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Harry Kane has revealed how Thomas Tuchel's half-time team talk inspired England to raise their level and beat Croatia in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. After a tense first half, the Three Lions produced a dominant display after the break, with the Bayern Munich star crediting his manager's message for the dramatic improvement.

Portugal's 2026 World Cup campaign began with a whimper as they were held to a shock 1-1 draw by DR Congo. Manager Roberto Martinez is now facing a storm of criticism for his refusal to substitute a struggling Cristiano Ronaldo, with pundits suggesting the boss is prioritising his relationship with the superstar over the team's success.

The 2026 World Cup is underway and so is the race for the prestigious Golden Boot - the award given to the tournament's top scorer. There's a long road ahead as 48 nations battle for the top prize, but which star will take home the illustrious award? Here are GOAL's predicted candidates for the prize as we keep track of the tournament's most prolific stars

Cristiano Ronaldo has leapt to the defence of his Portugal teammates following their underwhelming 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their 2026 World Cup opener. Despite storming down the tunnel at full-time in Houston, the legendary forward insisted that nothing was missing from their performance, urging the squad to keep their heads up as they prepare for their next group stage challenge.

England made a winning start to the 2026 World Cup as they beat Croatia 4-2 in their Group L opener on Wednesday. Harry Kane scored twice in the first half, only for the Three Lions to be pegged back on both occasions, and it required a brilliant solo goal from Jude Bellingham early in the second period to put Thomas Tuchel's side back ahead before Marcus Rashford made the points safe late on.

Thierry Henry has pulled no punches in his assessment of Cristiano Ronaldo's performance during Portugal's frustrating start to their 2026 World Cup campaign. The former Arsenal striker highlighted a specific moment where he believes the legendary forward's desire for personal glory cost his nation a vital goal in their 1-1 draw against DR Congo.

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has expressed his immense pride after breaking Olivier Giroud's record to become the all-time leading goalscorer for the France national team. Following his crucial brace against Senegal in their opening 2026 World Cup match, the prolific forward is now setting his sights on breaking the all-time tournament record currently held by Lionel Messi.

Harry Kane has once again etched his name into the history books, though he had to do it the hard way during England’s pulsating World Cup encounter with Croatia. The Three Lions captain was handed a rare second bite at the cherry from the penalty spot, setting the stage to move level with a national legend.

Brazilian legend Ronaldo has declared that Lionel Messi is undisputedly the greatest player of all time following his spectacular hat-trick against Algeria. The historic display saw the Inter Miami superstar guide defending champions Argentina to a perfect 3-0 victory in their World Cup opener against Algeria, matching records and leaving former Real Madrid icon Ronaldo completely awestruck.

Cristiano Ronaldo cut a lonely and frustrated figure as he stormed off the pitch following Portugal's unexpected 1-1 draw with DR Congo in their 2026 World Cup opener. While the rest of the squad stayed out to acknowledge the significant Portuguese support in Houston, the legendary captain opted for a swift exit to the dressing room.

New AC Milan manager Ruben Amorim has reportedly targeted Sporting CP duo Morten Hjulmand and Francisco Trincao to kickstart his era at San Siro. The Portuguese coach is keen on a reunion with his former players, potentially disrupting transfer plans for Manchester United and Manchester City, who had both been heavily linked with a move for the highly-rated Danish midfielder.

Manchester City are preparing for a significant summer of transition as they look to bolster their midfield options for the post-Pep Guardiola era. The Premier League giants have identified Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali as a primary target, setting up a heavyweight transfer battle with Tottenham.

Canada's biggest World Cup match yet awaits. A win over Qatar would move them closer to the knockout rounds and potentially keep them in Vancouver.

Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is set to become a free agent this summer after Villarreal decided against extending his contract. The Liga club have opted not to trigger the 12-month extension clause in his deal. The Ghana international, currently facing trial in the UK over serious allegations, will now be forced to search for a new team ahead of next season.

Former Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart has issued a formal apology following a wave of backlash over offensive comments made during the 2026 World Cup. The ex-Tottenham and Real Madrid midfielder was working as a pundit for a Dutch broadcaster when he made a controversial remark regarding the appearance of Japan’s players after their 2-2 draw with the Oranje.

Mexico legend Guillermo "Memo" Ochoa is reportedly set to retire after the 2026 World Cup, ending a career that spanned multiple tournaments, memorable performances and club stops across Mexico and Europe. As El Tri prepare for life after Ochoa, attention is already turning toward the next generation of goalkeepers, led by Raúl "Tala" Rangel.

GOAL takes a look at the big storylines and takeaways in the latest installment of the USMNT notebook.