1. Mythical Messi deserves a ninth Ballon d'Or

    When Lionel Messi was pushed onto his weaker foot by Nico O'Reilly and Djed Spence on the right side of the box in the 92nd minute of stoppage time, England fans held their breath in unison. The Three Lions had four of their tallest players hovering around the six-yard area, and the Argentina captain needed a perfect delivery to reach Lautaro Martinez at the back post (his only realistic target) - but as we all know, Messi can conjure up perfection at any moment.

  2. Kane's latest England failure could cost him the Ballon d'Or

    It was a surprise, in truth, that it took reporters so long to ask Harry Kane about his future. The England striker stood there in the mixed zone, after a devastating 2-1 loss to Argentina, faced with the damning end to a remarkable season. And not until the third question did someone ask the England captain what might be next for him.

  3. England should NOT sack Tuchel - unless Pep wants the job

    Thomas Tuchel is about to learn the true meaning of an England tournament post-mortem - something the country does best. The inquest is well underway, with widespread calls for the manager's head in the wake of Wednesday's bitterly disappointing World Cup semi-final exit at the hands of the holders Argentina, as a defensive shift backfired and Tuchel's side slumped to defeat in stoppage time, despite leading in the 85th minute.

  4. BDO Power Rankings: Messi & Yamal pile pressure on Kane

    With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly presumably disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players now beginning each campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued by injuries and inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he is among a crowded field of contenders again in 2026.

  5. Never write Argentina off! Messi magic helps seal spot in final

    Every time Lionel Messi got near the ball, the crowd in Atlanta held its breath. It wouldn't take much to feel the room shift during the first hour or so of Argentina's clash with England, just a brief moment where the Argentinian icon drifted into enough space to maybe, perhaps, do something. As the game wore on, those moments became more tense. Down a goal late, the moments where the air left the crowd were less about anticipating magic and more about a potential reality setting in.

  6. Tielemans to Man Utd one of the best-value deals of the summer

    For some football fans, the summer is the part of the calendar that they look forward to the most - and that's not just because it's filled by a World Cup every four years! Rather, it's because the end of the season means only one thing: It's time for transfers! The 2026 window is once again proving to be busy, with some huge names making big-money moves before deadline day on September 1.

  7. Slow summer puts United at risk of falling further behind WSL elite

    It's been a hectic summer transfer window so far in the women's game, especially in the Women's Super League. Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas has landed in the division, as has one of the NWSL's brightest stars in Manaka Matsukubo, while Georgia Stanway and Mary Earps have returned and other England stars, such as Beth Mead and Niamh Charles, have also been on the move. None of these eye-catching deals, though, have involved Manchester United.

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Videos

  1. 🎥 | Man City confirm Maresca appointment

    Manchester City have confirmed the appointment of Enzo Maresca on a three-year contract until 2029. The Premier League side confirmed the news on June 29, with former Chelsea boss Maresca returning to the Etihad Stadium to replace Pep Guardiola, having previously served as the Catalan's assistant back in 2022.

  2. 🎥 | David James on England, Liverpool, Alisson & more

    From his early life and rise through the game to becoming Liverpool's first-choice goalkeeper, representing England on the international stage, and lifting the FA Cup with Portsmouth, David James reflects on the highs, the challenges and everything he learned along the way in the latest episode of the Beast Mode On Podcast.

  3. WATCH: USMNT icon Donovan joins The Late Run with Chad Ochocinco

    Landon Donovan joins Ocho and Raheem on The Late Run to revisit a career built far from the spotlight. He reflects on leaving home for Bayer Leverkusen at 16, grinding to sell MLS tickets, his 2012 mental-health sabbatical, the Klinsmann World Cup snub, facing Messi and Ronaldo, Beckham’s impact on MLS, the pay-to-play problem threatening U.S. soccer and why a home World Cup could change everything.

  4. 🎥 | No Era Penal - a MUNDIAL film

    MUNDIAL release No Era Penal, a film celebrating the magic and passion of Mexican football fandom. Taking the infamous 'No Era Penal' (It wasn't a penalty) saying from the 2014 World Cup as a starting point, the film delves deep into Mexico's love for the game, the World Cup, and its elusive mission to reach La Quinto Partido, the fifth game of the World Cup. Featuring Raúl Jiménez, Miguel Herrera, Rey Mysterio and more, it's a wild, wild ride!

FIFA WORLD CUP

  1. ‘Doesn’t have to be best player’ - Mbappe right France captain?

    Kylian Mbappe remains the right man to captain France heading forward, Jeremie Aliadiere has told GOAL, despite admissions that skippers do not “have to be the best player”. That is the case at present with Les Bleus, as their record goalscorer fills the armband, and any questions of character will continue to be ignored as the fearsome frontman leads by example.

  2. Guardiola isn’t bored! England warned off kneejerk Tuchel sack

    Pep Guardiola will not yet have grown bored of life outside of management, following his departure from Manchester City, with Joleon Lescott telling GOAL why any kneejerk decisions on Thomas Tuchel’s future as England boss need to be avoided. The German tactician is facing some uncomfortable questions following the Three Lions’ World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.

  3. Revealed: Argentina 'shocked' by Tuchel's England substitutions in semi-final

    England led through Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute strike in the World Cup semi-final against Argentina, only for Thomas Tuchel’s subsequent defensive substitutions to leave the Albiceleste players privately stunned and free to chase a dramatic late victory. The decision to drop deeper and deeper rather than stretch the game with pace proved decisive, allowing Lionel Scaloni’s side to equalise through Enzo Fernandez in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez struck the winner in stoppage time.

Transfers

  1. PSG out of Olise race as Bayern star eyes Real Madrid switch

    Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly withdrawn from the race to sign Bayern Munich standout Michael Olise. The French champions are unwilling to engage in a bidding war or match the €200 million asking price, leaving Real Madrid in pole position. Olise is reportedly determined to secure a blockbuster switch to the Santiago Bernabeu after a sensational season in Germany.

Premier League

  1. Rashford to Arsenal? Pros & cons of transfer highlighted

    The pros and cons of Arsenal potentially making a move for Marcus Rashford have been highlighted to GOAL by ‘Invincibles’ squad member Jeremie Aliadiere. The Gunners have allowed Leandro Trossard to leave Emirates Stadium, as questions are asked of Gabriel Martinelli’s future, with obvious reconstruction work to be carried out in the summer transfer window.

Must-read opinion and expert analysis

  1. World Cup Golden Boot standings: Messi climbs to No.1

    The 2026 World Cup is in its final stages and so is the race for the prestigious Golden Boot - the award given to the tournament's top scorer. With only four of the original 48 nations left in the tournament, including England and France due to their participation in the third-place play-off match, which star will take home the illustrious award? Here, GOAL tracks the tournament's most prolific stars.

Betting