World Cup records already broken or within reach in 2026
8 reported
According to a BBC Sport report, the 2026 World Cup has already rewritten football history in its first 10 days, with several major records either broken or within reach. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland all scored in their opening fixtures. Messi’s hat-trick against Algeria moved him level with Miroslav Klose at 16 World Cup goals, while Kane equaled Gary Lineker as England’s all-time leading scorer at World Cup finals with 10 goals. Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match at 41 years and 132 days, and also joined Messi as the second man to play in six tournaments. France manager Didier Deschamps is one win away from equaling the record for most managerial wins at the World Cup, currently held by Helmut Schon with 16 victories.
What’s reported
Messi’s hat-trick against Algeria moved him level with Miroslav Klose at 16 World Cup goals.
Kane equaled Gary Lineker as England’s all-time leading scorer at World Cup finals with 10 goals.
Ronaldo became the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match at 41 years and 132 days.
Ronaldo and Messi are the only two men to have played in six World Cup tournaments.
Mbappe is now France’s all-time leading scorer with 58 goals.
Deschamps is one win away from equaling Helmut Schon’s record of 16 managerial wins at the World Cup.
Six red cards have been shown in the 2026 competition, more than the past two World Cups combined.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, at 40 years and 12 days, became the oldest player to appear in a nation’s debut World Cup match and the oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet on his finals debut.
Key figures
Lionel Messi (Argentina striker)
Kylian Mbappe (France captain)
Harry Kane (England captain)
Erling Haaland (Norway striker)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal striker)
Miroslav Klose (former Germany striker)
Gary Lineker (former England striker)
Didier Deschamps (France manager)
Helmut Schon (former West Germany manager)
Vozinha (Cape Verde goalkeeper)
Denis Undav (Germany striker)
Jonathan David (Canada striker)
Kjetil Rekdal (former Norway striker)
Atiba Hutchinson (former Canada player)
Tarik Muharemovic (Bosnia-Herzegovina player)
Assim Omer Madibo (Qatar player)
Homam el Amin (Qatar player)
Sources: BBC News
