Category Uncategorized

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal added another record to his collection on Tuesday night in the Champions League. His assist for Jules Kounde in Barca's 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt means that he now has more goal involvements in the competition than any other player aged 18 or under, breaking the record previously held by Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe.

• Barcelona come from behind to seal win

  Barcelona were made to work hard for their three points against Eintracht Frankfurt at Camp Nou on Tuesday night. The Catalan giants went 1-0 down thanks to an opening goal from Ansgar Knauff, but hit back after the break to seal the win. Two goals from Kounde were enough for victory, with Marcus Rashford and Yamal bagging assists in the game for Hansi Flick's side.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Yamal overtakes Mbappe with assist

  Yamal set up Barcelona's winner for Kounde which means he has now been directly involved in 14 goals (seven goals and seven assists) in the Champions League for Barcelona. The 18-year-old therefore overtakes Mbappe (ten goals and three assists) for the most goal involvements by a player aged 18 or younger in the competition’s history. Yamal is likely to add to that tally too, as he does not celebrate his 19th birthday until July, giving him plenty more time to add more Champions League goals and assists to his collection.

• Yamal banned for Barcelona's next UCL game

  However, Yamal will be forced to watch Barcelona's next Champions League match from the sidelines. The teenager picked up his third booking of the 2025-26 competition against Eintracht Frankfurt which brings an automatic one-match suspension. Flick will therefore will have to cope with his brilliant wonderkid for Barcelona's next European outing in January against Slavia Prague.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Flick admits teenager unhappy at being subbed

  Yamal was substituted late in the game against Eintracht Frankfurt and appeared to be less than impressed with the decision to take him off before the final whistle at Camp Nou. Flick was asked about his teenage star after the game and spoke about the decision to replace him. He told reporters: "Lamine was a little disappointed when he came on, but he had a yellow card and needed fresh legs. These are three very important points. We controlled the game; it was a very difficult match. They defended very deep. We have to focus on ourselves and get six more points."

نجح الدولي الفرنسي كيليان مبابي، لاعب فريق ريال مدريد في تسجيل هدف التعادل لصالح فريقه أمام أولمبياكوس في المباراة التي تجمعهما ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا على أولمبياكوس في اليونان، في المباراة التي تجمعهما ضمن مباريات الجولة الخامسة لمرحلة الدوري، دوري أبطال أوروبا 2025-2026، على ملعب “جورجيوس كارايسكاكيس”.

وجاء هدف التعادل في الدقيقة 22 إذ مرر الدولي البرازيلي فينيسيوس جونيور تمريرة رائعة بوجه القدم الخارجي لينفرد مبابي بالمرمى ويحرز هدف التعادل.

وفي الدقيقة 24، سجل مبابي سريعًا الهدف الثاني بطريقة رائعة ومميزة للغاية إذ أرسل جولر عرضية رائعة بقدمه اليُمنى سددها مبابي برأسه في مرمى حارس الفريق اليوناني.

وفي الدقيقة 29 سجل النجم الفرنسي الهدف الثالث له “هاتريك” والثالث في اللقاء ليسجل واحد من أسرع “هاتريك” في تاريخ دوري أبطال أوروبا إذ جاءت الـ 3 أهداف في 7 دقائق فقط.

Florian Wirtz's tough start to life in England has taken another turn, as Liverpool boss Arne Slot confirmed his playmaker will miss the Reds' Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The Dutch coach said the £116 million man has picked up a "muscle issue", but did not provide a timeline on his recovery. The injury comes after Wirtz impressed for Germany over the international break.

Wirtz absence headlines Liverpool's injury woes

Slot gave an update on the health of his squad during his pre-match press conference on Friday. The Dutchman revealed that along with Wirtz, Conor Bradley also picked up a muscle complaint during the international break. Liverpool's boss said he expects the Northern Irishman to be out for at least the next three weeks. His absence could cause a selection headache for the Reds going forward, as Jeremie Frimpong remains sidelined with a thigh injury he picked up during Liverpool's 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt last month. Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones have both filled in on the right side of defence this season, however, there is no recognised senior right-back left in the squad.

While the former Feyenoord boss did not give an exact timeline on Wirtz's return, he did suggest the ex-Bayer Leverkusen midfielder would be sidelined for a shorter period than Bradley. 

There was some positive news however, with Alisson Becker fit enough to start against Forest. The Brazilian could feature for the first time since sustaining a hamstring injury in the Reds defeat to Galatasaray back in September. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSlot expects Wirtz back within three weeks

Speaking on Wirtz and Bradley's injury situations, Slot said: "Both muscle issues. I don't expect Conor to be part of the next 22 days. 

"Maybe he returns towards the end of that period unless a miracle happens. Florian should be back sooner, it depends how things go but it should not be too long. 

"Jeremie is out for a similar timeframe and probably will not be available for the next two or three weeks either. It will be interesting to see who plays at right back. 

"Curtis Jones filled in there last season and Joe Gomez has played there as well, but he has only completed 90 minutes in 2025, so asking to play seven times in 22 days is a risk."

Wirtz performs on international duty

Wirtz's injury comes after a productive international break for the 22-year-old. Germany booked their place in next summer's World Cup with victories over Slovakia and Luxembourg. 

During Die Mannschaft's 6-0 win over Slovakia earlier this week, Wirtz was influential, setting up Leroy Sane for the third goal with a brilliant diagonal ball. The playmaker was mobbed by his teammates in the aftermath, perhaps as a sign of solidarity as Wirtz continues to struggle to adapt to life in the Premier League. 

German boss Julian Nagelsmann again defended his player during the international break. He said: "We all know what he's capable of, and it's perfectly normal for a player of his age to go through a bit of a dip in form. We can't expect him to perform at the same level for three years straight. Instead, we all need to support him a little bit so that he can clear his head here, and then maybe Liverpool could also help him out by scoring some of the chances he creates. That would be one idea, because he does not create few chances, it's just that… they somehow don't like to shoot the ball in, that's also part of the truth."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportIs Wirtz up to physical demands of the Premier League?

His international manager's protestations will do little to curb criticism of Wirtz in a Liverpool shirt. The suggestion the ex-Leverkusen man is pill-prepared for the physical demands of the Premier League will continue. Following the Reds 3-0 defeat by Manchester City, Gary Neville said Wirtz looked like a "little boy", while his ability to perform in the lower tempo Champions League and World Cup qualifiers will fuel those theories. 

While an injury during a crowded period in the schedule is par for the course, if Wirtz continues to break down with niggling ailments, that could quickly become another stick to beat him with. 

If Slot's vague timeline is accurate, Wirtz should return to the Liverpool team no later than Liverpool's Champions League away trip to Inter on December 9. 

Aston Villa are now prepared to make an offer for FC Barcelona forward Ansu Fati following a request from manager Unai Emery, but a clause in his loan deal at Monaco may complicate matters.

Villa’s interest in a new forward comes amid Ollie Watkins & co flattering to deceive, with the striker scoring just one Premier League goal in ten matches so far this season, having fallen way short of his usual lofty standards.

Despite Liverpool struggling from a defensive point of view this season, having already conceded 14 goals, Emery’s forward line barely caused the Reds any issues at the weekend, failing to create a single big chance in the 2-0 defeat.

Some of the manager’s summer signings are yet to hit the ground running too, with Jeff Stelling ripping into the Spaniard for his decision to substitute Jadon Sancho against Manchester City, having only been brought on himself in the first half.

With Harvey Elliott being omitted from the squad entirely for the victory against City, Emery clearly has doubts over some of his summer signings, and he has now made a plea to the board…

Aston Villa prepared to make offer for Ansu Fati in 2026

According to a report from Spain, Aston Villa are now prepared to make an offer for Barcelona forward Fati, who is currently on loan at AS Monaco, in light of the fantastic start to the season he has made in Ligue 1, but there could be competition for his signature.

Sunderland are also willing to make a move for the Monaco loanee, while the French club retain a clause to make his stay permanent for a fee of just €11m (£10m), which is viewed as an affordable fee, given the form he’s in.

Emery has personally requested the signing of a top-level forward, in order to compete for the European places, and Villa are now poised to make a move for the 23-year-old, should he not join Monaco permanently.

Once hailed as “extraordinary” by former Barcelona manager Xavi, the Spaniard was ultimately unable to make the grade at the Camp Nou, but he is still young, and the start the left-winger has made to the season has been very impressive.

Fati at Monaco

Appearances

Goals

Ligue 1

7

5

Champions League

3

1

Indeed, the Guinea-Bissau-born attacker has put in a number of eye-catching performances already this season, showcasing that he could still be capable of reaching the very top, if he steers clear of injuries, having spent too much on the treatment table at Barcelona.

There may be some concern over the fact the 10-time Spain international didn’t set the world alight during his previous stint in the Premier League, registering just two goals and zero assists in 19 top-flight outings for Brighton & Hove Albion.

However, Fati’s recent performances have been much-improved, and if he continues to perform at this level, Aston Villa should undoubtedly make a move.

Aston Villa now join race for "insane" former Bayern Munich striker Aston Villa now join race to sign "insane" £35m former Bayern Munich striker

The Villans are looking to sign a centre-forward, with Unai Emery keen on greater strength in depth in attack.

ByDominic Lund Oct 28, 2025

Tea England backed up their captain Ben Stokes taking a five-for with an unbroken opening partnership of 77. Those runs came at over five an over, taking a big bite out of India’s 358 all out on the second day in Manchester.It was a disappointing bowling performance from the visitors, particularly in helpful conditions and to follow a display of great bravery from Rishabh Pant who came out to bat on a fractured foot and scored a half-century.England weren’t particularly keen to score so quickly. Zak Crawley needed 13 balls to get off the mark and those runs came with a reminder of the danger the pitch still posed as a Jasprit Bumrah delivery rose up sharply to rap him on the bottom hand. Crawley displayed excellent judgment outside his off stump and ironically only started to look vulnerable once he had runs against his name, the confidence of seeing off the new ball coaxing him to play away from his body and could have been bowled off the inside edge.Ben Duckett didn’t need to be so careful, at any point in his innings. India fed him on his pads and he tucked in with glee. All his seven boundaries came on the leg side and he stands on the cusp of completing a half-century at almost a run a ball. Duckett welcomed Anshul Kamboj with three fours in his first over of Test cricket, the debutant chosen to open the bowling ahead of Mohammed Siraj.India must pick themselves back up again because they showed great heart in getting to an above-par total. Pant put his body on the line – literally because Stokes targeted that broken front foot of his – and had enough in him to hit a 90th six in Test cricket, putting him level with Virender Sehwag for the national record. He also went past Alec Stewart for most runs by a wicketkeeper in a Test series in England. The mere fact that he was able to walk – let alone bat – moved the fans at Old Trafford who gave him a rousing ovation.Stokes found similar approval from the crowd when his tireless and relentless display was rewarded with a first five-for in eight years. He was a threat when he bowled full because he was getting both ways movement – Shardul Thakur found that out when he was caught at gully for 41 – and he was a threat when he went short – which did Washington Sundar in. Stokes has 16 wickets in the series now, a career-best for him going past the 15 he took in the 2013-14 Ashes when he made his debut.

Danny Welbeck has been backed for a sensational England recall by Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler in a message to Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel. It’s been seven long years since the forward last pulled on an England shirt. However, now, against all odds, the veteran striker could be on the verge of an extraordinary comeback, and the Brighton manager certainly believes that the Englishman deserves a shot at international redemption.

Welbeck shining at Brighton

From bursting onto the scene at Manchester United to enduring injury-ridden years at Arsenal, the forward’s career has often been defined by what might have been. Yet under Hurzeler, he has rediscovered his rhythm. He is in remarkable form for the Seagulls this season, scoring six goals in 10 Premier League appearances. His five-goal haul makes him the highest-scoring English player in the top flight so far, putting him ahead of the likes of Jaiden Anthony (4) and Jarrod Bowen (3). His last international appearance came in the 2018 World Cup third-place play-off against Belgium. But this bright run of form might just reopen doors many believed were closed for good.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALHurzeler's message to Tuchel

Ahead of Brighton’s clash with Leeds United this weekend, Hurzeler sent a heartfelt message to England manager Tuchel.

"I have a big belief that Danny Welbeck is able to play for England," he said. "I asked the question of the squad if they think Danny Welbeck and play for England and they all agreed, so that was the only time we mentioned it. Let's see what happens." 

Hurzeler, still only 32, was careful not to overstep, adding: "But I will try to emphasise that England has a great coach and he will make the right decisions."

Ferdinand joins the chorus: ‘He’s second to Kane!’

Former England and Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand has thrown his weight behind Welbeck’s case, insisting that Tuchel should seriously consider the Brighton striker for England’s next squad.

"He’s second to Harry Kane," Ferdinand said. "If you’re talking form right now and the squad was being picked tomorrow, Danny Welbeck has to go, no?"

Ferdinand added that Welbeck’s injury struggles earlier in his career robbed him of the chance to fulfil his immense potential, but that doesn’t change his value now.

"Experience can do different types of things on the pitch for you," he added. "He can run in behind if need be, we saw that at Old Trafford, he can come short and link play as well as anybody outside of Harry Kane. He’s an all-round footballer, if it wasn’t for the injuries he had earlier in his career. I would take him. If he finishes the season in the form he’s in right now, there’s no way you can’t take him because he’s only going there for a month, it ain’t like we’re saying to him he has to play a full season, you’ve got to be ready and that role he can do that, coming in and out, be a support act for someone like Harry Kane."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWill Tuchel pay heed to Welbeck In calls?

England’s current No.9 is, of course, the undisputed Kane. Dislodging him from the starting XI is virtually impossible. But the backup spot is up for grabs. In his most recent squad, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins served as Kane’s backup, with Marcus Rashford providing a versatile option who can also play centrally. With England already qualified for next summer’s World Cup, Tuchel will now look to fine-tune his squad ahead of qualifiers against Serbia and Albania next month. It’s a period when the German coach might be tempted to experiment, and Welbeck’s form could make him impossible to ignore. The striker has earned 42 caps and scored 16 goals for England and could potentially add to the numbers if called upon in November. Welbeck further strengthened his case by scoring against Leeds on Saturday in a 3-0 win at home. He has given his all, and now all eyes will be on Tuchel, whether he responds to the calls of Welbeck's inclusion or chooses to look forward and awards another opportunity to Watkins, who has struggled for form this campaign. 

Manchester United star Diogo Dalot has responded to viral fan Frank Ilett – known as TheUnitedStrand – who vowed not to get a haircut until the Red Devils win five games in a row. After United’s back-to-back victories over Sunderland and Liverpool, the Portugal full-back playfully admitted the team hopes to “give him that haircut” with three more consecutive victories needed.

• Man Utd fan's 'five-win challenge' nearing end?

  Dalot has weighed in on the now-famous challenge taken up by long-time United supporter Ilett, who promised not to cut his hair until the Red Devils won five matches on the bounce. The fan’s pledge, made in October 2024, went viral as United continued to struggle for consistency under then-new manager Ruben Amorim. Before this week, the team had failed to string together even two league wins.

  However, a recent upturn in form has reignited Ilett’s hopes of a long-overdue haircut. Amorim’s side followed up a 2-0 home victory over Sunderland before the international break with a dramatic 2-1 win away to Liverpool — their first back-to-back Premier League triumphs under the Portuguese boss. The result, sealed by a late Harry Maguire header, set social media buzzing with fans joking that Ilett might finally see the inside of a barber’s shop.

  Following the win, United’s official TikTok account joined in the fun, replying to one of Ilett’s viral videos with the message: “We have an encouraging update.”

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Dalot hopes Ilett gets haircut soon

  Speaking to after the match, Dalot couldn’t hide his amusement when asked about Ilett’s unusual vow. “Let’s see! Hope we can give him that haircut!” the Portuguese full-back said with a smile.

  Dalot then turned his focus to maintaining consistency after a mixed start to the season. “But we have to go game by game. Obviously, we know this is a very difficult league, we have tough games and, of course, we have to go after that consistency that we have lacked because we have already shown in the past that we can compete against any team in the world.”

  The 25-year-old Portugal international added: “We get to the big games, we get to have good performances. Now it’s trying to make it happen every game. We now have the next game at home and that’s what’s important to us.” His comments struck a balance between humour and determination, underlining the squad’s desire to build on a promising run.

• Ilett’s challenge invited abuse last month at Old Trafford

  Ilett, a lifelong United supporter, first made headlines last year when he declared he would not get a haircut until the club won five games in a row. In January, Ilett nearly reached his goal when United won three in succession, only for a defeat to Crystal Palace to end the streak and with it, his hopes of a haircut. Despite that setback, he remained committed to the challenge, insisting it was meant to “spread positivity” among fans during difficult times. His lighthearted defiance even continued through an unfortunate altercation at Old Trafford last month when he was confronted by a fellow supporter during a Chelsea match – an incident he later described as “weird but isolated”.

  Now, with United seemingly turning a corner under Amorim, Ilett’s patience could finally pay off. Their recent wins have revived optimism around Old Trafford, as players like Maguire and Dalot have stepped up amid renewed defensive stability and spirit. While a long way remains before five straight victories are achieved, Ilett’s growing hair has become a quirky rallying point for fans yearning for consistency — and perhaps even a new lucky charm for the team’s fortunes.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Instagram/X
  

  Ilett wants a Man Utd player to give him the haircut:

  The Red Devils host Brighton on Saturday, followed by tricky away fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur a week later. Three wins from those matches would extend their streak to five and fulfil Ilett’s promise over a year after it began. Ilett has already joked that “the perfect ending would be one of the players to cut it at Old Trafford”.

  However, for Amorim and his players, the focus remains firmly on performances. After months of inconsistency, back-to-back victories have given supporters and players alike a sense of renewed purpose.

Seeing Ousmane Dembele lift the 2025 Ballon d’Or was a deeply emotional moment for Dayot Upamecano. The Bayern Munich defender, who grew up with the Paris Saint-Germain star in Evreux, admitted that watching his France teammate and childhood friend crowned the best player in the world after a sensational season brought him to tears.

• Emotional Upamecano hails Dembele

  In an interview with , Upamecano shared his pride and emotion at seeing his France teammate and long time friend win the prestigious Ballon d’Or. The 28-year-old forward was crowned the winner on September 22 in Paris, beating competition from Barcelona winger Yamine Lamal and PSG teammate Vitinha. Dembele capped off a dream 2024-25 season, scoring 35 goals and providing 14 assists while helping PSG win Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Champions League.

Advertisement

• From schoolyard rivals to world recognition

  Upamecano spoke about how far the PSG star has come and how happy he was seeing his schoolyard rival lift the prestigious trophy. "We went to the same school, we played on the same pitches, I played against him in CM1-CM2.

  "Honestly, I don't have the words! We all knew he would become a great player, but still… When I saw him lift the Ballon d'Or, it brought tears to my eyes. I should have been there for the ceremony, but I couldn't come. Seeing him thank his mother, his family, his friends, Moustapha, everyone who was there… It was a magnificent moment."

• Bayern star says early days with Dembele as among the best of his life

  The 26-year-old defender described those early days in Evreux as some of the best of his life. 

  "When you play with your friends, it’s an adventure," he said. "In Evreux, everyone comes together – African, Turkish, everyone’s happy. That’s what makes it special. Having a Ballon d’Or winner from our region is a great source of pride."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Dembele continues to recover from hamstring injury

  The French star is currently recovering from a hamstring injury suffered during international duty in September. PSG were furious with the French federation’s handling of his and Desire Doue’s injuries and issued a public statement in protest. According to , Dembele will return to Clairefontaine next week to continue his rehabilitation after treatment in Doha. He has already missed six matches for PSG, including one against former club Barcelona. However, the French champions have continued to shine in his absence, winning their Champions League opener against Barcelona and sitting top of the Ligue 1 table with five wins from seven matches.

Manchester United have made some intriguing signings this summer as they look to improve under Ruben Amorim and could soon move for an exciting star who is set to be a free agent in 2026.

Manchester United's goalkeeper situation remains unresolved

Truthfully, Manchester United haven’t had an easy start to the campaign and their performances have delivered mixed results, albeit a last-gasp 3-2 victory over Burnley last weekend was a much-needed development at Old Trafford.

At the time, Amorim expressed sympathy for Altay Bayindir after his bumpy performance between the sticks, which may be his last for quite some time after Senne Lammens’ £18.2 million arrival at Old Trafford from Royal Antwerp.

He said in his post-match press conference: “Guys, they are humans. Manchester United, everything is (huge). Everybody talks about the goalkeeper. And you can see, I can change the goalkeeper in the situations that happen. We are in that moment. I think it is hard to be a Manchester United goalkeeper in this moment.

“But if you look at the first goal, we can defend it better. We suffered a quite similar goal against Fulham, because we don’t do the full rotation of the team when the ball is on the other side. All these small things have nothing to do with the goalkeeper.”

Andre Onana has opened talks over a move to the Saudi Pro League and could be set to move on to a new challenge, leaving the Red Devils to undergo a change of the guard in a key position at Old Trafford.

Neither Bayindir or Onana are in favour at the minute and reinforcements will be required should either leave the club, which could prompt the Red Devils to go all out for an elite stopper in 2026.

Manchester United plot showstopping move for Mike Maignan

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United will look to launch a showstopping move for Mike Maignan in 2026 once his contract expires at AC Milan, when his future will be one of the ‘headline’ deals of the next summer window.

With the Red Devils plotting to ‘kick out’ Onana, the France international is seen as a ‘masterstroke’ signing without the need to pay a transfer fee, evidenced by the fact he kept 61 clean sheets in 166 appearances for the Serie A giants.

Man Utd's most expensive signings of all time

A number of their additions haven’t lived up to expectations.

ByCharlie Smith Sep 5, 2025

Sharing the same ESN agency as Manchester United winger Mbeumo, per Transfermarkt, the Cayenne-born stopper has retained a 60% save percentage in the Italian top-flight this term, though he could now be primed for a move to Old Trafford less than a year from now.

His current employers are said to be under pressure due to his contract situation and external interest from others in his services, something that is only likely to grow the longer he refuses to put pen to paper on new terms at San Siro.

MatériaMais Notícias

A Seleção Brasileira venceu Guiné por 4 a 1, nesse sábado (17), em amistoso realizado em Barcelona, na Espanha. A partida foi marcada pela luta contra o racismo e teve o Brasil atuando com uniforme preto pela primeira vez na história. Um dia após o duelo, a CBF divulgou imagens de bastidores que mostraram a resenha no vestiário e a ida de Vini Jr. para a “galera” depois do apito final. Confira no vídeo acima:

RelacionadasSeleção BrasileiraEnquanto aguarda Ancelotti, Seleção Brasileira pode ficar sem técnico por mais oito jogosSeleção Brasileira18/06/2023Fora de CampoAssessor de Vini Jr diz que segurança ironizou acusação de racismo: ‘Estou tremendo de medo’Fora de Campo18/06/2023Seleção BrasileiraANÁLISE: Apesar da vitória, desempenho da Seleção Brasileira reforça a necessidade de definição por um treinadorSeleção Brasileira18/06/2023