Ex-Brazil international Anderson has told GOAL why the likes of Vinicius Junior may have earned “superstar” status prematurely, with any player that has “five good games” suddenly worth “200 million” in modern football. The former Manchester United midfielder continues to use Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the blueprint for what success really looks like.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has told GOAL why Leeds were right to take a calculated transfer “risk” on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and explained when the Whites will be able to start dreaming about European qualification. For now, their talismanic No.9 remains on international duty with England - as he fills back-up duties behind record-shattering captain Harry Kane.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is “not a really poor defender”, fellow Merseyside native and ex-England B international Alan Stubbs has told GOAL, with the Real Madrid right-back’s critics being accused of ignoring obvious “strengths”. The former Liverpool defender has been welcomed back from the international wilderness, but is yet to convince everybody of his worth.
Emile Heskey has explained to GOAL what success looks like for his son Reigan after swapping Manchester City for a new challenge in Germany with Koln. At 18 years of age, the talented forward has stepped out of his comfort zone. There are plenty of professional and personal hurdles to be cleared in the Bundesliga, but “the sky’s the limit for him”.
Lamine Yamal is “different”, fellow Golden Boy award winner Anderson has told GOAL, with there “no one” close to the Barcelona wonderkid when it comes to the hottest prospects in world football. The Spain international winger, who now has a World Cup win on his ever-expanding roll of honour, is considered to be a serious contender for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Thomas Tuchel “got it wrong” with his centre-half selections at the 2026 World Cup and is yet to resolve that issue, Alan Stubbs has told GOAL, with the England manager being advised to bump Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite up the pecking order. The Toffees defender has been largely restricted to bench duty during the latest window of international fixtures.
Cristiano Ronaldo is facing some uncomfortable questions of his current value, at 41 years of age, but former Manchester United team-mate Anderson has explained to GOAL when the Portuguese GOAT was at his best. CR7 rewrote the history books at Real Madrid, but is considered to have “killed” teams towards the end of his first stint as a superstar at Old Trafford.
Virgil van Dijk joins Adebayo Akinfenwa for a special episode of the Beast Mode On Podcast as the Dutchman chats all things Liverpool and his first impressions of new manager Andoni Iraola. Speaking at Virgil's Legacy Trophy, a tournament that brings together the best youth academies from around the world, the legendary centre-back also backs Alexander Isak to shine in the 2026-27 campaign and reveals who are the toughest opponents he's faced in his illustrious career to date.
Is Harry Maguire destined to remain stuck on 66 caps as his England career is brought to a close? Former Three Lions defender Des Walker has told GOAL that may be the case, with others rising above the Manchester United centre-half in the international pecking order. Thomas Tuchel has favoured alternative options across much of his stint as England manager.
Hugh Jackman joining Ryan Reynolds and Tom Brady in the Championship’s A-list stakeholder group will help to make the Football League even “more entertaining”, ex-Birmingham winger Jermaine Pennant has told GOAL. The Wolverine actor, who is good friends with the ownership team at Wrexham, has revealed that he is in talks with Norwich regarding potential investment opportunities.
Alejandro Garnacho has been told that the overhead kick brilliance which once made him a player of such promise at Manchester United is still there, with Carlton Cole suggesting to GOAL that the Aston Villa loanee may have become caught up in his own hype. The Argentina international is considered to have wandered into the Premier League’s last-chance saloon.
Harry Kane is the “best of the best” and continues to eclipse former England captain Alan Shearer in the evergreen striker stakes, Emile Heskey has told GOAL. The Bayern Munich frontman and Three Lions skipper is showing no sign of slowing down at 33 years of age. He plundered 73 goals for club and country last season, bringing him into contention for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has explained to GOAL the “only way” that fellow Dutchman Brian Brobbey ends up at Manchester United. The Netherlands international striker continues to impress in the Premier League for Sunderland and has seen a big-money transfer to Old Trafford mooted. The Red Devils are still crying out for a reliable No.9 to lead the line for them.
Dele Alli serves as a warning to Jadon Sancho of what can happen when a promising career goes off the rails, former Aston Villa star Ray Houghton has told GOAL. Having struggled for a spark at Manchester United, Chelsea and Villa, England international Sancho is now a free agent. Fellow former Three Lions star Dele finds himself in a similar position, and has done so for over 12 months.
JJ Gabriel has been advised to not “do something silly” as he forces his way towards the exits at Manchester United. The 15-year-old wonderkid is ready to sever ties with the Red Devils while waiting on his competitive senior debut. He has been linked with leading sides across Europe, with Emile Heskey reacting to that saga during an exclusive interview with GOAL.
Xabi Alonso has boldly claimed that Chelsea striker Joao Pedro can be likened to one-time Real Madrid ‘Galactico’ Karim Benzema. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink agrees with that assessment, and the former Blues star has explained - during an exclusive interview with GOAL - four qualities that the Brazil international shares with the legendary French goalscorer.
Cole Palmer does not “play games” and will be nursing an injury, Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has told GOAL, with the Blues star facing England withdrawal questions. Having been snubbed by Thomas Tuchel for 2026 World Cup duty, the Stamford Bridge talisman has ruled himself out of action after earning a UEFA Nations League recall.
Manchester United boast a “fantastic attack”, Michael Owen has told GOAL, but more transfer “surgery” may be required as head coach Michael Carrick continues his experiment with a ‘false nine’ approach. Matheus Cunha, who is more of a deep-lying forward, has been leading the line this season ahead of established central striker Benjamin Sesko.
Trent Alexander-Arnold deserves plenty of “praise” for earning an England recall, Emile Heskey has told GOAL, with the Real Madrid defender choosing to remain quiet when being snubbed by Thomas Tuchel for 2026 World Cup duty. The German tactician is not the first international coach to overlook Alexander-Arnold, but the former Liverpool star has mastered the art of biting his tongue.
Reece James and Emi Martinez have been set a leadership challenge at Chelsea, with Frank Lebouef telling GOAL that the Blues have become “too nice” as a collective. He wants to see senior figures, especially those donning the captain’s armband, ask questions of those around them when individual standards are allowed to slip - with clean sheets proving hard to come by at present.
In an era where superstar No.10s are all the rage - with Bruno Fernandes, Cole Palmer and Rayan Cherki among those strutting their stuff in the Premier League - are Liverpool lacking “magic” in that department? Ray Houghton has answered that question for GOAL, with the Reds legend addressing the ongoing struggles being endured by £116 million ($154m) playmaker Florian Wirtz.
Emile Heskey has, in an exclusive interview with GOAL, named Celtic boss Martin O’Neill and Liverpool icon Gerard Houllier as the best managers that he worked under. The ex- England international, who spent time with Leicester and at Anfield in his playing days, is now helping to find potential Premier League coaches of the future as part of an inspiring new enterprise.
An in-house goal “competition” at Chelsea between Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers is inevitable, Carlton Cole has told GOAL, with there benefits to be found in the “banter” that two close friends are indulging in. Having been reunited at Stamford Bridge, the ex-Manchester City colleagues are determined to outperform one another in 2026-27.
Joao Pedro has become one of the Premier League’s best strikers, in the eyes of Carlton Cole, with the former Chelsea frontman explaining to GOAL why the man filling the fabled No.9 shirt at Stamford Bridge can get into “high double figures” on the goal front. The Brazilian forward has already found the target on three occasions in the 2026-27 campaign.
Kylian Mbappe has been told he should “never talk about the Ballon d’Or”, with fellow World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf telling GOAL why the Real Madrid ‘Galactico’ is coming across as selfish when compared to in-form Barcelona star Raphinha. Mbappe has been talking up his claims to the most prestigious of Golden Balls, but is expected to miss out again in 2026.
Morgan Gibbs-White does not need to leave Nottingham Forest in order to become an England regular, Reds legend Des Walker has told GOAL. The talented playmaker has been drafted into the latest Three Lions squad following the injury-enforced withdrawal of Cole Palmer. He was overlooked for 2026 World Cup duty, leading to inevitable questions being asked of where his long-term future should lie.
Josh King’s star continues to rise at Fulham, but will the teenage wonderkid go on to be as good as fellow creative influences Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Morgan Gibbs-White? That trio all have senior England caps to their name, with King eager to tread a similar path. Former Cottagers midfielder Ray Houghton has told GOAL why a future transfer may help to unlock full potential.
Jurgen Klopp has been set the simple challenge of being “less sh*t” as he prepares to embark on a new challenge as manager of the Germany national team. Robert Huth has told GOAL that the former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool boss will bring “heavy metal football” to the international arena while chasing down European Championship and World Cup crowns.
England would be “very lucky” to have Jude and Jobe Bellingham in their senior squad at some stage, Bobby Zamora has told GOAL, with the potential for sibling rivalry in the Three Lions camp exciting many fans watching on from afar. That situation has not played out as yet, but Thomas Tuchel is said to be keeping a close eye on how two talented brothers are faring.
Jeremy Jacquet fits the fabric of classy Liverpool centre-halves, Ray Houghton has admitted to GOAL, with the French defender considered to be cut from similar cloth to Reds heroes Virgil van Dijk and Alan Hansen. Having moved to Merseyside in the summer of 2026, Jacquet has been showcasing his physicality, reading of the game and clever distribution.
