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2026 World Cup Shatters Records with Expanded Format and Star Performances
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Sports

2026 World Cup Shatters Records with Expanded Format and Star Performances

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Outcome reported
  • The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, set numerous historical records due to its expansion to 48 teams and 104 matches.
  • New records included Kylian Mbappé becoming the all-time top scorer with 22 goals, Lionel Messi reaching 21, and players like Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Guillermo Ochoa participating in six World Cups.
  • The tournament also saw records for the oldest player scoring a hat-trick (Lionel Messi), goals scored in six different editions (Cristiano Ronaldo), and a record-breaking third-place match between England and France.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, shattered numerous historical records, driven by its expansion to 48 teams and an unprecedented 104 matches. This format change, a significant departure from the 32-team structure used since 1998, reshaped the tournament's landscape over its 39-day duration.

The 23rd edition of the 2026 World Cup, organized by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, left a trail of historical marks that unfolded from the very moment the competition expanded from 32 to 48 teams, and from 64 to 104 matches.

— EFEIntroduction to the article discussing the records set in the 2026 World Cup.

New benchmarks were set in individual achievements. Kylian Mbappé emerged as the tournament's all-time leading scorer, surpassing Lionel Messi's previous record to reach 22 goals. Messi himself added to his legacy, finishing with 21 goals. The tournament also saw Lionel Messi become the oldest player to score a hat-trick, achieving the feat in Argentina's debut match. Cristiano Ronaldo cemented his status as the only player to score in six different World Cup editions.

Kylian Mbappé, in a vigorous sprint, rose to first place with 22.

— EFEDescribing Kylian Mbappé's achievement as the new all-time top scorer.

Longevity was also a key theme, with Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa joining an elite group of players who have competed in six World Cups. The tournament also witnessed a remarkable scoring spree, with four players, Mbappé, Messi, Jude Bellingham, and Erling Haaland, each surpassing the seven-goal mark in a single edition. The third-place playoff between England and France became the highest-scoring match for that position in World Cup history, contributing to the tournament's overall high goal tally, which exceeded 300 goals.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa joined the select group of players who have participated in six versions of the World Cup, an absolute record of longevity.

— EFEHighlighting the players who reached the milestone of six World Cup appearances.

Beyond individual accolades, the tournament highlighted emerging footballing nations. Debutant Cape Verde made history by remaining undefeated in the group stage and reaching the knockout rounds, with Kevin Pina scoring their first-ever World Cup goal. Seven other nations, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, and South Africa, also advanced to the knockout stage for the first time, signaling a shifting global footballing map.

With 38 years, Lionel Messi became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in the history of the World Cups, in the debut against Algeria (3-0).

— EFEDetailing Lionel Messi's record as the oldest player to score a hat-trick.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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