Goal.com

From locked-in stars to those on the way out: USMNT player tiers

  1. How Portugal wasted a golden shot at World Cup glory

    Wayne Rooney described Cristiano Ronaldo's final appearance at a World Cup as "a sad day for football". It wasn't, though. Not really. Ronaldo may be one of the most iconic figures in sporting history, but Spain's victory over an insipid Portugal side, taken in conjunction with Belgium battering the United States, actually made July 6, 2026 a pretty good day for the game.

  2. Messi is inevitable! GOAT inspires epic win over Egypt

    Lionel Messi made amends for missing a second penalty at the 2026 World Cup by inspiring the most dramatic of comebacks, as Argentina came from 2-0 down with just over 10 minutes remaining to beat a heroic Egypt side 3-2 in a last-16 clash for the ages in Atlanta. Lionel Scaloni's side started as sluggishly as they had performed in their lucky win over Cape Verde by the same scoreline, and Egypt took advantage, with an unmarked Yasser Ibrahim burying a cross from Marwan Attia past Emiliano Martinez with just 15 minutes gone.

  3. Brazil's World Cup nightmare: Why it went so wrong

    The inquest into Brazil's disastrous World Cup exit is well underway after the five-time winners were unceremoniously dumped out of the tournament at the hands of dark horses Norway and the goals of Erling Haaland. In truth, the Selecao never really got going in North America - hamstrung by an ageing, rag-tag squad that was yet to gel as they often relied on Vinicius Jr to deliver the goods.

Advertisement

U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM

  1. Not Balogun! Villa prediction sees keeper preferred to USMNT star

    Aston Villa have been credited with interest in Folarin Balogun, but Stan Collymore has told GOAL why Unai Emery is likely to favour another 2026 World Cup star over a United States international that made plenty of headlines at FIFA’s flagship event. The Villans are looking to bolster their ranks from back to front during the summer, with comings and goings being mooted.

Expert Opinion & Analysis

  1. BDO Power Rankings: Pressure keeps building 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.

Premier League

  1. Amorim admits to Man Utd mistakes

    Ruben Amorim has openly acknowledged making mistakes during his challenging 14-month tenure as Manchester United manager. Speaking at his first press conference as the new head coach of AC Milan, Amorim reflected on his time in the Premier League, admitting that his difficult spell at Old Trafford served as a significant learning experience for his future managerial career.

Major League Soccer

Transfer News

  1. PSG star snubs Real Madrid interest

    Fabian Ruiz has decided to commit his long-term future to Paris Saint-Germain by signing a new contract extension. The Spain international has reportedly snubbed major transfer interest from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to remain in the French capital, extending a highly successful stint that has yielded consecutive domestic and European trophies.

  2. London City sign Putellas!

    London City Lionesses have completed arguably the most significant signing in the history of the women's game, confirming the arrival of legendary midfielder Alexia Putellas. The two-time Ballon d'Or winner makes the move to England following a trophy-laden era at Barcelona, signalling a massive shift in the European football landscape.

  3. Greenwood has ‘silent pact’ in Roma vs Fener transfer battle

    Mason Greenwood has reportedly given his definitive "yes" to joining Roma this summer, prioritising a move to the Stadio Olimpico over a lucrative offer from Turkish giants Fenerbahce. The former Manchester United forward has entered into a "silent pact" with Giallorossi boss Gian Piero Gasperini after a series of secret phone calls convinced him of the move to Serie A.

Women's Soccer