The 2026 FIFA World Cup is already proving to be a tournament of milestones, with some of football’s biggest names rewriting the record books just days into the competition.
At the centre of the headlines is Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who has cemented his place in World Cup history by becoming the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer.
The 38-year-old scored twice in Argentina’s victory over Austria on Monday to take his World Cup tally to 18 goals, moving two clear of former Germany striker Miroslav Klose. Messi had already announced himself at the tournament with a hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina’s opening match.
His latest feat adds to an extraordinary list of achievements. Messi became only the third player in men’s World Cup history to score in six successive tournament appearances, joining France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil’s Jairzinho. Remarkably, 12 of his 18 World Cup goals have come since the age of 35, underlining his enduring influence on the global stage.
Despite his goalscoring exploits, Messi also holds a less desirable record. After missing a penalty against Austria, he became the player with the most missed penalties in World Cup history, excluding shootouts.
Mbappe Chasing Messi’s Record
While Messi currently leads the scoring charts, France captain Kylian Mbappe remains firmly in pursuit.
Mbappe struck twice against Senegal to move onto 14 World Cup goals and became France’s all-time leading scorer with 58 international goals. The 27-year-old now sits just four goals behind Messi’s newly established record and will be eager to close the gap as France’s campaign progresses.
The race for the Golden Boot is also beginning to take shape. Messi currently leads the way with five goals, while Germany’s Denis Undav and Canada’s Jonathan David have three each. However, with Mbappe, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland all capable of explosive scoring runs, the battle for the tournament’s top scorer promises to be one of the defining storylines of the competition.
Kane Closing In On England Record
England captain Harry Kane once again demonstrated his importance to the Three Lions by scoring twice in their 4-2 victory over Croatia.
The brace moved Kane level with Gary Lineker as England’s all-time leading scorer at World Cup finals with 10 goals. With Ghana next on England’s schedule, Kane has a strong opportunity to claim the record outright.
The Bayern Munich striker also became only the second England player after David Beckham to score at three different World Cup tournaments. His appearance against Croatia was his 115th for England, drawing him level with Beckham among the nation’s most-capped players.
Kane is also aiming to become the first player to win multiple World Cup Golden Boots after claiming the award at the 2018 tournament in Russia.
Ronaldo Continues To Defy Time
Cristiano Ronaldo may not have found the net during Portugal’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo, but the veteran forward still added another record to his remarkable career.
At 41 years and 132 days old, Ronaldo became the oldest outfield player ever to start a World Cup match, surpassing Canada’s Atiba Hutchinson.
The Portuguese star is also on the verge of another unique milestone. Having already scored in five different World Cup tournaments, a goal at the 2026 edition would make him the first player to score in six separate World Cups.
Ronaldo and Messi have also become only the second and third players in history to appear in six World Cup tournaments.
Haaland Making An Immediate Impact
Norway striker Erling Haaland wasted little time making his mark on the world’s biggest stage.
Making his World Cup debut against Iraq, Haaland scored twice in a 4-1 victory and became the first Norwegian player to score a World Cup double.
His two-goal performance also saw him draw level with Kjetil Rekdal as Norway’s all-time leading World Cup scorer. Another goal against Senegal would see the Manchester City striker claim the record outright.
Vozinha Inspires Cape Verde
One of the tournament’s most memorable performances came from Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha.
The veteran shot-stopper produced seven saves in a remarkable 0-0 draw against European champions Spain during Cape Verde’s World Cup debut.
At 40 years and 12 days old, Vozinha became the oldest player to feature in a nation’s first-ever World Cup match. He also set a new record as the oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet on his World Cup finals debut.
Deschamps Nears Coaching Milestone
France head coach Didier Deschamps is also closing in on a significant achievement.
The World Cup-winning manager sits just one victory away from equalling Helmut Schon’s record of 16 World Cup wins as a coach. Should France continue their strong form, Deschamps is expected to surpass the German legend before the group stage concludes.
Discipline Record Under Threat
The tournament has also witnessed a notable rise in disciplinary incidents.
Six red cards have already been shown in the opening round of fixtures, surpassing the totals recorded at both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Three dismissals occurred during Mexico’s opening victory over South Africa, while Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemovic and Qatar’s Assim Omer Madibo and Homam El Amin have also been sent off.
Although the all-time World Cup record of 28 red cards, set in 2006, remains some distance away, the early trend suggests disciplinary records could also come under threat before the tournament concludes.
A Tournament Of Records
With the group stage still in its early phases, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is already delivering historic moments. Messi has set a new benchmark for goalscoring excellence, while Mbappe, Kane, Ronaldo and Haaland continue their pursuit of records of their own.
As the tournament unfolds, football fans around the world may witness even more milestones fall in what is rapidly becoming one of the most memorable World Cups in history.
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