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38 CommentsAfter delivering unforgettable drama and surprises across 104 matches over almost six weeks, the World Cup is over.History has been scripted, records broken and heroes old and new made their mark at football's most coveted tournament.Choose from our chief football writer Phil McNulty's selections for best goal and best save - and then read our reporters' reflections from the US, Canada and Mexico.Phil McNulty, BBC Sport chief football writerThe deadlock was broken by Lionel Messi for Argentina against Cape Verde with a triumph of technique as he showed exquisite touch to take a difficult pass on the run before, with little room to work with, he guided it into the top corner with his second touch.In the same game, Sidny Cabral's extra-time equaliser was a wonderful moment. From the angle just inside the area, his right-foot curling drive into the top corner gave Emiliano Martinez no chance.In the group stages, Kerim Alajbegovic's goal for Bosnia-Herzegovina against Qatar was a superb solo effort - a weaving run before a rising right-foot shot of high class.What looked like a casual swing of Erling Haaland's right boot was in fact a perfectly placed finish with astonishing power to crown a match-winning performance for Norway against Brazil in the last 16.A tight quarter-final between Argentina and Switzerland was broken open by a moment of genius from Julian Alvarez. The vastly under-rated attacker provided with a swerving right-footed drive from long range into the top corner in extra time.Antonio Nusa's opener for Norway against Ivory Coast was perfection. A little shimmy in the area to feint away from a defender, then a precise curling finish into the top corner.What information do we collect from this quiz?Save of the tournament Phil McNulty, BBC Sport chief football writerJohny Placide made a superb double save for Haiti against Morocco. It came first with his legs then he showed swift reactions to save one-handed to his left.At the Azteca Stadium, Jordan Pickford had an outstanding game in England's memorable win over Mexico. His early save, diving low to his left to keep out Raul Jimenez's header, was a crucial moment of brilliance.Orjan Nyland produced a remarkable stop for Norway against Brazil from his own defender Kristoffer Ajer, who inadvertently directed the ball goalwards. Nyland scrambled backwards showing remarkably anticipation and agility to leap and turn the ball against the post.Aymen Dahmen showed stunning reactions for Tunisia against Japan from Takehiro Tomiyasu's close-range effort, somehow keeping the ball out as it did everything but cross the line.There was a brilliant diving save by Patrick Beach for Australia in their group game with Turkey, diving away to his right to touch Abdulkerim Bardakci's rising 30-yard shot on to the post.Iran's Alireza Beiranvand produced a remarkable save from Maxim de Cuyper of Belgium. Beiranvand could not reach Kevin de Bruyne's shot but somehow recovered his position and reacted to keep out a shot from inside the six-yard box.What information do we collect from this quiz?Player of the tournament Spain captain Rodri won the official World Cup Golden Ball trophy as the tournament's best player.Messi won the Silver Ball as the second-best player, with Mbappe named Bronze Ball winner.Phil McNulty, BBC Sport chief football writerSurprise, surprise. Lionel Messi. Not simply a swansong for a 39-year-old closing down his career, but the enduring inspiration of a nation and a football team. Look at how he controlled the game and pulled the strings when Argentina chased England down in a dramatic semi-final.I was in a Kylian Mbappe news conference early in the World Cup and I remember thinking that I'd never seen him looking more relaxed, more confident and more determined to make this his tournament. That demeanour off the pitch was reflected in some brilliant performances on the pitch - great goals, leadership, flair, composure under pressure and more work off the ball than I've ever seen from him.Alex Howell, BBC Sport's England reporterThe player of the tournament has been Jude Bellingham. The Real Madrid midfielder dragged England through by sheer force of will in some games and took his game to another level during the tournament.Lionel Messi's leadership, football intelligence and ability to decide the biggest matches has proven vital for Argentina. He was the driving force behind their run to the final and that makes him the competition's standout player.With eight goals and four assists in eight games at this World Cup, it has to be Lionel Messi. England did their best to keep him quiet in the semi-final and succeeded in the first half, but Messi often finds a way and his two assists proved decisive.Michael Olise. Marked out of the semi-final against Spain but the former Crystal Palace forward, who started his journey aged six at Hayes & Yeading United, has left his mark on this tournament with his seven assists. At just 24, Olise has another World Cup or two up his sleeve. I'm still playing replays in my mind of that spectacular scissor-kick against Sweden in the last 32. The whole press box erupted thinking it was going in, only for the ball to crash against a post.Rodri. He has proved to be irreplaceable for his country as he is for Manchester City. Exceptional and so effective at the heart of the best team in the tournamentEasy choice but it has to be Lionel Messi. Doing this at the age of 39 is almost defying the law of physics. He is cementing his place as the greatest.What information do we collect from this quiz?Breakout star of the tournamentSpain's 19-year-old centre-back Pau Cubarsi received the Fifa award for the tournament's best young player after playing every minute of their World Cup campaign.He was a key figure in the Spain defence that conceded only one goal all tournament.Phil McNulty, BBC Sport chief football writerI am going for Spain's 19-year-old central defender Pau Cubarsi. The Barcelona youngster was magnificent against France in the semi-final and is a star of the future.Lille fans, regular viewers of Ligue 1 and recruitment teams from the top clubs knew all about his potential but Morocco's Ayyoub Bouaddi burst on to the world stage in style with an exceptional performance in their opening match against Brazil. At the New York New Jersey Stadium that day, I found myself not watching the ball but watching his incredibly intelligent movement around the pitch, which reminded me of a cross between Patrick Vieira and Luka Modric.Alex Howell, BBC Sport's England reporterIt sounds strange to call Erling Haaland a breakout star but it is hard to explain the impact he has had here in the US. He has become a household name and even more of a global superstar.Cape Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha. He began his unforgettable World Cup with seven sensational saves in a 0–0 draw against Spain in their debut World Cup match and ended it with eight more remarkable saves as Cape Verde pushed Lionel Messi and Argentina to the brink of elimination. Vozinha's heroics sparked a global following, with his Instagram audience skyrocketing from about 50,000 before the tournament to more than 29 million.It seemed like the USA would go far at this tournament, particularly with the wave of support behind them, but it wasn't to be as they exited at the last-16 stage. Despite that, many of their players did their own reputations no harm and one of those was full-back Alex Freeman, with his performances leading to USA boss Mauricio Pochettino saying he could be one of the best in the world in his position.Step forward Switzerland's Johan Manzambi. Some 20-year-olds might be overwhelmed playing on the biggest stage of all. Not Manzambi. This huge talent plays with a smile on his face and is a natural entertainer who departed the tournament with three goals in four games.Johan Manzambi. I highlighted him before the World Cup and, although he missed the end for Switzerland through injury, the fact he is moving to the Premier League with Aston Villa for a fee in the region of £50m underlines his quality.The 17-year-old Mexico midfielder Gilberto Mora, who ended up in their starting line-up. Had the air of Luka Modric and seems destined for the top of the game.Phil McNulty, BBC Sport chief football writerThe Azteca for Mexico v England. Might just be the best atmosphere I have ever experienced in seven World Cups. It was an assault on the senses and the singing of the Mexican national anthem was a spine-tingling experience. A simply unforgettable night.Speaking to the Paraguay fans outside the Boston stadium, moments after one of the most dramatic penalty shootouts I have ever seen, as the South American side stunned Germany. One father and son, draped in Paraguay flags, were in tears as they told me that this was the best day of their lives, and it summed up what special moments at a World Cup can mean to people. I will never forget the emotion of those fans streaming out of the ground in disbelief.Alex Howell, BBC Sport's England reporterLionel Messi scoring a hat-trick in his first game at this World Cup showed that he was not done and was going to try to push Argentina to another tournament win.Sidny Cabral's stunning 103rd-minute equaliser against Argentina. His strike from the edge of the penalty area that flew beyond Emiliano Martinez sent the stadium into disbelief and brought Cape Verde level at 2-2 in extra time. Although Argentina eventually edged the tie 3-2, Cabral's wonder goal became an instant classic and will always be talked about.For me it was Argentina being pushed by Cape Verde all the way before the debutants were knocked out. They showed the sort of guts and desire we want to see from these teams that gained the opportunity to play at a World Cup because of the expanded format.On my travels around the US, where I have covered 13 games in six different cities, I have spoken to dozens of fans. I was offered a beer and sausages cooked from the back of a pick-up truck before France-Paraguay in Philadelphia, and been stopped for selfies. "You're from the BBC? I have to have a selfie with the guy from the BBC." I have lost count of the number of times I have stopped a fan and introduced myself, only to be asked: "Is it coming home?"For the moment I actually witnessed, it would have to be Sidny Cabral and his sensational equaliser against Argentina as Cape Verde, the smallest nation to ever reach the knockout stages, stunned the defending champions for a second time to make it 2-2 in Miami.Cabral's astonishing goal against Argentina. It was as funny as it was breathtaking.Phil McNulty, BBC Sport chief football writerBrazil. Slow. Uninspired. Un-Brazilian. Trudged through the World Cup under Carlo Ancelotti and every weakness was exposed when they deservedly went out to Norway in the last 16.Senegal came to the tournament with the most talented squad in their history but various problems off the pitch arguably meant the players were not given the right environment to thrive. When they were 2-0 up in the last-32 match against Belgium, it looked as though they would salvage something from this World Cup, but tactical errors and poor game management cost them. It was a massive wasted opportunity for a gifted generation of Senegal players.Alex Howell, BBC Sport's England reporterScotland missing out on third-placed qualification was a disappointment and having to wait a couple of days before it was confirmed must have been painful.Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal. As one of the pre-tournament favourites, they fell short after a 1–0 last-16 defeat by Spain. Ronaldo managed three goals in five matches and, despite high expectations, Portugal never reached the level many expected, ending another World Cup campaign in frustrating fashion.The USA. They started this tournament so well and created a real wave of optimism and hope among the home fans, but all that was undone by the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun and then their limp exit at the hands of Belgium.The final being held at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Yes, it is huge but it is not fan-friendly and it is an expensive pain to get to and get away from. Philadelphia would have been my pick. A stadium on the outskirts of the city in a sports complex. The MetLife is a giant bowl in the middle of nowhere.France in their semi-final defeat by Spain. I tipped Spain to beat France but still did not expect such a flat performance and their star-studded frontline to flounder as badly as they did.I really thought Brazil under Ancelotti would go further. And clearly so did they.Phil McNulty, BBC Sport chief football writerMexico. The sheer passion and love for their team and football was incredible. Also such friendly, welcoming fans and people. Incredibly warm and gracious in defeat.We were in a restaurant in Mexico City the night before they played England, and an MC went around each table asking which country people were from. When we told them we were from England, it was announced to the rest of the diners, who burst into a spontaneous outbreak of applause.A word for the Curacao fans I was with inside the Philadelphia Stadium - because who knew that supporters from a nation of just 150,000 could make that much noise? Was there anyone left on the island? But the Brazil fans win it for me because they do not just take over stadiums; they take over cities; Philadelphia felt like Rio or Sao Paulo for 48 hours when they were in town.Alex Howell, BBC Sport's England reporterThe Colombia fans took over Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City when they played Ghana, and made it feel like a party.Norway's fans were brilliant, with their legendary Viking row taking over the World Cup. The chant became a global sensation and created an unforgettable atmosphere in every stadium they entered. The most iconic moments came after matches when the players joined the fans to lead the Viking row from the pitch, uniting thousands of supporters in celebration.I was based mainly in Los Angeles for the World Cup. There's a large Mexican population there and from what I experienced, they were undoubtedly the best supporters. They were loud - very loud - for every Mexico game and when they won fireworks could be heard around LA while their distinct green jerseys were seen everywhere.Norway's Viking row was fun to watch, with fans wearing red shirts sitting in lines and rowing in rhythm. The Norway supporters also provided an amusing moment during the quarter-final with England. They sang "You're going home, you're going home, England's going home" as they led 1-0 in Miami. Moments later Jude Bellingham equalised.The Mexicans. I was fortunate to experience two matches in the Azteca. That is where the heart of this World Cup was and the support for their team was a joy to behold.Argentina. On two occasions in Miami and Kansas City, I have been in stadiums where their support has been in excess of 60,000 fans. The sheer scale of numbers is matched by their wild passion. They sing constantly and have generated the best atmospheres I have encountered in the US.Mbappe first to win Golden Boot twice as Rodri named best playerLamine Yamal 'completes football' at 19 as Argentina betray MessiWorld Cup is over, but the football continues on BBC Sport

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The Brazil international joins for an initial £34m with £4m in add-ons.Villa completed a club record deal worth more than £50m for Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi on Friday after beating Newcastle to the Switzerland international.Atletico Madrid had also been keen on Gomes but the 25-year-old left Wolves' training camp in Portugal on Thursday to have a medical and finalise his move to Villa Park.Villa midfielder Amadou Onana is out until next year after suffering a serious knee injury with Belgium at the World Cup.Gomes made 41 appearances for Wolves last season as they finished bottom of the Premier League.He played 130 times for the club, scoring seven goals, after joining from Flamengo in 2023.

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This year's World Cup is finally over - and after 48 teams took part, it was a long, long tournament. But just as we bid to say goodbye to the 2026 edition, this competition may be getting even bigger.South American nations Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay - who are set to host one game each before the tournament transfers to main co-hosts Spain, Portugal and Morocco - are calling to host more games.And one solution FIFA are discussing is a 64-team tournament. More teams, more matches, more talking points.So if the 2030 World Cup celebrates its centenary year by having 16 more teams than we had this summer, what would that look like?A 64-team World Cup would create one heck of a group stage. There would have to be 16 groups of four teams, as 64 does not evenly divide into three. That means group stages would go up from 72 matches to 96.The 48-team tournament saw those 72 matches played during an intense 16-day period - averaging 4.5 matches a day. If FIFA try to average 4.5 matches a day in a 64-team group stage, then the first part of the tournament would take three weeks.Given the round of 32 onwards in this World Cup needs another three weeks to complete, that would mean a six-week tournament.And assuming there is a couple of weeks of pre-tournament preparations for each country, then the 1,664 players taking part in the World Cup would have to give up two months for the competition.Of course, more games will set new records for most goals in a tournament. The move from the regular 64 games to 104 matches in 2026 set new records. There were 308 goals in this year's World Cup, compared to 172 four years ago.But what was interesting about the 2026 World Cup is goals flew in at a higher rate per game. There was an average of 2.96 goals per game this year, compared to around 2.6 across the last three tournaments.One of the reasons for more goals at this World Cup is a greater disparity between the best and worst teams. There was a bigger average gap between teams at this World Cup in terms of the FIFA world rankings than ever seen before.And this disparity matters. Sky Sports data shows that the higher-ranked team's goal difference in a game tends to rise as the FIFA rank gap widens - even though upsets remain common.A 64-team tournament allows for one very simple thing: the third-placed qualification route to the knockout rounds will have to be scrapped.The only way you can make a round of 32 in this format is by having the top two teams from all 16 groups qualify for the latter stages.So the rogue calculations about how much goal difference Scotland need to qualify as a third-placed team would likely have to go.However, if the top two teams are the only ones in the group that qualify, it would go back to the 32-team World Cup format where a lot of the final round of group matches were 'dead rubber' occasions between teams already qualified for the next stage, or teams already eliminated.If this becomes a long-term plan from FIFA, a 64-team tournament would effectively confirm that the World Cup can no longer be held by one individual nation.For the current 48-team tournament, 15 stadia are being used for 12 groups and 104 games. Using those numbers as a template, a move to 64 teams would mean 20 grounds would be needed for 128 matches.So if England were to host the tournament, nearly the entire Premier League would have to give up their stadium for the summer, assuming Wembley will host matches too. Imagine Brazil playing in Bournemouth…True, having multiple host nations are the way forward in international football. The 2028 European Championships are across the entire UK and Ireland. Six countries will host the 2030 World Cup. The 2032 European Championships are in Italy and Turkey.But Saudi Arabia are the sole host for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and when a 48-team World Cup was considered for the Qatar World Cup in 2022, it was impossible for the Gulf nation to stage such a tournament.Logistically, there are question marks if 64 teams is the way forward in the long-term.A 64-team World Cup would mean 30 per cent of all FIFA nations would qualify for the World Cup. But how would the allocations be split?With a third of the 48 teams, Europe have the largest allocation of qualification spots in the current tournament system. Applying the same logic would mean 21 European countries would take part in a 64-team tournament. Maybe Italy would even qualify…The vast majority of all confederations would get more spots in the World Cup, if we use the current model as an example.Rough estimation of confederation allocation, using current FIFA percentage split…

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Tens of thousands of fans looked down on him at MetLife. Billions were watching around the world. And yet he couldn't look more alone.When the World Cup final ended, the Spain dugout emptied. Substitutes ran on the pitch to celebrate with their teammates. Messi remained by himself, defeated. An Argentine Achilles. As was the case in the game, he could get no space. No sooner did the final whistle blow than they were on Messi like a flash. A high press up by the goal Argentina failed to score in. The cameraman and photographer captured a vacant stare.

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Argentina's national media defended their team's performance in the World Cup final - despite a defensive and ill-disciplined display.Lionel Messi's side barely made the game with Spain a contest. They did not have a shot in normal time - nor an effort on target in the entire 120 minutes.Meanwhile, their ill-discipline came through as Enzo Fernandez was shown two yellow cards - first for dissent, then for a wild clumsy challenge on Pau Cubarsi.At full-time, Leandro Paredes, who arguably should have joined Fernandez in being sent off for two yellow cards, was given his marching orders for his angry response at the whistle. Nahuel Molina also squared up to Spain players in disgraceful scenes.However, the Argentina front pages on Monday morning called for national pride despite the 1-0 final loss.Clarin went for a tearful picture of Messi with the headline. "They gave it their all, nothing to blame them for."La Nacion went for a similar theme, going with the line: "Argentina gave it their all - and they're a source of national pride."Another paper Ole went with the headline: "May they be eternal" with another tearful Messi image.Spain's front pages, meanwhile, were full of joy as they celebrated their second World Cup triumph.AS went for the headline "The world is ours" - adding that the win came through "absolute justice".On El Periodico's front page were the words: "The world surrenders to Spain", while ABC called Spain "invincible" - noting their 38-game unbeaten run in international football.El Mundo said Spain are "on top of the world" - while multiple papers called Spain "double champions" and "superstars".

World Cup News

For the second time in as many years, the US president made sure he was a part of a moment of triumph he had little to do withHe did it again. There was a world championship trophy, waiting to be held aloft at the same gargantuan stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. There was Gianni Infantino, waiting alongside the US president. And there was that same US president, Donald Trump, fresh off a round of stadium-wide booing and jeering, handing off the trophy with Infantino and then staying stubbornly in the frame as another team enjoyed the pinnacle of their professional careers with an octogenarian standing awkwardly in the shot.Should we be surprised? Marc Cucurella probably wasn’t – the defender was on stage for both occasions, first as a member of Chelsea as they lifted the 2025 Club World Cup, and then again on Sunday when Trump once again remained in the shot as Spain celebrated their World Cup victory.The repeated history brought an incongruous end to a night where Trump was – for most of the time – a long way from the center of attention. That would have been a relief to American sports fans, for whom a Drake-like sentiment has grown surrounding Trump’s involvement in their event of choice. Meaning, essentially, that it should be dreaded, and avoided at all costs. The New York Knicks lost their only game of the NBA finals this year with Trump in attendance at Madison Square Garden, where he also drew a lusty round of boos. And, earlier in this World Cup, the US crashed to a 4-1 defeat against Belgium in the last-16 after Trump called Infantino in a successful bid to get striker Folarin Balogun’s red card suspended.If Trump had a similarly ruinous effect on Sunday’s World Cup final, it was in a cosmic sense. Trump watched the game from a glassed-in suite, along with Infantino, Spain’s king, Felipe VI, Canada prime minister, Mark Carney, and Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum. The US secretary of state Marco Rubio was also in attendance. At one point in the second half, Trump was seen conversing with Carney.What unfolded on the other side of the presumably bulletproof glass was 120 minutes of punishing, physical football – an enervating match that practically cried out for a sideshow.Trump wouldn’t become that sideshow until later. He was briefly shown on the video screens at the stadium after the US national anthem was played, and there were scattered boos from some in the crowd. TV broadcasts showed him touching the trophy from his seat in the early stages of the match, and conversing with Melania Trump in the 85th minute, but he didn’t appear on the screens in the stadium during the match itself.The hostile reception he had received in his appearances at other sporting events wasn’t repeated until he descended from his perch and walked on to the field to present the World Cup trophy along with Infantino and the other heads of state, where the vast majority of the crowd booed and jeered.What followed was routine, up to the key moment. Trump presented medals to the players alongside the other dignitaries, shaking hands and smiling at each player with a minimum of fuss, seemingly telling them “great job” or “congratulations”. Trump and Infantino then held the World Cup trophy together and presented it to Spain’s captain, Rodri, with Infantino ducking away, stage right.If there were lessons to be learned from Trump’s crashing of the Chelsea party last year, Infantino hadn’t learned them. Or perhaps he still felt he was not within his right to grab Trump by the arm and pull him away. Trump was then practically given an invite to leave by Rodri, who motioned Trump to the left of the podium as he prepared to set the Spanish celebrations alight. Trump made as if he would descend the staircase, but instead stood just on the edge of celebrations, seemingly not totally sure where to look, forcing Infantino to jog over and make one last plea for him to leave. It was too late. Rodri lifted the trophy, and there was Trump, in the frame. By the time the confetti fell to the grass, Trump had gone, lingering just long enough to be visible.Just as Lionel Messi lifted his first World Cup in 2022 wearing a traditional Arab cloak, Spain hoisted their country’s second title with a reminder of the host nation lingering awkwardly in the frame.

Football News

Manchester United reporterPublished9 minutes agoMarcus Rashford's World Cup ended with a considered and thoughtful social media post, issued in the aftermath of England's amazing 6-4 third-place play-off victory over France in Miami.Disappointments are guaranteed in football, he said, before opening out in a more positive vein and stating firmly: "Keep believing in us. Our time will come."He added: "Now it's time for me to rest, reflect, spend some quality time with family and friends, and come back a better version of myself."'Reflect' is the big word in that overview.At 28, Rashford is moving into what should be the prime years of his career.He has just won his first league title, La Liga with Barcelona, has 77 England caps and featured in six out of eight games as Thomas Tuchel's side delivered the country's best World Cup performance since 1966.But in reality, a large part of what Rashford will be reflecting on with his family - some of whom are also key figures in terms of guiding his career - is whether his club future lies at Manchester United.Rashford is contracted to Manchester United until 2028. His salary of £325,000 a week makes him the club's top earner at a time when minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is trying to stay on top of salary costs, which are, by some distance, the club's highest expenditure.Barcelona had an option, in the loan deal they agreed for Rashford last season, to turn it into a permanent transfer for £26m.As expected, that deadline passed in the middle of June without it being activated.There was another clause in Rashford's contract that allowed other clubs - Liverpool and Manchester City excepted - to buy him for £40m, which expired earlier in July. As expected, no-one triggered that either.Sources close to the player felt it was illogical to think a club would come in and offer more than Barcelona would have had to pay.With England's World Cup campaign at an end, Rashford is now entitled to a three-week break.Unless the timings are altered, or his situation changes, he will return to Manchester United just as they begin a six-day training camp in the Republic of Ireland, scheduled around an historic meeting with old rivals Leeds at Croke Park on 12 August.Suggestions around Rashford have been that he is relaxed about the prospect of returning to training at United.For a start, there is not the same confrontational relationship between the player and his coach.Ruben Amorim fell out with the forward within weeks of his arrival from Sporting Lisbon. Amorim eventually exiled him, which triggered a loan move to Aston Villa.Then the head coach put Rashford in his 'bomb squad', along with Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho, when pre-season training began last summer.The other four players have all now left the club.Amorim's replacement, Michael Carrick, is a former team-mate of Rashford's. He has also been his coach and was, briefly, his manager, following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dismissal in 2021. The pair are said to get on well.Carrick's only public statement around Rashford, towards the end of last season, was conciliatory in nature, which is in keeping with his general personality.He is so far yet to be asked what his stance is around the player returning to the fold.For their part, United are sticking to their refusal to renegotiate a deal with Barcelona on reduced terms or consider a second loan to the Catalan giants.It is not clear what interest there is in Rashford at the Nou Camp given Barca have already signed England wide-man Anthony Gordon and are about to bring in Germany forward Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund.The consistency of United's messaging is being articulated in a summer where they are keen to prove they will not be bullied into overpaying to get deals over the line.That financial discipline may have consequences - while the feeling was Elliot Anderson would have joined Manchester City anyway, United did not countenance paying the £116m Nottingham Forest eventually sold him for.The same is true of Mateus Fernandes and his £85m switch from West Ham to Tottenham.Nevertheless, Manchester United's enhanced used of data through director Michael Sansoni and his dedicated team means the club feel bullish about their chances of landing alternative targets who offer better value.Clearly just as United need active sellers to buy from, they need buyers so they can offload those players they do not want.In Rashford's case, there are a limited number of clubs globally who could match his current salary. And where a club are interested, the player has to want to join them.Judging by his recent social media post, he would not do anything to jeopardise his England place.BBC Sport has also been told of some Premier League clubs he would not be keen to move to.So where will Rashford be when the transfer window closes on 1 September? Currently, the likeliest answer, by some distance, is Manchester United.After that: Any Spanish club, any Turkish club, any German club. The vagueness there underlines the current lack of market for the 15th highest scorer in United's history, with 138 goals - someone who is only 17 short of a place in the top 10.There are plenty, including former captain Gary Neville, who feel Rashford's time at Old Trafford is over and there should be no reconciliation.In the end though, it may have to happen - and not everyone would be disappointed."A fit and focused Marcus Rashford has the ability to be one of the best players," said Rashford's friend Sam Smith - the Wrexham forward who scored the winner in their pre-season victory over Carrick's team in Helsinki on Saturday - when speaking to the United We Stand podcast."He has had a difficult time at United and getting away from it all was a good thing."I don't know what is going to happen but as his friend, I hope he comes back and proves how good a player he was, how good he can be and starts scoring goals again."Pre-match, post-match and topical United contentListen on SoundsSubscribe and listen for everything you love about the Red DevilsLatest Manchester United news, analysis and fan viewsAsk about Man Utd - what do you want to know?

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Close40All the goals from the race for the 2026 World Cup golden boot as Kylian Mbappe leads the way from Lionel Messi, Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland.Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated topicsFootballFollow Footballclose panelYou are now following FootballUpdates from your Sport topics will appear in My Sport and in a collection on the Sport homepage.England Men's Football TeamFollow England Men's Football Teamclose panelYou are now following England Men's Football TeamUpdates from your Sport topics will appear in My Sport and in a collection on the Sport homepage.FranceFollow Franceclose panelYou are now following FranceUpdates from your Sport topics will appear in My Sport and in a collection on the Sport homepage.NorwayFollow Norwayclose panelYou are now following NorwayUpdates from your Sport topics will appear in My Sport and in a collection on the Sport homepage.ArgentinaFollow Argentina

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It's all over - and, once again, it's not coming home.Thomas Tuchel, who faced heavy criticism after England's late semi-final collapse against Argentina, says the "scars" of 2026 will remain, but his side signed off by beating France 6-4 in a remarkable bronze medal match to secure their best finish for 60 years.What conclusions can really be drawn from that game? How should England's tournament be viewed overall? Who impressed you and who didn't? And is Tuchel still the right man for Euro 2028?We asked you for your comments and reflections and you delivered. Here's the verdict on England's World Cup in the words of Sky Sports readers...Brid Deano: "After the showing vs France, you can just imagine the threat we would have posed in the last 30 mins vs Argentina, with either Bukayo Saka or Marcus Rashford on the pitch. Mind-blowing not throwing just even one of them on, rather than four defenders."Ryan: "Don't read too much into to the first half, it was second XI vs second XI. As soon as France brought on the superstars their quality shone through. Rashford and Saka showed why Tuchel was wrong to drop them, and our defence was more than questionable."Chris007: "Don't be fooled by that performance. France didn't show up till the second half. It just papered over the cracks. When France did show up England couldn't compete with them."Roy W: "Playing with freedom when the pressure's off against a team with no motivation is nothing to get excited about. Same thing will happen in the Euros when the pressure is on."DeeC: "What a fantastic ending for the England squad. Yes, they will be hurting badly, as are we all, but for those being so brutally critical of a third-placed finish, stop all the negativity and be proud! We will be back stronger and wiser."Rob: "Nobody had us down as winners so to be outraged we aren't there is ridiculous. However, the semi-final was there for us to go and win if the players and manager had the belief we could have been brave in our play and tactics."MilesLl: "England had a decent second half against Croatia and put in a half-decent performance against Mexico. Everything else was below average or poor. We maybe just deserved to be in the most pointless game in the tournament. England need to go up a level or two both physically and mentally."RJHarding: "On reflection, third place isn't too bad; yes, we could have done better tactically against Argentina, but I think we'd have lost regardless. Ultimately we're not as good as most fans/pundits think and the last 5 tournaments have been a massive improvement for England overall.Matt 'Skinny' Gardham: In May, nobody expected much; we overachieved in that sense. The frustration comes from being 1-0 up in the semi-final and failing to adapt to second-half substitutions with positive changes of our own. Another missed opportunityJack11: "Fans act like England have a divine right to win the World Cup. It's our best finish since 1966 and our best finish ever on foreign soil. We should be very happy with this."Buckly: "We seem to perform when there is no pressure. Maybe it is our DNA. We probably learned more in this World Cup though than any other."Dave: "It's very clear to me that England to me were poor defensively all tournament. You can't claim to be good defensively by putting four centre-halves on and strikers coming deep."Gazza949: "Our wide men were too inconsistent. Elliott Anderson and Declan Rice were good, but we need a box-to-box midfield player in there. Nico O'Reilly was average and we had no truly decent right-back.Adiemoore: "Reece James, Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi were not good enough. It should have been Jayden Bogle, Harry Maguire, John Stones and Lewis Hall at the back."danburts: "Ivan Toney didn't offer much, but his presence as an actual No 9 creates space for the wingers and midfielders to attack. Harry Kane did not have a good tournament. He comes too deep, reduces numbers and space high up the pitch."Mike: "It seems a controversial opinion, but the lumbering Kane seems analogous to the Ronaldo situation at Portugal. They do score goals, but their presence seems to detract from how the team can play."Nufcadam: "I honestly think this was a learning curve from TT: first time managing in an international tournament. Although I still feel it was a missed opportunity, TT is the man for the job and hopefully he won't make the mistakes he made this tournament in the future."Nock: "We have very good players who play in the toughest league in the world, regularly play in Europe and know how to win tournaments. The blame is solely on the manager not having clear tactics and picking an unbalanced squad. He should be replaced immediately."Nash: "Events over the last few days have left me wanting Tuchel out. Mistake after mistake during the tournament. Picking unfit players, not rotating the squad. Then the baffling defiance after the semis. Now you've got Saka saying he was fit all tournament. MESS!!Steve oll: "Tuchel is not the man for the job. He made the wrong squad selection from the start and then the wrong team and substitutes throughout not acceptable he has to go."Becky h: "You can't help but think Tuchel's DNA comments were right. I'm fully backing him to stay as manager. I personally don't think there is anyone decent enough to take over, especially from an English point of view."CC: "What is frustrating is seeing everyone slate Tuchel so much. Yes, the subs he made were bad in the Argentina game, but if it worked would they have been bad? I don't see the likes of Eddie Howe/Frank Lampard coming in and winning us the Euros."Paul: "Don't mess about - go get PEP GUARDIOLA!!!!!!!!!"Donutsweet: "The future looks bright, but Kane and Jordan Pickford need to step aside and allow us time to find their main replacements. We also need to find a right-back."Mick dundee: "We never had a genuine playmaker, that's what's missing. Our coaches play safe with two holding midfielders. We need to change our way of thinking - caution doesn't win anything."EnglishFrenchDweller: "Is the main priority now ahead of the next tournament to develop a playing style to adapt when England need to control the games? A style to keep the ball and defend by having possession?"Gunnerlukey: "I think the one thing we should be worried about is lack of a striker for the next tournament. Kane, although a great goalscorer, is too far back and the other options are lacking. There's a big hole up top for England in years to come."

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Our picture editor chooses his favourite images from the tournament including Lionel Messi’s cathedral, that delicious diving header from Jude Bellingham and a humbling scene in GazaWhat makes a great World Cup photograph? Now there’s a question with myriad answers. Composition, newsworthiness, emotional resonance, expert timing and luck can all contribute to varying degrees. But one thing they all share is the power to capture attention.On the Guardian sport picture desk, we have received more than 500,000 World Cup photographs over the past six weeks, with so many classics among them. Here, with much applause to the photographers who created them and a slight bias towards England, are my favourite images of the tournament.An absolute cracker to start with. In this picture, the cavernous Kansas City Stadium sweeps around a small corner of grass on which the world’s most famous footballer stands alone. You can’t really see it’s Lionel Messi, but somehow you can tell it’s him. It feels as though everybody’s eyes are pointed in his direction, as though they’re worshipping a deity in an epic footballing cathedral.Technological improvements have led to the creation of high-quality miniature remote-operated cameras which can be placed inside goalmouths. Seeing the game at such close quarters feels wonderfully dynamic. This frame in particular captures a mad scramble between Brazil and Japan; the wonky angle adds to the sense of chaos.A self-referential choice, but this was a big news story at the time: England played Croatia in their first game and the England manager, Thomas Tuchel, was so furious he couldn’t see the players during the national anthem that he asked Fifa to move the photographers for subsequent games. In fairness to him, you can see why. Four weeks later, Tuchel would garner headlines again after his substitutions in the semi-final against Argentina helped to trigger England’s collapse.At first glance it looks innocuous enough, then you notice Tarik Muharemovic’s right ankle buckling under the pressure applied by Folarin Balogun’s mistimed challenge. Replays of the incident suggested the foul was unintentional, though the Bosnian was lucky to escape injury. Balogun received a red card following a VAR review, but his one-game ban was suspended by Fifa after lobbying from Donald Trump. With Balogun back in the team, the USA were dumped out of their own tournament by Belgium in the next round.I’ve relished seeing so many photographs from inside the tunnels at this World Cup because the players seem to reveal a little more of themselves away from the public eye. This candid shot of Scotland players Findlay Curtis and Jack Hendry shows them in the wake of their 3-0 loss to Brazil – a defeat that was filled with calamity, and which ultimately led to Scotland’s early exit. They look like they’re outside a head teacher’s office waiting to be reprimanded.I love a good diving header and this one by Jude Bellingham against Mexico was peachy. From a photographic point of view, you seldom get shots from tribune positions like this during a Premier League season, so they have a real novelty value during major tournaments. But it’s more than just novelty: the elevated vantage point helps to remove the surrounding clutter and give a proper fan’s eye view of the goal. I also love the verdant grass, the shocking pink goalkeeper’s jersey and the sense of anticipation because the ball has yet to cross the line. It reminds me of the signed photograph of Coventry’s Keith Houchen, from the 1987 FA Cup final, that hangs proudly on my dad’s office wall.So many hydration breaks, so much Powerade, but only one player managed to look like a Portuguese water dog fresh from a dip in a lake. The Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimarães is pictured here dousing himself in H2O when his side faced Morocco in their opening game at New York New Jersey Stadium. Brazil ultimately went home for an early bath after losing to Norway in the last 16.The mass rowing displays performed by Norway’s fans this summer have been a viral sensation. Seen everywhere from Times Square to Miami Beach, they also became a fixture of the team’s post-match partying, with Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard both banging a fan’s drum as the side progressed to the quarter-finals. The Vikings were stopped by England, but their journey was one of the feelgood stories of the tournament.A gorgeous pool of afternoon sunlight spilling on to the pitch, surrounded by deep shadows. You couldn’t really create better low-key lighting conditions if you tried. The photographer just had to nail the exposure and wait for a subject to pass through. The fact that it’s Kylian Mbappé who’s skating across the turf in his rich blue France top adds a nice splash of colour and gravity to the scene.Luka Modric has spoken in the past about not wanting to let his people down, and of carrying memories of his grandpa, Luka, with him. He appears to be deep in thought here before playing Panama. Perhaps it’s just a fleeting moment – a man simply massaging his temple or visualising the first tackle – or maybe he’s remembering his war-torn roots and the family member he was named after.At the ripe age of 40 and with a club career that has taken him to Cyprus, Moldova, Portugal and Slovakia, the Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha became the breakout star at this year’s World Cup. His numerous saves against Spain in the group stage earned him global praise as well as 17 million followers on Instagram. Another stellar display against Argentina, in which he memorably denied a quick free-kick by Messi, further enhanced his reputation. I like his expression in this photograph as he soaks up the adulation from the crowd following the Blue Sharks’ remarkable goalless draw with Spain.This photograph shows the power of football while also putting the World Cup into perspective. These Palestinian residents in Gaza may have lost everything, but they gathered amid the ruins of their former homes to watch a screening of Egypt’s game against Argentina. A moment of normality amid the horror and heartache.Erling Haaland’s first goal against Brazil left his old Premier League rival, Gabriel Magalhães, in a heap. In this shot you can see water (or perhaps sweat) flying off the striker’s forehead, his neck fully strained after connecting with the ball. Haaland scored seven goals in five World Cup games: he netted from inside the box, outside the box, with his left foot, right foot and of course his head. Norway have still never been beaten by Brazil after five matches. No other nation can say that.This image was shot before the tournament, as part of Fifa’s official player portraits, but I’ve only recently seen it – and it’s well worth a mention. You don’t see many players with braces, but Lamine Yamal, who only turned 19 this month, wears his with pride. This frame was shot using a 24-70mm lens on a Canon R5 Mark II which has a whopping 45 megapixels, so I suspect it’s been cropped quite hard in post-production to achieve this composition.Some penalty misses are worse than others. Germany’s Jonathan Tah and Manuel Akanji of Switzerland both had Chris Waddle moments as they blew their chances from 12 yards over the bar. Ordinarily I’d say you need to see the crossbar to illustrate that the shot went over, but the way the ball is rocketing skywards – almost as if it could escape the stadium roof – tells the story perfectly.Even when your ego is as big as the sun, sometimes you just need a cuddle. This photograph captures Neymar Jr’s visible distress as he realises his international career is over and his childhood ambitions of lifting the World Cup will never be fulfilled. His teammate Raphina is there to support him. It lacks the humility of Freddie Flintoff consoling his opponent Brett Lee in the Ashes, or the stoicism of Derek Redmond being helped across the finish line by his father at the 1992 Olympics, but it still packs an emotional gut punch.This photograph was flipped around by Getty Images before being transmitted to us. Manipulation of this ilk feels almost heretical in the world of photojournalism, and yet I’m inclined to say it’s compelling. It shows Julián Alvarez celebrating his late winner against Switzerland, and it makes me question my fundamental photographic principles. Would I print it in the newspaper like this? Absolutely not. Would I include it in an online gallery of images that caught my eye this summer? Evidently so.The stadums in the US have been mind-blowing in scale. Atlanta Stadium, home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and the city’s MLS and NWSL teams, has a maximum capacity of 75,000 people, a climate-controlled environment and a 335-metre display known as the “halo”. This picture from up in the gods looks suitably epic. Initially I assumed the camera was remote-controlled, but it transpires some photographers were actually working up there on the gantry. What a view they had!This is a beautiful example of a photographer using a slow shutter speed while panning gently with the action. I especially like the details within: Anthony Elanga’s facial expression is crisp, and the pink boots leave a painterly trail.Harry Kane’s late strikes against the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last 32 led to an outpouring of emotion from the England captain. I was torn over which frame to select – there are some lovely ones of him sprinting across the turf, flanked by Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon – but this one of him being embraced by Bellingham serves as a perfect reminder of their twin heroics at the tournament. It’s clean, nicely balanced and full of bromance.The guaranteed agony and ecstasy of penalty shootouts always makes for brilliant images. This year, Gustavo Gómez of Paraguay takes the crown for the wildest reaction. After beating Germany during sudden death, Gómez, who scored his own spot-kick, surges across the pitch like a heron taking flight, almost vaulting his teammates José Canale and Orlando Gill as he went to embrace them. He then careered through the photographers behind the goal in pursuit of a mobile phone so that he could document the moment himself.Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, also known as Lumumba Vea, is dubbed a “living statue” because he doesn’t move during games. Instead, the DRC fan poses on a plinth for the entire match, raising his right arm to mimic the statue of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of the First Congolese Republic, which stands in Kinshasa. Why anyone would go to a football match and not respond to the on-pitch action is beyond me, but Mboladinga insists it’s his patriotic duty.Youri Tielemans scored twice in Belgium’s stunning comeback against Senegal in the last 32. This 89th-minute header might have been a little trickier to control had the defender Moussa Niakhaté competed for the ball instead of diving theatrically to the ground at the first sign of contact. The virtue of modern cameras, many of which shoot 30 frames per second, is that the full sequence of this goal was captured, and we could choose the exact frame when Tielemans’s head connects with the ball.Sasa Kalajdzic overcame three anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the years and months prior to the 2026 World Cup, but the Austrian enjoyed a moment to savour when he netted a 96th-minute equaliser against Algeria to keep his side in the tournament. The game ignited accusations of fixing, because a 3-3 draw ensured both sides went through, but a finale like that – and celebrations like this – cannot be scripted.Australia’s Connor Metcalfe needed three stitches in his eyebrow after being clipped by a stray boot from Andrés Cubas during the Socceroos’ group match with Paraguay. Maybe it’s the slumped shoulders or the shirt pulled up around his neckline, but he looks like a forlorn child who needs a parent to clean him up.You could say this is just another “two men and a ball” photograph (an expression the Guardian’s photographer, Tom Jenkins, uses to describe generic images of sporting action). But I particularly like this one because of the contrast of sporting prowess – the acrobat versus the brick wall – and for the misshapen ball which appears ready to pop. Dan Burn has become a cult figure for England, in the mould of Peter Crouch. Many supporters call the 6ft 7in defender Big Dan Burn, but Bellingham apparently calls him Burninho. There’s no way Raúl Jiménez, the Mexico striker, was ever getting the ball past him.Ismaël Koné’s eyes say it all. The Canada midfielder had just broken the tibia and fibula bones in his lower left leg after a challenge by Qatar’s midfielder Assim Madibo, who would receive a red card and a five-match ban. As a photo editor, when incidents like this occur you have to weigh up decency and news value before publishing (I still feel traumatised by the uncensored images I saw of Eduardo’s broken leg in 2008). I think this image conveys the severity of the incident without being unduly graphic. Koné left the pitch on a stretcher but waved to fans as he exited.The composition of this photograph is simple but beautiful. The intersecting diagonals, the contrast between light and shade, and the depth within the scene … it all makes for rich viewing.Let’s be honest, Lionel Messi is not very good at penalties. He’s missed four of eight in World Cup matches and 34 of 151 in his career, including shootouts. A botched effort against Egypt, in a match which the African side went on to lead 2-0, could have been a harrowing ending to his gilded international career. Instead, Messi did what Messi does: he scored the equaliser and drove his team to a remarkable 3-2 win in normal time. This picture, taken after the match, speaks to the weight he carries on his shoulders. Is he feeling relief or guilt? Either way, he looks tortured by expectation.Ordinarily I’d select a celebration photograph from the World Cup final among my favourites, but this ‘tackle’ by Enzo Fernández was so bad – and the image of Pau Cubarsi flying through the air so striking – that I couldn’t look beyond it. An absolutely dreadful final sparked into life at this moment. Cubarsi rose from the turf to claim the title of ‘best young player’ of the tournament and, more importantly, a World Cup winner’s medal.

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England captain Harry Kane has backed Thomas Tuchel to succeed as England head coach amid criticism of his tactics in the World Cup semi-final defeat over Argentina.Tuchel's decision to try and maintain a slender 1-0 lead by switching to a back five after the final hydration break led to widespread fury as the Three Lions failed to hang on following sustained Argentina pressure.The feeling was compounded further as England came out on top of a 10-goal thriller in the third-place play-off against France, seeing them secure their highest World Cup finish since 1966 and record their best finish on foreign soil.In the aftermath of the defeat last Wednesday, Kane admitted that the decision to try and hold on had backfired. However, he has now publicly backed Tuchel to learn from England's elimination and succeed as he guides the team towards Euro 2028."He's a big reason why we are here," Kane told Sky Sports. "He's a big reason why we claimed our highest finish in 60 years."There are a lot of 'what ifs?' after the other night and it's going to take time to process it. For him as well. Just because he is one of the best coaches in the world, doesn't mean he is going to get it right every time. The players on the pitch are the same. We all make mistakes and we have to try and improve."The fans have the right to be angry. I think Thomas knew more than anyone when he took the job it was going to be high pressure and high stakes.The 21 minutes that cost England at the World CupEuro 2028 dates, venues, host cities, format and schedule"He nearly took us all the way and he didn't. People are going to try and place blame, that's part and parcel of our job."I think he needs time to process it all. It's been a crazy journey. A lot of ups and obviously the one big down. It's his first tournament as well. He's learnt from the players, the pressure, the environment, the travelling."That will only make us better for the future."While there is a European Championships to contend with first, Kane is also hopeful he will have a part to play come the 2030 World Cup.The Bayern Munich striker will be 36 when the tournament starts in four years' time, but having broken the record for most World Cup goals for an Englishman this summer, the skipper hasn't ruled out still being involved."I'm coming off the back of my best season ever and I'm turning 33. It's impossible to say, four years is such a long way away."I've said it before, playing for England is my biggest ambition. I feel as good as I've ever felt. Let's see. I never put a limit on these things. As long as I'm performing the way I am, then I'll be representing England. But, four years is a long time. I'm not getting carried away."There's an element of the semi-final disappointment feeling so strong because you wonder how long it will be for an England team to be so ready win the big one again, especially considering the question marks over certain key figures when the 2030 World Cup rolls around.We know Thomas Tuchel has vowed to be in charge for Euro 2028. That offers no guarantees about whether he remains in the hot seat for the two years after. However, if he manages to lead England to glory on home soil, the idea of World Cup redemption could be too tempting.While the sentiment on him is currently mixed due to the Argentina defeat being saw raw, if those circumstances panned out, it would be the best case scenario.What about Kane? At 36, many would expect him to be on the decline. Yet, we have just seen a 39-year-old Lionel Messi light up the tournament. And the reality is, there is no obvious player in place to take the mantle.One of the big concerns for the FA has to be the lack of promising strikers coming through the ranks. Of course, a lot could happen between now and 2030, but all the signs are pointing towards Kane still being relied upon as a number nine.The likes of Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson and more should all be in their prime. Could that be enough to service Kane who surely won't be?It's a unique debate surrounding arguably England's greatest ever player. Right now though, there seems no point in said debate without an obvious replacement waiting in the wings.

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The rules are simple. Each day there's a new footballer and the challenge is to guess who they are in as few attempts as possible.After each wrong guess you unlock a new clue. Guess the answer after as few clues as possible to score more points.Three is a good score, four or five points is exceptional.So take part and return for more tomorrow.Today's player and clues set by BBC Sport's Huzaifah Khan.After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device.What information do we collect from this quiz?Related topicsFootballFIFA World Cup 2026Play more quizzesAll our Who Am I? quizzes in one placeQuiz: Name every nation at the Fifa World Cup 2026Can you name the 10 Lionesses with most England caps?World Cup quiz: Name these top nations' leading scorers