Showing posts with label World Cup History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Cup History. Show all posts
Monday, 13 July 2026
Monday, 6 July 2026
Wednesday, 1 July 2026
MBAPPÉ BREAKS RONALDO'S RECORDS, REWRITES WORLD CUP HISTORY
Kylian Mbappé has once again proven why he is regarded as the defining footballer of his generation after smashing a string of records once held by his childhood idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, while simultaneously rewriting FIFA World Cup history.
The France captain delivered another breathtaking performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring twice in Les Bleus' commanding 3-0 victory over Sweden in the Round of 32 to become the greatest goalscorer in World Cup knockout-stage history.
His latest double took his tally to 10 goals in World Cup knockout matches, eclipsing the long-standing record of nine and moving him clear of Brazilian legends Ronaldo Nazário and Leônidas, who had each scored eight in the competition's elimination rounds.
The achievement further cements Mbappé's growing reputation as football's ultimate big-game player. Reports also noted that his overall World Cup tally had risen to 18 goals, leaving him within touching distance of the all-time tournament scoring record.
The performance against Sweden was not just another victory for France. It marked yet another milestone in a career already overflowing with silverware, individual honours and records that many believed would stand for decades.
Away from international football, Mbappé has also been rewriting the history books at Real Madrid.
In his first full calendar year with the Spanish giants, the French forward broke Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic club record by scoring 59 goals in a single calendar year, surpassing the Portuguese legend's mark set in 2013.
The symbolic moment came on his 27th birthday when Mbappé converted a late penalty against Sevilla to draw level with Ronaldo before later moving ahead, celebrating with Ronaldo's famous "Siuuu" celebration—a heartfelt tribute to the player he has long described as his inspiration.
The remarkable scoring spree has underlined just how seamlessly Mbappé has adapted to life in Madrid following his highly anticipated move from Paris Saint-Germain.
His record-breaking campaign has not been limited to domestic football.
Earlier in the season, Mbappé also surpassed another Ronaldo benchmark in the UEFA Champions League by scoring 13 goals in a single group-stage campaign, breaking Ronaldo's previous record of 11 set during the 2015–16 season.
It is another indication that the French superstar is steadily dismantling records previously considered untouchable.
For years, comparisons between Mbappé, Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated football debates.
Now, rather than merely being compared with the game's greatest icons, Mbappé is beginning to replace them at the top of the record books.
Still only 27 years old, the French captain continues to add to a career that already includes a FIFA World Cup title, a World Cup Golden Boot, multiple domestic league crowns and European honours.
France's progress at the ongoing World Cup also means more records could soon fall.
With the tournament entering its decisive stages, Mbappé remains one of the favourites for the Golden Boot, while France are among the strongest contenders to lift another world title.
Should Les Bleus continue their march, the man who once idolised Cristiano Ronaldo may soon own even more of the records that made the Portuguese legend one of football's immortals.
- TONY MBALLA
Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Friday, 19 June 2026
CANADA HAVE WON THEIR FIRST EVER WORLD CUP MATCH 🇨🇦🥇🔥
Canada also become the highest-scoring CONCACAF nation in World Cup history... what a time to be Canadian 😮💨
Thursday, 18 June 2026
YOANE WISSA: THE ACID ATTACK SURVIVOR WHO BECAME FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 HERO FOR DR CONGO
Yoane Wissa may not be a new name for football fans due to his time with Brentford in the Premier League but not many are aware of his courageous story off the field.
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| Yoane Wissa celebrates after scoring in FIFA World Cup 2026 |
Yoane Wissa may not be a new name for football fans due to his time with Brentford in the Premier League but not many are aware of his courageous story off the field. The striker grabbed the headlines on Wednesday as he scored DR Congo's first World Cup goal in 52 years to clinch a historic 1-1 draw against Portugal. Joao Neves handed Portugal the lead early in the match but DR Congo did not give up and Wissa's powerful header was the perfect example of their grit and determination. While the whole world could not stop praising the striker for his brilliant performance, it was less than five years ago that he almost lost his eyesight after suffering an acid attack at his home in Lorient.
A woman, who was later identified as Laetitia P, posed as a fan and threw acid on his face. She even tried to kidnap his daughter but was ultimately caught and sentenced to 18 years in prison.
It was just days ahead of his move to Brentford from Lorient and it seemed like his transfer can get affected by the accident.
"I opened a door, and had liquid thrown in my face. I screamed and could not breathe. My wife called the emergency services, and they told me to get under the shower to rinse my eyes. At the hospital they told me my eyes were burned. Someone had to come and rinse them out every hour. It has been a nightmare."
Since then I panic every time I hear a noise, and the only thing that kept me going was knowing my children are safe. I had surgery on both eyes, and the doctor told me I will need to use eye drops for the rest of my life. Had I not been treated so quickly, the consequences would have been far worse," Wissa told the court.
However, he joined Brentford in 2021 and ended up making 149 appearances for the club over four seasons. He scored 49 goals during his time with the club and ultimately moved to Newcastle United in a big-money deal.
- Sayan Ghosh
Wednesday, 17 June 2026
LIONEL MESSI EXPLAINS WHY HE CRIED IN 2026 WORLD CUP OPENER AFTER SCORING A HAT-TRICK
The Argentinian soccer star broke down in tears after scoring his first goal for the team against Algeria in the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, June 16
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| Lionel Messi World Cup, Argentina vs. Algeria. Credit : Tom Weller/picture alliance via Getty |
NEED TO KNOW
- Lionel Messi became emotional after scoring his first goal in Argentina's 3-0 World Cup win against Algeria
- The soccer star credited his teammates for their support and said he's going through a challenging time unrelated to the game
- Messi tied the World Cup scoring record with 16 goals and secured his first-ever World Cup hat trick
Lionel Messi left his heart on the field.
The Argentine soccer star, 38, opened up about why he was visibly emotional after scoring his first of three goals in the 2026 World Cup during his team's matchup against Algeria on Tuesday, June 16.
"Why did I cry? It was something completely unrelated to football. I went through some difficult days," Messi said, after he was seen using the front of his white-and-blue, sweat-soaked jersey to wipe the tears from his eyes as he helped Argentina shut out Algeria 3-0 at Kansas City Stadium.
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| Lionel Messi #10 and players of Argentina line up to applaud fans after the team's 3-0 victory in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Algeria at Kansas City Stadium on June 16, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. Michael Steele/Getty |
"But I'm grateful to the entire delegation and my teammates because they were always by my side, giving me a lot of strength to help me get through it," continued the soccer legend, who's playing in his record sixth World Cup.
Messi, who turns 39 next week, didn't share further details on what prompted his emotions after that first strike, which marked one of three to secure his first-ever World Cup hat trick .
His emotional first goal came off a feed from Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul in the first few minutes of the matchup. He scored another early in the second half and secured his third goal moments before subbing out to a standing ovation from a crowd of 69,045 fans.
With his three goals during Argentina's victorious opening game against Algeria, Messi tied Germany's Miroslav Klose for the most goals in a men's World Cup with 16.
"At a loss for words about Leo. What can I say?" Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said after the match. "He's incredible."
Messi had his family in attendance to support him during the match in Kansas City, including his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro.
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| Lionel Messi of Argentina during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Algeria at Kansas City Stadium on June 16, 2026 in Kansas City, United States. ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty |
The remarkable performance by Messi laid to rest any concern about his hamstring scare, which had fans worried after he was seen limping off of the field during a Major League Soccer matchup on Sunday, May 24.
- Skyler Caruso
Saturday, 13 June 2026
USA MAKES HISTORY IN WORLD CUP WIN VS. PARAGUAY
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| LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 12: Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) |
The U.S. national team reached multiple milestones in a historic 4-1 victory over Paraguay in the World Cup on Friday night at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
For the first time ever, the U.S. built a 3–0 first half lead in a World Cup, and the U.S. won its highest-scoring World Cup match ever. Folarin Balogun scored two goals for the U.S. and became the first multi-goal scorer in a U.S. game at the World Cup since Pert Patenaude. The former U.S. standout had a hat trick in 1930. Ironically, the U.S. also beat Paraguay in that match.
Even Weston McKennie’s opening goal for the U.S. had historic overtones. He had the third-earliest goal in an opening match by a host team in World Cup history, according to Opta. France did it in 35 seconds in the 1938 World Cup, and Germany did it in 5:08 in 2006.
With Friday’s win, the U.S. also produced its biggest output ever with four goals, and the U.S. scored three goals in a game for the first time since 2002. For the U.S., it also marked the first World Cup game on home soil since a 1-0 loss to Brazil in 1994 at Stanford, California, which also marked the last time the U.S. hosted the worldwide soccer event.
USA Came Out Strong Against Paraguay
Paraguay threatened first in the Group D match with a strong attack in the first three minutes, but U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese made the stop in the first save of the match. The U.S. then attacked with Tim Weah’s shot, but the game stayed 0–0 with Paraguay keeper Orlando Gill’s save.
McKennie struck first for the U.S. just seven minutes into the match as he took the feed from Christian Pulisic, an AC Milan star. McKennie kept control against Paraguay defender Damian Bobadilla to punch in the goal.
As the U.S. controlled possession throughout the first half, opportunity arrived again when McKennie nearly scored his second goal in the 29th minute. Officials nixed it due to an offsides call, but the U.S. bounced back two minutes later as Folarin Balogun scored off of Pulisic’s pass. It marked Balogun’s 10th goal for the U.S. in international competition.
Despite that many goals, Friday marked Balogun’s World Cup debut with the U.S. The New York native opted for the U.S. in 2023 after time in the English soccer system.
Chris Richards tried to make it 3-0 for the U.S., but he hit it wide with his shot at the 37th minute. Balogun then made it 3-0 with his second goal, just 12 minutes later.
The U.S. held the 3-0 lead through most of the second half, dominating possession, but Paraguay got on the board at the 73rd minute as Mauricio put a shot past Freese. Julio Enciso set it up for Paraguay with the assist.
Gio Reyna then made it 4–1 for the U.S. after the 90-minute mark. The U.S. walked away with an opening win in front of 70,492, and it paled in comparison to the last World Cup appearance in Qatar for 2022. That year, the U.S. only scored three goals for the entire competition.
USA Still Has Paraguay’s Number
The U.S. won a fourth consecutive match against Paraguay on Friday, and the U.S. improved to 5-2-2 all-time against the country in the process. That includes the nation’s only other World Cup meeting in 1930 when the U.S. won 3-0 behind Patenaude’s hat trick.
The U.S. will take on Australia next in Group D play on June 19 at Lumen Field in Seattle. Australia opens Group Day play on Saturday against Turkey in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Another win helps the U.S. solidify chances to advance to the knockout rounds, which the U.S. has done in three of the past four World Cups. During the last World Cup in the U.S. in 1994, the U.S. made it to the Round of 16 and bowed out against Brazil. The U.S. went 4-1-1 that year.
- Matthew Davis
Thursday, 11 June 2026
WORLD CUP HISTORY | MEXICO 1970
That works out at around £5,000 in today's money.
What a trip this would have been.
Saturday, 22 November 2025
CURAÇAO MAKES SOCCER HISTORY AS SMALLEST NATION BY POPULATION TO QUALIFY FOR A WORLD CUP
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| Curacao players and fans celebrate reaching the World Cup (AP) |
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — The tiny Caribbean island country Curaçao will go to the 2026 World Cup as the smallest nation by population ever to qualify for the marquee event in men’s soccer.
Curaçao, an autonomous territory of about 156,000 people within the Netherlands kingdom, takes the record of Iceland, with a population of just over 350,000, which was the previous smallest country to reach the World Cup when it qualified for Russia 2018.
Tuesday to take a 0-0 draw in Jamaica and finish top of a four-team group. Its other opponents were Trinidad and Tobago and last-place Bermuda.
Curaçao has actively recruited from its diaspora, getting permission from FIFA within world soccer’s rules to change the national-team eligibility of players who once represented the Netherlands at youth or Under-21 level, including five since August.
Defender Joshua Brenet even played a World Cup qualifying game for the Netherlands in 2016.
Tahith Chong, a former Manchester United youth player, is one of the few squad members born in Curaçao, which was called Netherlands Antilles until getting its autonomy 15 years ago.
Dick Advocaat, at age 78, is set to lead his third team at a World Cup, and his second in the U.S. He took his native Netherlands to the quarterfinals at the 1994 edition and coached South Korea at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Curaçao’s adventure is set to put players from unheralded clubs on the biggest stage. The squad that clinched qualification included players from Rotherham in England’s third-tier league, Bandırmaspor in the Turkish second division and Abha in Saudi Arabia.
Curaçao got the historic result despite not having Advocaat on the bench. He missed the match in Jamaica because he had to return to the Netherlands last weekend for family reasons.
His team saw Jamaica strike the woodwork three times in the second half in Kingston. A potentially decisive penalty kick awarded to the home team in stoppage time was overturned after a video review.
Curaçao will be joined by regional neighbors Panama and Haiti, which also booked their World Cup spots Tuesday.
Panama advanced to its second World Cup after defeating El Salvador 3-0 on first-half goals from César Blackman and Eric Davis, plus Jose Luis Rodriguez late in the game.
Panama’s only previous World Cup appearance was in 2018. It overtook Suriname, another Dutch-influenced team, which started play atop the group before losing 3-1 against Guatemala.
Haiti, a troubled Caribbean country, had a surprising campaign and beat Nicaragua 2-0 to win its group over favorites Honduras and Costa Rica, which was a quarterfinalist at the 2014 World Cup.
Haiti’s only previous trip to the World Cup was in West Germany in 1974.
The Caribbean and central American results Tuesday also finalized the six teams which will take part in the intercontinental playoffs in Mexico in March.
Two teams will qualify from the playoffs, which includes Jamaica and Suriname, plus Iraq from Asia, Congo from Africa, Bolivia from South America and New Caledonia from Oceania.
Wednesday, 8 October 2025
Sunday, 21 September 2025
Sunday, 11 December 2022
Wednesday, 7 December 2022
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