| Goal | |
| Website Type: | Sports journalism |
| Founded: | (as a domain name) |
| Area Served: | Worldwide |
| Ceo: | Juan Delgado |
| Industry: | Journalism |
| Services: | Association football news |
| Current Status: | Active |
| International: | yes |
| Location City: | London |
| Location Country: | England |
| Launched: | 1998 (domain) 2005 (current state) |
Goal, stylized in all caps and alternatively known as Goal.com, is a website currently dedicated to the coverage of international association football. Currently owned by the Integrated Media Company (IMC) division of TPG Inc. since 2020, it is published in 18 languages across 38 global regions and edited by over 500 contributors as of 2019.[1]
Sports statics company Perform Group acquired Goal.com for £18 million from its previous investors, which included Bessemer Venture Partners.[2] [3] [4] In 2012, the website was investigated by HM Revenue and Customs department of the UK government over the use of unpaid interns.[5]
In August 2016, Perform Group launched the online sports video streaming service DAZN. In September 2018 Perform Group was split into two companies: DAZN Group (named after its streaming service) for its consumer content operations, and Perform Content for its business-to-business services. Under this new structure, GOAL sat under DAZN. In March 2019, DAZN re-organized the Perform Media division into DAZN Media, which includes GOAL. In late 2020, GOAL, alongside Spox and Voetbalzone were packaged as a new company called FootballCo. Shortly after, a majority stake in FootballCo. was purchased by Integrated Media Company (IMC) which is a division of TPG Capital.[6]
In 2017 and 2020, GOAL won the Best Sports News Site award at The Drum Online Media Awards.[7]
Since the 2007–08 season, the best 50 players of the respective season are selected by GOAL reporters and ranked as part of Goal's "Goal 50."[8] Starting from the 2018–19 season, the 50 players were divided into 25 men and 25 women, with a winner from both genders being crowned. In 2021 voting was changed, with the list of available players chosen by GOAL journalists and the ranking decided by a public vote.
| Season | Winner | Club(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 | Manchester United | ||
| 2008–09 | Barcelona | ||
| 2009–10 | Internazionale | ||
| 2010–11 | Barcelona | ||
| 2011–12 | Real Madrid | ||
| 2012–13 | Barcelona | ||
| 2013–14 | Real Madrid | ||
| 2014–15 | Barcelona | ||
| 2015–16 | Real Madrid | ||
| 2016–17 | Real Madrid | ||
| 2017–18 | Real Madrid | ||
| 2018–19 | Liverpool | ||
| 2019–20 | Bayern Munich | ||
| 2020–21 |  Lionel Messi[9] | Barcelona | |
| 2021–22 | Lionel Messi[10] | Paris Saint-Germain | |
| 2022–23 | Lionel Messi[11] | Paris Saint-Germain Inter Miami |
| Season | Winner | Club(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Reign FC | ||
| 2019–20 | VfL Wolfsburg Chelsea | ||
| 2020–21 |  Alexia Putellas | Barcelona | |
| 2021–22 | Alexia Putellas | Barcelona | |
| 2022–23 | Racheal Kundananji | Madrid CFF |
Since the 2015–16 season, GOAL has ranked the 50 best players aged under 19 for that respective season, with selections made by GOAL's network of journalists. The resulting list is known as the NXGN list, with the first-ranked players receiving the NXGN winner's award.[12]
Since 2020, a women's list and award has also been published and handed out.[13]
| Season | Winner | Club(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | Anderlecht | ||
| 2016–17 | Milan | ||
| 2017–18 | Ajax | ||
| 2018–19 | Borussia Dortmund | ||
| 2019–20 | Real Madrid | ||
| 2020–21 | Barcelona | ||
| 2021–22 | Borussia Dortmund | ||
| 2023–24 | Barcelona |
| Season | Winner | Club(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | SGS Essen | ||
| 2020–21 | FC Rosengård | ||
| 2021–22 | Reims |