Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe has officially been unveiled as the face of EA SPORTS FC 27, marking a triumphant return to the spotlight for the world’s premier football simulation. The French captain’s move to the Santiago Bernabeu has solidified his status as the game's ultimate commercial powerhouse, ending a four-year hiatus from the iconic cover.
And so the 2026 World Cup has come to a close after an enthralling 39 days that saw Spain get their hands on the trophy. Throughout the showpiece tournament in North America, GOAL, in association with eToro, has been tracking the value of some of the world's most sought-after talents. Did their price rise or plummet? Check out the final standings of our unique player value tracker to find out...
Kylian Mbappe will have been left “devastated” and “fuming” at his trophy failings with Real Madrid and France, Jeremie Aliadiere has told GOAL, with the ‘Galactico’ forward desperate to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League-winning department. That prestigious European prize has remained elusive to a man who is now the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history.
After five weeks, a record 104 matches played and 308 goals scored, the 2026 World Cup is officially over. From a purely footballing perspective, FIFA's biggest tournament of all time did not disappoint, with 48 teams doing battle across three host countries and the vast expanse of North America. And when 46 of those nations had been whittled away, only the top two ranked teams on the planet remained: Spain and Argentina.
There's no sporting event bigger than the World Cup. It's the pinnacle of professional football, where global superstars are born, dreams die and legends live forever. Sometimes, with just one goal, one pass, one tackle, one block or one save, a previously little-known player can become a national hero, a name eternally etched in the memory of a country's collective consciousness.
France’s 2026 World Cup campaign ended in a cloud of toxicity and defensive fragility following a remarkable 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff. While the goal-fest in Miami provided entertainment for the neutral, veteran midfielder Adrien Rabiot was left fuming at the lack of professionalism shown by his teammates during Didier Deschamps' final game in charge.
The 2026 World Cup has reached its conclusion, with Spain emerging triumphant as they captured another global title. A memorable tournament in North America saw superstar performers from every corner of the planet take centre stage. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham all illuminated proceedings, but Rodri signed off with the best player prize.
The 2026 World Cup is over, and so is the race for the prestigious Golden Boot - the award given to the tournament's top scorer. With the expanded 48-nation tournament coming to a close, following a month of thrilling action in North America, which star has taken home the illustrious award? Here, GOAL lists the tournament's most prolific performers.
Kylian Mbappe claimed the World Cup Golden Boot for a second time after scoring ten goals in eight appearances at the 2026 tournament. The France captain became the first player since Gerd Muller in 1970 to reach double figures in a single World Cup, although his individual success came amid France's disappointing finish.
Declan Rice etched his name into the history books as England secured a third-place finish at the 2026 World Cup with a chaotic 6-4 victory over France. The Arsenal midfielder stepped up to lead the Three Lions in Miami, delivering a masterclass that saw him surpass legendary figures like David Beckham and Harry Kane in the record books.
France's 2026 World Cup journey ended in high-scoring heartbreak and internal friction as Didier Deschamps witnessed a total collapse in their third-place play-off against England. Amidst a frantic 6-4 defeat in Miami, the spotlight shifted from the pitch to the touchline as Manchester City playmaker Rayan Cherki once again clashed with his veteran manager.
Thomas Tuchel has hit back at his critics after England secured a third-place finish at the World Cup, suggesting the fallout from their semi-final exit was disproportionately negative. The German tactician oversaw a wild 6-4 victory over France to claim the bronze medal but spent much of his post-match address defending the "next steps" of his project.
Kylian Mbappe has reached the summit of World Cup history, but the France captain is fully prepared to see his stay at the top lasting less than 24 hours. Despite surpassing Lionel Messi to become the competition's all-time leading scorer with 22 goals, the Real Madrid forward remains certain that his former PSG team-mate will have something to say in Sunday's final against Spain.
Michael Olise made history on the grandest stage of all, but the Bayern Munich winger was left devastated following France’s chaotic 6-4 defeat to England in the World Cup bronze final. Despite eclipsing a long-standing record held by the legendary Pele, the 24-year-old was unable to find personal joy after a series of uncharacteristic misses in Miami.
Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo has officially concluded his 2026 World Cup journey without playing a single minute for England. Following his absence from the third-place play-off against France, manager Thomas Tuchel has provided a fresh update on the 21-year-old amid shocking claims the midfielder was urged to fake an injury to avoid the "nonsense" fixture.
Jude Bellingham has officially etched his name into the history books by becoming the first Englishman to ever score seven goals at a single World Cup tournament. The Real Madrid sensation reached the unprecedented milestone during a chaotic bronze-medal match against France, surpassing the previous benchmarks set by national icons.
The bronze-medal match tends to be one of the highest-scoring games of the tournament, and this one certainly didn't disappoint. England manager Thomas Tuchel called it a fixture “nobody wants to play in” earlier in the week, but that didn't appear to be the case as the Three Lions and France battled in the highest-scoring third-place match in World Cup history, with England edging a wild 6-4 win
Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo missed England’s World Cup third-place play-off against France after picking up an injury. The 21-year-old will depart the Three Lions camp without having seen a single minute of competitive action during the tournament in North America.
kylian Mbappe has paid an emotional tribute to Didier Deschamps ahead of his final match in charge of France, admitting the squad "failed" to give their long-serving manager the send-off he deserved after their World Cup elimination, as Les Bleus prepare for one last game together against England.
France head coach Didier Deschamps has delivered a blunt assessment ahead of his final game in charge, admitting that neither Les Bleus nor England have any real desire to compete in the World Cup third-place play-off. The showpiece event in Miami serves as a bittersweet farewell for the legendary manager following a painful semi-final exit at the hands of Spain.
France
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