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Barcelona boss Hansi Flick doesn't want to get bogged down in questions about the summer transfer window at this particular moment in time, and that's perfectly understandable. The Catalans may be presently nine points clear of Real Madrid in the Spanish title race, but there's still work to be done - possibly without an injured Lamine Yamal - and, as Flick pointed out on Tuesday, "La Liga is not an easy league."

Aitana Bonmati has won each of the last three Ballons d'Or Feminin - but the accolade will go to someone else in 2026. Will it be two-time winner and fellow Barcelona star Alexia Putellas who reasserts herself as the best player in the women's game? Or could there be a new name on the honour roll when the Golden Ball is handed out in Paris in October?

To paraphrase the great Homer Simpson, it is not only easy to criticise, but fun, too. It is quite simple to sit and judge from this ivory tower, but hey, that's football after all, merely a game of opinions. Being a Premier League manager must be one of the loneliest gigs in the world, particularly when results are wayward and your job security is the subject of international speculation.

Newcastle's season has unravelled; with five Premier League games remaining and in the thick of a dire run of form, the Magpies find themselves closer to the bottom three than they are to the Champions League places, and their hopes of securing any form of European football are fading fast. To make matters worse, their struggles are unfolding against the backdrop of significant upheaval behind the scenes as pressure mounts on head coach Eddie Howe.

Almost every footballer's career has a sliding doors moment, and Georgia Stanway's came in the summer of 2022. It's remarkable to think now, given her role in the England team and her status as one of the best midfielders in the game, but as that year's European Championship approached, Stanway was not in Sarina Wiegman’s starting XI.

For much of Wednesday night, it looked like Inter Miami would drop points in Utah, but two of the club's biggest names stepped up with world-class finishes.

A Lamine Yamal penalty ensured Barcelona saw off a stubborn Celta Vigo side on Wednesday night to stretch their lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga to nine points. However, the 1-0 victory at Spotify Camp Nou came at a cost, as the wonderkid winger was forced off injured straight after converting the winner from the spot in the first half.

Erling Haaland scored the only goal as an underwhelming Manchester City beat Burnley 1-0 to move top of the Premier League and relegate the Clarets in the process. Three days after netting the winner in the title showdown against Arsenal, the Norwegian demonstrated his physical prowess to score the winner in just the sixth minute as Pep Guardiola's men edged to victory.

Mic'd up: Kaylyn Kyle breaks down Canadian teams in MLS, who Inter Miami could appoint to replace Javier Mascherano, and why Neymar would be an excellent fit in North America

If we're being brutally honest, it always felt like a case of not if, but when the axe would fall on Liam Rosenior after he was named as the surprise successor to the sacked Enzo Maresca in January. A positive start in the Stamford Bridge dugout now feels like a distant memory, with a historically-bad run of form accelerating his downfall. Having overseen a fifth league defeat in a row, Rosenior has deservedly been relieved of his duties - but he was simply a symptom of the Blues wider, deeper problems.

No team benefits more from an expanded World Cup than the All Whites, who head into this summer's tournament with a genuine opportunity

The striker is in the best form of his career as he heads towards the most important games he's ever played

The American youth soccer system is full of talent but lacking in organization, and GOAL's writers offer their thoughts on what needs to change.

The banner unfurled by Manchester City fans on the south stand of the Etihad Stadium on Sunday really did sum up the narrative nicely, "Panic on the streets on the London." After a devastating 2-1 defeat at the home of their Premier League title rivals, Arsenal are now just three points clear of Pep Guardiola's men - and having played one game more.

San Diego FC, after performing so well in their inaugural season, have struggled immensely to find their rhythm in their sophomore season. And something might have to change.

May 2, 2026 - it should be a day of pure pride and celebration in Leicester, nothing but touching tributes to Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, N'Golo Kante and every other member of Claudio Ranieri's Premier League-winning squad. However, the imminent 10-year anniversary of the most miraculous top-flight title triumph the game has ever seen will also serve as a cruelly-timed reminder of just how far the Foxes have fallen over the past decade.

Real Madrid bounced back from their four-match winless run and kept their slim title hopes in La Liga alive with a 2-1 victory over Alaves on Tuesday. Goals from Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr got the job done for Alvaro Arbeloa's side, who closed the gap on leaders Barcelona to six points for at least the next 24 hours.