Goal (website)

Goal is an international association football news website founded in 2004 by Chicco Merighi and Gianluigi Longinotti-Buitoni. It is currently owned by DAZN. Goal is the world's largest online football publication,[1] and second largest online sports publication, only behind ESPN.[1] Goal represents one of the largest football communities in the world with 19 language versions covering more than 50 countries.[2] The website provides users with live scores and the latest news from football clubs through its interactive website, mobile apps and social channels.

Goal
Available in19 languages
HeadquartersLeeds,
United Kingdom
Country of originEngland
OwnerDAZN Group
Founder(s)
  • Chicco Merighi
  • Gian Luigi Longinotti-Buitoni
ServicesAssociation football news
URLgoal.com
Launched2004
Current statusActive

Goal is published in 19 languages, with 38 national editions and 500 contributors.[3][4]

History

Goal was acquired by Perform Group in 2011, paying £18 million to the website's investors, including Bessemer Venture Partners.[5][6][7]

In 2012, the website was investigated by HM Revenue and Customs department of the UK government over the use of unpaid interns.[8]

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 Texas Pacific Group (TPG).

Awards

In 2017 Goal won the Best Sports News Site award at The Drum Online Media Awards. "[9]

Goal 50

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."[10] 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.

Men's winners
SeasonWinnerClub(s)
2007–08 Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United
2008–09 Lionel Messi Barcelona
2009–10 Wesley Sneijder Internazionale
2010–11 Lionel Messi Barcelona
2011–12 Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid
2012–13 Lionel Messi Barcelona
2013–14 Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid
2014–15 Lionel Messi Barcelona
2015–16 Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid
2016–17 Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid
2017–18 Luka Modrić Real Madrid
2018–19 Virgil van Dijk Liverpool
2019–20 Robert Lewandowski Bayern Munich

Women's winners
SeasonWinnerClub(s)
2018–19 Megan Rapinoe Reign FC
2019–20 Pernille Harder VfL Wolfsburg
Chelsea

NxGn

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 reporters, the resulting list is known as the NxGn list "NxGn."[11]

Winners
SeasonWinnerClub(s)
2015–16 Youri Tielemans R.S.C. Anderlecht
2016–17 Gianluigi Donnarumma A.C. Milan
2017–18 Justin Kluivert Ajax
2018–19 Jadon Sancho Borussia Dortmund
2019–20 Rodrygo Real Madrid

References
  1. "The top 500 sites on the web - By Category". Alexa. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  2. "About Us". Goal. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  3. "Goal.com". Perform Group. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  4. "Goal.com". Crunchbase. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  5. Farey-Jones, Daniel (23 February 2011). "Perform challenges Sky with Goal.com acquisition". Campaign. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  6. Wauters, Robin (23 February 2011). "Score! Perform Group Buys Goal.com From Bessemer To Go Direct-To-Consumer". TechCrunch. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  7. Sweney, Mark (16 May 2012). "Perform buys data company RunningBall for £95m". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  8. Malik, Shiv (23 December 2012). "Football site Goal.com investigated over use of 30 unpaid interns a week". THe Guardian. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  9. "The Drum: Best Sports News Site". The Drum. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  10. "Cahill named in Goal 50 list". Socceroos. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  11. "NxGn 2019". Goal. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
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