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. Dowman in, Kane out?! How England will line up at 2030 World Cup

    And so the wait goes on. England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina on Wednesday means their quest for a first international trophy since 1966 will stretch into a seventh decade. The hope is that drought will come to an end in two years' time when the Three Lions co-host the 2028 European Championship, but will England ever again reach a World Cup final, never mind lift the most famous trophy in the sport?

  3. Yamal & Messi: From baby baths to the biggest game of all

    Lamine Yamal has always looked up to Lionel Messi. The Barcelona legend was - and remains - his one and only idol. "I never had another," Yamal admitted to Tuttosport. "I once took a photo with him. I was unknown." He wasn't just unknown, though; he was still only a baby, just a few weeks old when he and his mother partook in a 2007 photoshoot organised by SPORT for a charity calendar.

  4. Kane's most painful failure yet could cost him 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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. Deschamps: France don't want England play-off

    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.

  2. Spain cancel training ahead of final vs Argentina

    Preparation for the biggest match in world football has been thrown into disarray after Spain were forced to cancel their final training session before Sunday's World Cup final. Luis de la Fuente’s side, along with their opponents Argentina, were hit by severe weather conditions in the New Jersey area that made outdoor work impossible.

  3. White House defends Argentina over Falklands banner

    The political fallout from Argentina’s dramatic victory over England has reached the highest levels of government. While FIFA weighs up potential sanctions for a controversial banner, the White House has unexpectedly waded into the sovereignty dispute to defend the players' right to free speech. The incident has reignited old tensions between London and Buenos Aires on the world’s biggest sporting stage.

  4. Suker slams Tuchel over World Cup bronze

    Croatia legend Davor Suker has launched a scathing attack on England manager Thomas Tuchel following the German's dismissive comments regarding the World Cup third-place play-off. The former Real Madrid striker accused the Three Lions boss of elitism after Tuchel suggested that neither England nor France had any interest in competing for a bronze medal.

Transfers

  1. Palace set £55m Lacroix price for Chelsea

    Chelsea have been informed that they will need to pay £55 million to prise Maxence Lacroix away from Crystal Palace this summer. The France international defender has emerged as a primary target for the Blues as they look to reshape their backline under the guidance of new manager Xabi Alonso.

  2. Man Utd plot move for Leicester defender

    Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a move for Leicester City defender Ben Nelson as Michael Carrick looks to bolster his backline ahead of the new campaign. The Red Devils have already been active in the market, but the club’s return to the Champions League has necessitated further reinforcements to ensure the squad can compete on multiple fronts.

  3. Roma eye Garnacho and Summerville double swoop

    Roma are stepping up their pursuit of elite wing talent as they prepare for a significant overhaul of their offensive ranks ahead of the new campaign. The Giallorossi have intensified their interest in Alejandro Garnacho and remain firmly in the race for Crysencio Summerville as they seek to build a side capable of competing at the highest level.

Premier League

  1. Carrick boost as £100m Brighton star 'only wants' Man Utd

    The ongoing recruitment drive at Old Trafford could soon yield a spectacular third midfield addition ahead of the demanding new campaign. Having already heavily invested in reshaping the engine room, decision-makers are well aware that a prime target remains entirely desperate to secure a dream move to the Theatre of Dreams this summer.

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.

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