FEATURES

  1. World Cup 2026 Golden Boot standings: Mbappe level with Messi

    The 2026 World Cup is well underway and so is the race for the prestigious Golden Boot - the award given to the tournament's top scorer. There's a long and winding road to be navigated as 48 nations battle for the top prize, but which star will take home the illustrious award? Here, GOAL tracks the tournament's most prolific stars.

  2. World Cup Golden Ball Power Rankings: Messi in at No.1

    The 2026 World Cup is underway as those still in contention fight it out for the universally coveted trophy. While the collective prize is the main objective for all competitors, some are already making their claim as the best player of the entire tournament. Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are currently the top candidates, but they face intense competition as we go further into the knockout rounds.

  3. Spurs spending £100m on Tonali shows market has gone mad

    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.

  4. How Lionesses teen Parkinson's elite mentality led to NWSL switch

    Erica Parkinson was just 12 years old when she laid out her goals to a mindset coach who has spent the last six years helping her plot a route to the top of the game. "I want to play for England at the World Cup," she proclaimed. Fast-forward to today and, having become the Lionesses’ youngest call-up under Sarina Wiegman and just signed for the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL, it’s not out of the question that the dream could be realised in 12 months’ time.

  5. Belgium back from the brink as Tielemans caps epic comeback

    Belgium produced one of the most remarkable comebacks in World Cup history as they came from behind to beat Senegal 3-2 in the last 32 on Wednesday. The Red Devils were awful for 85 minutes and were heading for elimination after going 2-0 down, only for Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans to pull them level before Tielemans converted from the penalty spot in stoppage time of extra-time to book a place in the round of 16.

  1. Captain Fantastic! Kane to the rescue for abject England

    England came from behind to secure their place in the last 16 of the World Cup as a second-half brace from Harry Kane ensured a 2-1 win over DR Congo on Wednesday. The Three Lions were largely poor for long periods in Atlanta, but Kane's goals, which were both assisted by substitute Anthony Gordon, set up a meeting with co-hosts Mexico on Sunday.

  2. Trades of the week: The biggest done deals of the summer

    With the transfer window having opened for many of Europe's top leagues, GOAL, in association with eToro, is your go-to resource for all the biggest done deals. Will Manchester City break the £100 million barrier to land Elliot Anderson? Could Michael Olise end up at Real Madrid? Track all the biggest trades right here throughout the summer!

  3. Eight games, no goals: CR7's woeful World Cup knockouts

    When Portugal play Croatia on Thursday, Cristiano Ronaldo will attempt to do something he's never managed before: score a goal in the knockout stage of the World Cup. The Portuguese is one of the finest forwards the game has ever seen and, against Uzbekistan last week, became the first man to score in six different editions of the game's most prestigious tournament, which is testament to his remarkable longevity and work ethic.

  4. Olise's genius helps Mbappe match Messi in France cruise

    France cruised into the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Sweden on Tuesday, inspired by a Michael Olise masterclass. At his dazzling best in New Jersey, the Bayern Munich sensation was involved in absolutely everything as a Kylian Mbappe brace and Bradley Barcola strike ensured Les Bleus progressed from the round of 32 at a canter.

  5. Rice recall a no-brainer - but Tuchel faces winger headache

    It hasn't always been pretty, but England have achieved their aim of winning their World Cup group to set up a favourable last-32 tie. They will face DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday after eventually seeing off Panama last time out, but form and fitness mean Thomas Tuchel's team selection is far from certain as the knockout stage gets underway.

  6. Haaland is inevitable! Norway through despite Amad heroics

    Quite predictably, Erling Haaland was Norway's hero as his late goal secured a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast to send the Scandinavians through to the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, setting up a showdown with Brazil. The Manchester City striker had been peripheral for long stretches but popped up to bobble home the winner with just four minutes left on the clock in Dallas, after Manchester United's Amad Diallo had hauled Les Elephants level.

  7. Hire Klopp now! Germany exit must be the end for Nagelsmann

    Since lifting the 2014 World Cup, Germany have endured a nightmare run at the biggest football tournament on the planet. They embarrassingly exited the competition at the group stage in both 2018 and 2022, and while they made it into the knockouts this time around in 2026, they still failed to reach the last 16 after falling on penalties to Paraguay on a chastening Monday afternoon in Boston.