronaldo against moving to Major League Soccer. Wright-Phillips believes the Al-Nassr forward may struggle to replicate the "magic" still shown by Lionel Messi at Inter Miami and could risk damaging his legacy.

Declan Rice, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are all considered to be Ballon d’Or-worthy talents, but who will be the next Englishman to win the prestigious Golden Ball? Former Three Lions midfielder Gareth Barry has delivered his verdict to GOAL, with Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid superstars eager to be recognised as the best player on the planet.

Alejandro Garnacho has sparked fresh speculation regarding his Chelsea future by scrubbing all club-related content from his official TikTok account. The Argentina international also reposted clips celebrating his career at Manchester United, having recently expressed regret over his summer exit from Old Trafford.

Declan Rice was among five players to miss Arsenal's latest training session ahead of their Champions League quarter-final second leg clash with Sporting CP. Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber were also absent after sitting out the weekend defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Cesc Fabregas has insisted that he remains fully committed to his long-term project at Como amid links with Chelsea and the Italy national team. The 38-year-old manager emphasised his family's happiness at the Serie A club and his desire for daily involvement on the training pitch as key reasons for staying put.

FC Barcelona’s complaints about the pitch at Atlético Madrid’s stadium have clearly failed to produce the desired result.

Chelsea legend Marcel Desailly has told GOAL why at least three new signings will be required at Stamford Bridge in the next transfer market, with key areas of the Blues’ squad needing to be addressed. Huge quantities of time and money have been invested in youthful additions across recent windows, with one eye on the future, but Premier League heavyweights are being advised to alter their approach and focus more on the present.

Nico Schlotterbeck’s contract extension at Borussia Dortmund includes a controversial “dream club” release clause that has sparked debate among fans. Germany legend Lothar Matthaus believes the clause is logical for an ambitious player and could even benefit Dortmund financially if Real Madrid or another giant comes calling.

Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac currently lacks the kind of standout players that recently graced the club.

Sam Allardyce has criticised Mikel Arteta for publicly sharing his "strange" Arsenal training methods. The former England manager questioned the wisdom of sharing eccentric drills, including players balancing pens and training to AI-generated edits, suggesting such transparency could backfire on the Gunners boss under the intense pressure of the title race.

Bayern Munich are reportedly tracking the rapid rise of Brian Brobbey as they consider a summer move for the Sunderland striker. The Dutch forward has impressed in his first Premier League season and Bayern could target him to provide attacking support for Harry Kane.

From an individual perspective, Kylian Mbappe's free transfer to Real Madrid in 2024 has been a roaring success. The insatiable French forward has hit a staggering 83 goals across his first 97 appearances for Los Blancos, including 39 across all competitions in the current campaign - a total bettered only by Bayern Munich's Harry Kane among all the players in Europe's top five leagues.

Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis has heaped praise on Jose Mourinho, insisting that the legendary tactician is still the finest manager in the world. Following a prolific season under the Portuguese's guidance in Lisbon, the Greece international highlighted Mourinho's unique passion for the game and his unparalleled ability to manage elite talent at the highest level.

Arjen Robben has urged supporters and pundits to exercise caution when drawing parallels between himself and Bayern Munich’s rising star Michael Olise. While the legendary winger admitted to being deeply impressed by the Frenchman’s creative influence, he insisted that every player deserves to be judged on their own unique individual merits.

Ivan Rakitic has leapt to the defence of Lamine Yamal amid growing scrutiny over the teenager’s behaviour and comments. The former Barcelona midfielder insists the young star should be allowed to express himself while continuing to develop on the biggest stage.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has outlined a series of radical proposals aimed at revolutionising football to ensure the sport remains attractive to younger audiences. The 76-year-old suggests that the current 90-minute format is too slow for a generation raised on video games, advocating for shorter halves and the total abolition of yellow and red cards.

Jorginho has withdrawn his criticism of pop star Chappell Roan following a hotel security incident involving his daughter. The former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder clarified that the guard involved was not part of the singer’s team. He has since called the situation a "misunderstanding" and urged an end to online hostility.

Max Dowman has made Premier League history at Arsenal, with the 16-year-old wonderkid rewriting the record books, but Gareth Barry has told GOAL why the exciting youngster is likely to miss out on a place in England’s 2026 World Cup squad. There has been talk of the teenager becoming a wild card for the Three Lions, but questions are being asked of whether he needs to be fast tracked through that system.

Manchester City are weighing up a summer move for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Ibrahim Maza.

Paolo Di Canio has launched a scathing attack on Rafael Leao, claiming the Portugal international has allowed his off-field interests to compromise his performances for AC Milan. The former Rossoneri striker suggested that a lack of mental energy and a perceived "lazy" attitude have left the 26-year-old struggling to adapt to a central role at San Siro.

FC Schalke 04 are reportedly weighing up a move for Ajax Amsterdam striker Wout Weghorst.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has warned Antonio Conte that he would be "killing his baby" if he leaves the club to take the reins of the Italy national team. The outspoken owner has expressed his confidence that the coach will continue the project he has built in Naples rather than walking away at a crucial stage.

The Ghana Football Association has officially appointed Carlos Queiroz as the new head coach of the Black Stars to lead their 2026 World Cup campaign. The former Manchester United assistant manager replaces Otto Addo just 58 days before the tournament begins, bringing a wealth of elite international experience to the West African giants.

Union Berlin have firmly defended Marie-Louise Eta after misogynistic criticism followed her historic promotion to head coach. Sporting director Horst Heldt condemned the backlash as “insane” and “embarrassing” while insisting the club has complete faith in her leadership.

Bruno Fernandes echoed the famous words of Jose Mourinho as he vented his frustration following Manchester United's home defeat to Leeds United. The captain was left incensed by the dismissal of Lisandro Martinez, refusing to discuss the performance of referee Paul Tierney for fear of facing disciplinary action from the authorities.

Liverpool have been informed of the only way that they could prise Michael Olise away from Bayern Munich, with the Reds about to scour the transfer market for a suitable successor to Mohamed Salah. Ex-Crystal Palace star Olise would fit the mould, but Stan Collymore has explained to GOAL why it will be almost impossible to bring the France international back to the Premier League.

1. FC Köln looks set to keep its coveted forward Said El Mala for the upcoming campaign.

Bayern Munich have identified Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon as a key attacking target. Vincent Kompany wants more competition for Luis Diaz, with Die Roten reportedly ready to test Newcastle’s resolve with a £50 million bid.