Ajaxâs Champions League campaign went from bad to worse on Tuesday night as they were thrashed 4-0 by Marseille at home, their second straight defeat in the competition that has piled even more pressure on their under-fire manager John Heitinga. But despite the humiliation, the Dutchman insists he is not worried about his position at the Eredivisie side.
Free-scoring Harry Kane continued his exceptional run, bagging a brace in the Champions League clash with Pafos, and subsequently claimed his Bayern Munich side "made it look easy". Kane has already scored 21 goals for club and country this season, including four in the Champions League, and enjoyed an easy ride during the clash in Cyprus where the German giants dominated throughout.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been backed to be a "vital" player for Portugal at the 2026 World Cup "regardless of how long he stays on the field". The five-time Ballon dâOr winner, now armed with a record-shattering new two-year contract at Saudi giants Al-Nassr, shows no signs of slowing down. His relentless pursuit of football immortality, including the dream of smashing through the 1,000 career goal barrier, has football fans wondering: just how long can this "machine" keep going?
Barcelonaâs long-awaited return to the Spotify Camp Nou may face further delays, with Novemberâs clash against Athletic Club now emerging as the likeliest homecoming date. Despite nearing approval for an early-October reopening, the club are weighing financial, logistical and sporting factors that could push Flickâs side to stay at Montjuic a little longer.
Theo Walcott couldn't bring himself to put friend and former team-mate Gareth Bale on top of a five-player list of Premier League legends, even when afforded the chance to amend his blind ranking. The two ex-wingers, both known for their blistering pace and energy, shared a flat during their youth days at Southampton but are now retired from playing.
GOAL's Front Three welcome a very special guest to the show, with former Premier League and Champions League referee Mark Clattenburg popping in to challenge the gang to a football quiz.
England and Liverpool legend John Barnes has been declared bankrupt after posing debts of ÂŁ1.5m through his media firm. The 61-year-old, once the darling of the Kop and a key figure in Bobby Robsonâs England side, was handed the crushing order by the High Court last week. The declaration was later published in the London Gazette.
Florian Wirtz endured a torrid evening for Liverpool against Galatasaray as the Reds fell to a 1-0 defeat in the Champions League. Wirtz played the full 90 minutes but struggled to make a significant impact on the game, and he is still waiting for his first goal contribution for the Reds after eight appearances. His latest performance has led to criticism from fans and pundits, with Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher among those who believe he should be dropped from the starting lineup.
Jose Mourinho revealed that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez sent a message to him upon his return to Benfica. The Portuguese head coach said that his former boss told him he was happy to see him return "to a club of your calibre", reminding fans once again of the mutual love and admiration shared between the two men.
Victor Osimhen fired Galatasaray to a stunning 1-0 Champions League win over Liverpool and declared the Turkish giants âthe best team in the worldâ after the final whistle. The Nigeria strikerâs first-half penalty settled a raucous contest in Istanbul, piling pressure on Arne Slot after back-to-back defeats for the Premier League champions.
Lionel Messi has been sent a retirement warning with his Inter Miami contract renewal yet to be confirmed. Messiâs future has been the subject of much speculation after it emerged that his first Inter Miami deal does not include a player option beyond 2025. The 38-year-old attacker, who initially signed with Miami in July 2023, will become a free agent in November unless fresh terms are hammered out.
Paul Pogbaâs much-awaited return to football is finally getting close. Ahead Monaco's Champions League clash against Manchester City, manager Adi Hutter has revealed the midfielder could make his debut for the club after the international break. It has been over two years since the Frenchman last played a senior match.
A difficult night in the Champions League for Liverpool was compounded by a tongue-in-cheek social media post from Galatasaray, using the Reds' famous anthem You'll Never Walk Alone against them. Arne Slot's side lost 1-0 on the evening, making it back-to-back defeats following the 2-1 reversal at Crystal Palace in the Premier League last weekend.
Inter chairman Giuseppe Marotta has cast a bleak verdict on Serie Aâs pulling power, admitting that Kylian Mbappe is out of reach for Italian clubs and hailing Luka Modric as the leagueâs only âchampionâ at 40 years old. Speaking right before Interâs Champions League clash with Slavia Prague, Marotta praised his clubâs progress but underlined the financial gulf separating Serie A from Europeâs elite.
Every month, GOAL brings you the top stories involving teenage wonderkids and the world's best young footballers. During September, there was plenty to be said about the likes of Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid's Franco Mastantuono, but there were also plenty of other headlines made by the planet's emerging stars in both the men's and women's games.
TNT Sports presenter Laura Woods reacted to being "pied" by Jose Mourinho on live TV after Benfica suffered a 1-0 Champions League defeat to Chelsea. The visitors were undone by a cruel own goal from Richard RĂos in the 18th minute of the game, and for Mourinho, it marked yet another frustrating return to Stamford Bridge.
Antoine Griezmann created history for Atletico Madrid on Tuesday in the Champions League during their 5-1 drubbing of Eintracht Frankfurt. After the game, head coach Diego Simeone was delighted with his performance and reserved special praise for the former France international. The Argentine expressed his gratitude to Griezmann and said that "talent has no age."
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was at his brilliant best in Marseilleâs 4-0 Champions League win over Ajax on Tuesday, but it was his simple act of humility that impressed Roberto De Zerbi as his 'new-spirited' team rounded off a perfect week. The veteran ran the show as the French side ran rampant with their third straight win since they opened their Champions League campaign with a defeat to Real Madrid.
Mikel Arteta opened up on Viktor Gyokeres' lean patch of form after the Arsenal striker fired another blank against Newcastle United. The Swede, who joined the Gunners from Sporting CP this summer, has netted only three goals in eight appearances across all competitions, and Sundayâs clash saw him stifled by the Magpies' rugged defence.
Kylian Mbappe bagged himself a hat-trick in the Champions League and became the third quickest to reach 60 goals in Europe's premier competition, which puts him on course to beat Cristiano Ronaldo's incredible record tally. The Real Madrid superstar reached the landmark in just 89 games, courtesy of a treble against Kairat, while it took Ronaldo 98 games to reach the same number. And the France international is the second youngest to hit 60 goals, beaten by a matter of days, by Lionel Messi.
Manuel Neuer was left helpless as Mislav Orsic fired a spectacular strike past him during Bayern Munichâs 5-1 Champions League win over Pafos. The veteran goalkeeper later offered a cheeky explanation in a lively exchange with a reporter, insisting there was little he could do to stop the goal, while, Bayernâs stars Harry Kane and Michael Olise shone once again in a dominant performance.
Jose Mourinho was grateful for the warm reception he received from Chelsea fans but made it clear that it was no consolation after Benfica's Champions League defeat at Stamford Bridge. The Portuguese walked back into the stadium that made him a legend and was met with a roar only reserved for serial champions. But while the love was loud, the night was cruel for Benfica.
Bayern Munich extended their winning streak to nine with a 5-1 Champions League win over Pafos on Tuesday. While many have been surprised by the German giantsâ form under Vincent Kompany, midfielder and team captain Joshua Kimmich insists it is no accident.
Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has lavished praise on his players after they hammered Ajax 4-0 in the Champions League clash at the Orange Velodrome. Mason Greenwood was on the scoresheet once again and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang provided a couple of assists and bagged a goal himself, but Igor Paixao grabbed the headlines with a quick-fire first-half double to get the ball rolling for the French giants. After the match, former Brighton manager De Zerbi described his team's performance as "perfect".
Michael Olise, one of the most dangerous attackers in Europe at the moment, has found himself high on the list of transfer priorities for clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea, who are willing to splash over âŹ100 million to sign the Frenchman. Bayern Munich, however, are absolutely determined to keep hold of their star player and have already started internal discussions over his renewal.
Nicolas Jackson opened his Bayern Munich account in style, scoring and assisting in a 5-1 Champions League win over Pafos. The Chelsea loanee called it a ânew startâ after a difficult spell on the sidelines and says heâs âslowlyâ getting back to his best. With Harry Kane continuing his prolific run, Bayern look unstoppable ahead of their Bundesliga clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Harry Kane opened up on his relationship with Nicolas Jackson after Bayern Munich's Champions League rout of Pafos. The Bavarians unleashed a merciless storm in Cyprus, tearing apart Pafos with a crushing 5-1 continental triumph. Kane bagged a brace, Raphael Guerreiro and Michael Olise also chipped in, and Jackson grabbed his first goal since arriving from Chelsea in the summer window.
Bernardo Silva has revealed that he knows "exactly" where he will play next summer with his Manchester City contract expiring in less than a year. The Portuguese midfielder last signed a renewal in 2023 and has often been linked with a departure in the past few years. Silva is now expected to call curtains on his illustrious City career, following other legends who departed in the past year.
Josh Windass revealed a gruesome injury to his social media followers after coming off early in Wrexham's Championship draw with Leicester City. The Foxes went ahead in the first half through Jordan Jamesâ and held onto their lead until the 77th minute. However, nerves and wastefulness opened the door for Wrexham, with Nathan Broadhead grabbing a late equaliser at the King Power Stadium.
Barcelonaâs summer transfer window had its fair share of drama and speculation, with Manchester City reportedly showing interest in Jules Kounde. The French defender was on Pep Guardiolaâs radar after a successful season with the Blaugrana, but sporting director Deco has now explained why the story never went any further.