Lists

Dele Alli serves as a warning to Jadon Sancho of what can happen when a promising career goes off the rails, former Aston Villa star Ray Houghton has told GOAL. Having struggled for a spark at Manchester United, Chelsea and Villa, England international Sancho is now a free agent. Fellow former Three Lions star Dele finds himself in a similar position, and has done so for over 12 months.

Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating evening for Portugal after missing a massive chance during their narrow Nations League victory over Wales. Manager Jorge Jesus subsequently substituted the veteran forward in the second half, later explaining the tactical reasoning behind his ruthless decision.

Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival in Saudi Arabia changed the landscape of global football, but a new revelation suggests his impact behind the scenes was even more significant. Former team-mate Alvaro Gonzalez has opened up about a selfless gesture made by the Portuguese icon regarding a dispute over unpaid wages.

Erling Haaland continues to redefine the limits of modern goalscoring after another masterclass for Norway against Denmark. The Manchester City striker took his international tally to a staggering 64 goals in just 56 caps, prompting manager Stale Solbakken to describe his natural ability as something that simply cannot be coached.

Zinedine Zidane is preparing to make his highly anticipated managerial debut for the France national team against Turkey on Friday. The legendary midfielder's arrival has generated immense excitement, with broadcasters desperately hoping the new boss will instantly revitalise declining television audiences.

JJ Gabriel has been advised to not “do something silly” as he forces his way towards the exits at Manchester United. The 15-year-old wonderkid is ready to sever ties with the Red Devils while waiting on his competitive senior debut. He has been linked with leading sides across Europe, with Emile Heskey reacting to that saga during an exclusive interview with GOAL.

Turkey manager Vincenzo Montella evaluated the massive impact of missing injured stars Hakan Calhanoglu and Kenan Yildiz ahead of their Nations League double-header. The Italian coach praised Yildiz's world-class potential while preparing for an emotional clash against former team-mate Roberto Mancini's Italy.

Brighton midfielder Chema Andres has enjoyed a blistering start to life on the south coast following his summer arrival from the Bundesliga. The Spanish youngster scored his first goal for the Seagulls during an emphatic 3-0 victory against Arsenal, admitting that he cannot resist constantly rewatching footage sent over by his family and friends.

Zinedine Zidane is preparing to take charge of the France national team for the very first time when they face Turkey on Friday. Ahead of the highly anticipated debut, former Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane has lifted the lid on what Les Bleus fans can expect from the legendary manager.

Turkey head coach Vincenzo Montella admitted that the Turkish Football Federation could have sacked him following their disappointing World Cup campaign. However, the Italian manager expressed gratitude after TFF officials judged his entire three-year tenure to focus on long-term growth in Nations League A.

Norway head coach Stale Solbakken revealed he met with new Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca to discuss Erling Haaland's heavy workload. Following the striker's admission regarding mental fatigue after the World Cup, Solbakken warned that Haaland will urgently require rest in winter.

Manchester United have reportedly made initial contact with Antonio Conte as they prepare for life after Michael Carrick. The Red Devils have endured a dismal start to the 2026-27 season, prompting club chiefs to line up the experienced Italian manager should they decide to make a change.

Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg made an honest admission following his side's 3-2 defeat to Norway, stating that his central midfield partnership with Morten Hjulmand does not work. The midfielder urged head coach Brian Riemer to pick one player and drop the other for the team's benefit.

Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has offered warm praise for Manchester United rival Senne Lammens ahead of their Nations League showdown in Rome. However, the Italian stopper insists he hopes the Belgian goalkeeper's progress holds off until after Friday night's crucial international battle at the Stadio Olimpico.

Atletico Madrid Femenino captain Lola Gallardo has announced a high-profile collaboration with content platform OnlyFans to provide fans with unprecedented access to her elite sporting routine and personal milestones. The Spain international goalkeeper aims to bridge the gap between supporters and women's football by documenting her campaign both on and off the pitch.

Norway captain Martin Odegaard reflected on his side's thrilling 3-2 victory over Denmark to kick off their UEFA Nations League campaign. The Arsenal playmaker highlighted the importance of starting with three points following their summer exploits while praising set-piece coach Pal Fjelde for preparing the winning goal.

Xabi Alonso has boldly claimed that Chelsea striker Joao Pedro can be likened to one-time Real Madrid ‘Galactico’ Karim Benzema. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink agrees with that assessment, and the former Blues star has explained - during an exclusive interview with GOAL - four qualities that the Brazil international shares with the legendary French goalscorer.

From World Cup disappointment to Klopp's spirit: Germany begins to recover its shine

Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez took time out during international duty to return to his former side Racing Club ahead of their derby clash. The striker, who was warmly greeted by club president Diego Milito, subsequently spoke about the national team's looming transitional phase as Lionel Messi approaches his final farewell match against Benin.

Jurgen Klopp has expressed a mixture of pride and frustration after his first match as Germany head coach ended in a dramatic 1-1 draw against the Netherlands. Despite taking a first-half lead, the Nationalmannschaft were denied a winning start to the Klopp era by a late equaliser at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Diego Forlan endured a painful start to his tenure as Uruguay head coach after two stoppage-time strikes condemned his side to a 3-1 defeat against Japan in Miyagi. The former striker, who was appointed to succeed Marcelo Bielsa, watched his team battle back to parity before defensive lapses in the dying seconds gifted the hosts victory.

Brazilian giants Santos have officially confirmed a significant shift in their commercial future after striking a deal with Adidas. The legendary club will return to the three stripes in a move that signals a new era for the Vila Belmiro outfit on the global stage.

Wales midfielder Ethan Ampadu admitted the squad were left frustrated after falling to a narrow 1-0 Nations League defeat against Portugal in Lisbon. Craig Bellamy's men battled determinedly throughout the contest but were undone by Joao Felix's deflected first-half strike, leaving the Leeds United star calling for higher standards going forward.

Barcelona forward Raphinha has been assigned Brazil's iconic number 10 shirt for upcoming exhibition fixtures in Oceania and Asia. The Confederation of Brazilian Football confirmed their updated roster allocation following the World Cup cycle, signalling a significant shift in attacking responsibility as senior figures make way for a revitalised setup.

The Portuguese star has not learnt his lesson

Joao Felix proved decisive on home soil as Portugal launched the Jorge Jesus era with a hard-fought 1-0 Nations League victory over Wales in Lisbon. The forward opened the scoring before the break and later hailed his deployment as a second striker, insisting the tactical change allowed him to deliver his most effective performance for the national team.

Gianluigi Donnarumma has expressed his immense pride in representing Italy as the team prepares to welcome back head coach Roberto Mancini for their latest campaign. The Manchester City goalkeeper is eager to repeat past European glories ahead of a crucial Nations League fixture against Belgium.