Kylian Mbappe has been chasing the Ballon d’Or dream since he was a teenager, with Gilles Grimandi telling GOAL why he was left “embarrassed” when first being made aware of that ambitious Golden Ball target. The ex-Arsenal star formed part of transfer talks at the time, with Mbappe’s family making it clear to the Gunners that the flying frontman intended to become the best player on the planet.
U.S. Soccer has reported surging stadium attendance and television audiences across the first six senior national team fixtures held since the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Over 165,000 supporters turned out to watch the men's and women's sides in action during the autumn international windows as interest in the sport continues to grow.
Thomas Tuchel could soon lose his trusted assistant Anthony Barry, as the England coach is attracting serious interest from several Premier League clubs. Barry recently signed a contract extension ahead of the upcoming European Championship, but an opportunity to become a top-flight manager might tempt him away from the Three Lions setup in the near future.
FIFA has officially handed down significant disciplinary sanctions to Egypt’s head coach Hossam Hassan, team manager Ibrahim Hassan, and forward Mostafa Zico. The punishments stem from a series of controversial events and heated statements following the Pharaohs' dramatic exit from the 2026 World Cup at the hands of Argentina.
Cristiano Ronaldo has avoided missing any international matches despite receiving a 30-day suspension and a financial penalty from the Portugal Football Federation. The forward was punished for abandoning the national team camp midway through the recent international break following a disagreement with head coach Jorge Jesus, but the backdated ban means he remains available.
UEFA has officially issued a stern ultimatum to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, demanding full transparency regarding a series of controversial governance decisions and a failed private investment scheme. The European governing body has set a strict deadline of November 2 for the global organization to release internal documents and provide comprehensive answers to a long list of unresolved questions.
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