Records Being Broken At The 2026 World Cup
You could say that the 2026 FIFA World Cup was destined to rewrite the history books. With an expanded format and a record 48 teams competing at the tournament for the first time, the door has naturally opened for milestones to be met. Seeing teams and players break records and set new ones has been one of the most exciting elements of the tournament so far, and we’ve picked out some of the highlights below.
Messi’s Remarkable Swansong
No player has dominated the record books like Lionel Messi. The Argentinian, who started the tournament as a 38-year-old and is now 39, became the World Cup’s all-time top scorer, surpassing the record of 16 goals held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose. Alongside that, Messi became the oldest player in the history of the tournament to score a hat-trick, an honour he snatched from long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo. As a result of Messi’s form, the latest football betting odds are favouring Argentina more, with their chances of retaining the World Cup having risen sharply.
Ronaldo and Ochoa Make History of Their Own
Ronaldo hasn’t been left behind when it comes to breaking records. Now aged 41, he’s become the first player to score goals at six different World Cup tournaments, with his first appearance coming at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Ronaldo, alongside Messi, is also part of an exclusive trio, which includes Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, to have played at six World Cups. It’s a feat many thought would be impossible due to the physical demands of playing at both club and international levels for so long.
Gary Lineker’s Record is Finally Broken
For many years, Gary Lineker had been England’s all-time leading World Cup goalscorer. The striker scored ten goals across two tournaments, but it had long been expected that Harry Kane would break his record in North America. At the time of writing, Kane, who captains the Three Lions, has scored a stunning 14 goals across three World Cups. He’ll be looking to extend his record before the tournament finishes.
Smallest Nations, Biggest Moments
Some of the most heartwarming stories at the 2026 World Cup have come from the smaller nations taking part in the tournament. Curaçao became the smallest nation ever to compete at a World Cup and also the smallest nation to score a goal at the tournament. Cape Verde went one better by becoming the smallest nation ever to reach the knockout stages. A record nine African teams progressed beyond the group stage, more than four times as many as in the previous two tournaments.
Veterans Rising to the Challenge
Age is proving to be no barrier to success at the World Cup, even where managers are concerned. The record for the oldest manager to win a match at the tournament changed hands twice in quick succession, with Carlos Queiroz, 74, briefly holding the record before South Africa’s Hugo Broos claimed it aged 75.
Conclusion
With plenty more action still to come before the World Cup final on July 19, there’s undoubtedly going to be more records broken between now and then. And what better place to smash records and rewrite history than on the world’s biggest sporting stage? Will there be more magic from Messi? Will Ronaldo try to get in on the act? Or will it be others stealing the show and the records.
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