Luis Enrique has lauded the immediate impact of Ferran Torres after the Spanish international came off the bench to rescue a point for Paris Saint-Germain on his debut. The former Barcelona man proved to be the difference-maker in a tense Ligue 1 opener against Rennes, justifying the hype surrounding his arrival in the French capital.
Cristiano Ronaldo is fast closing in on 1,000 competitive career goals, but could the Portuguese GOAT retire once that milestone has been reached? Former Manchester United team-mate Giuseppe Rossi has attempted to answer that question for GOAL, with future questions being asked of the legendary frontman in Al-Nassr and Portugal camps.
Jordan Pickford has long been the subject of intense scrutiny whenever he pulls on an England shirt, but the Everton goalkeeper is proving his worth yet again back at Goodison Park. Following a summer of mixed emotions on the international stage, the Three Lions' number one returned to club action with a performance that silenced his doubters and drew significant praise from his manager.
Alejandro Garnacho has been warned that “alarm bells should be ringing" for him on the back of Manchester United and Chelsea flops, but Ray Houghton has told GOAL that Unai Emery can help to get the Argentina international back on track during a loan spell at Aston Villa. Said move may have seen the 22-year-old winger step into the Premier League’s last chance saloon.
Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak has called for unity within the squad after Julian Alvarez was subjected to a hostile reception from his own supporters. The Argentine forward, who has been heavily linked with a sensational move to Arsenal, faced a barrage of boos during Atletico's recent home clash against Villarreal.
Alan Shearer may need to watch out, with Emile Heskey telling GOAL that Harry Kane could line up a Premier League return for 2028 - after extending his contract at Bayern Munich - with more records to be broken in that division. A history-making spell at Tottenham for the prolific striker came to a close in 2023, but does he have unfinished business in English football?
Football's global governing body has confirmed the full 64-match schedule for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. The legendary Maracana in Rio de Janeiro will take centre stage, hosting both the opening fixture and the grand finale. All eight host cities across the vibrant South American nation are set to welcome knockout-stage football as anticipation builds for the historic tournament.
Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso has confirmed that the club will not rush into a final decision regarding Mykhailo Mudryk’s immediate future at Stamford Bridge. The Ukrainian international is expected to depart on loan before the summer transfer window slams shut, with several Premier League and European clubs monitoring his situation.
Christos Tzolis has made a blistering start to life at Arsenal, but the Greek winger took time out of his weekend to return to familiar surroundings. The 24-year-old was paraded on the pitch at Club Brugge ahead of their derby victory over Cercle Brugge, soaking in the adulation from his former supporters.
Dominik Szoboszlai is considered to be Liverpool captain material, as the potential heir to Virgil van Dijk at Anfield, but Reds legend Ray Houghton has highlighted to GOAL the selection mistake that Andoni Iraola and Co must avoid when it comes to the all-action Hungarian. Szoboszlai has seen his versatility put to good use across three seasons on Merseyside.
Adrien Rabiot delivered a remarkable game-changing performance off the bench as AC Milan secured a hard-fought victory away to Torino. The French midfielder quickly silenced his detractors following a heavily scrutinised return from international duty, proving he is fully committed to life under new manager Ruben Amorim.
Diego Simeone is publicly backing Julian Alvarez after Atletico Madrid supporters booed and whistled at him during their match against Villarreal. Arsenal and Barcelona are monitoring the fallout closely, identifying the 26-year-old forward as a primary target to reinforce their attack before the transfer window closes.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has sensationally ruled himself out of the running for the FIFA presidency, but he has not pulled his punches regarding the future of Gianni Infantino. The Slovenian official insists that the current head of world football must either resign or prepare for a fierce leadership challenge at the upcoming FIFA Congress.
Mika Godts praised Paris Saint-Germain's collective character after making his competitive debut in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Rennes. The summer signing was brought on at the interval alongside Ferran Torres with the champions trailing by two goals, playing a key role in an energetic second-half display that preserved a hard-earned point for Luis Enrique's side.
Harry Maguire is being backed to remain at Manchester United beyond the 2026-27 campaign, with Danny Simpson telling GOAL that the long-serving centre-half could “stay on to coach” at Old Trafford. The latest contract signed by the England international is only one-year in length, but it does include the option for a further 12 months that will take him beyond celebrations of a 35th birthday.
Newcastle United manager Matthias Jaissle has emphatically dismissed suggestions that Lewis Hall will join Manchester United this summer. The 21-year-old left-back is reportedly eager to force a high-profile move to Old Trafford, but the Magpies are desperate to retain their remaining defensive stars following a damaging transfer exodus.
Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck has broken his silence regarding his recovery from the ankle injury sustained at the 2026 World Cup. The 26-year-old missed the entire pre-season and the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup defeat to Bayern Munich but expressed optimism that his return to action will not take much longer.
Hansi Flick's Barcelona kicked off their La Liga title defence with a ruthless 5-0 demolition of Elche. Despite the flurry of goals, the glaring absence of a recognised centre-forward remains the biggest talking point in Catalonia, and German tactician has made it crystal clear: the club's search for a natural centre-forward is far from resolved.
Emi Martinez is seemingly eager to form part of the mass exodus at Aston Villa, but the World Cup-winning goalkeeper has avoided criticism for that transfer push from former Villans star Ray Houghton - who has been speaking exclusively to GOAL. The Argentina international has been seeking a move for over 12 months now, as he attempts to “make a lot of money” before hanging up his gloves.
The match ball used in Argentina's infamous 1986 World Cup quarter-final win over England has sold for $3.35 million (£2.6m) at auction. Despite initial pre-sale estimates reaching up to $10m, the artefact from Diego Maradona's legendary "Hand of God" performance drew substantial interest before the hammer fell on Saturday evening.
Ferran Torres proved his immense worth immediately for Paris Saint-Germain, coming off the bench to score twice and salvage a 2-2 draw against Rennes in their dramatic Ligue 1 opener. The former Barcelona forward was introduced at half-time and quickly sparked a vital comeback for Luis Enrique's struggling side.
Raphinha has quickly clarified his intention following suggestions that his Spider-Man celebration against Elche was a secret nod to Barcelona transfer target Julian Alvarez. The Brazilian forward struck twice in a dominant victory and has now revealed a heartwarming, family-oriented reason behind his viral post-match gesture, putting an end to the swirling social media speculation.
Dominik Szoboszlai felt Liverpool should have claimed all three points despite needing his dramatic 99th-minute penalty to rescue a 2-2 draw against Newcastle on Sunday. The midfielder held his nerve from the spot in front of a hostile St James' Park crowd after strikes from Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock put the hosts on the brink of an opening-day win.
Barcelona midfielder Gavi was forced off in tears during his team's 5-0 victory over Elche in their La Liga opener, raising immediate fears of another serious problem. Head coach Hansi Flick has offered an update on the young Spaniard's condition after he injured the very same right knee that previously sidelined him for almost a year.
Santos head coach Cuca has admitted he is uncertain whether Neymar will feature in Wednesday's Copa do Brasil quarter-final first leg against Palmeiras due to the synthetic pitch at Nubank Parque. The Brazil international is an outspoken critic of artificial surfaces, leaving his availability in doubt ahead of a crucial cup encounter in Sao Paulo.
Palmeiras boss Abel Ferreira has told Manchester City they must trigger Allan Elias' €100 million release clause to complete a summer move. The Premier League side are actively chasing the versatile 22-year-old winger as Enzo Maresca revamps his attack, but the Brazilian outfit have no intention of selling for anything below their asking price.
Hull City executed a flawless tactical game plan to shock Manchester United with a 2-0 victory on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. Manager Sergej Jakirovic kept his five-man defence plan a closely guarded secret, ultimately overwhelming Michael Carrick's side on their long-awaited top-flight return.
AC Milan teenager Alphadjo Cisse admitted he never imagined scoring on his senior debut after netting the opening goal in Sunday's 2-1 victory away at Torino. Handed a starting role in place of the injured Rafael Leao, the 19-year-old struck midway through the second half to set up a winning start to Ruben Amorim's tenure in Serie A.
Man City remain interested in Enzo Fernandez despite agreeing an £86m deal for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. Enzo Maresca wants further midfield reinforcements after Rodri's departure to Barcelona, but Chelsea's £120m asking price remains a major obstacle to any deal.
