World Cup 2026: Records Messi, Mbappe and Ronaldo Could Break in Their Hunt for More History
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, we examine the records that will be broken in North America as 48 teams come together for a spectacular event. By the way, 21 of those teams have already been confirmed.
World Cup event with the most red cards: 28
Country: (Germany 2006)
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All “total” records are definitely within reach given the sheer quantity of games at this World Cup, but this one might be more ticklish.
With the 28th given to Zinedine Zidane in the championship game, one of the most notorious in the history of the game, the 28 red cards sent out in 2006 are pretty much equal to one in every other game.
To give you an indication of how unusual 2006 was, only one other World Cup in the 64-game era even managed to receive 20 red cards.
Again, though, it appears likely to drop with 104 games, as only about 0.3 red cards each game are required to reach 29, bringing the total much closer to the 17 red cards recorded at the World Cups in 2002 and 2010.
Player with the most goals at the World Cup: Miroslav Klose (16)
It’s improbable that the German will still be at the top of this ranking after the completion of the 2026 tournament.
Ironically, for a player who will just be 27 years old, Kylian Mbappe is one goal behind him, while Lionel Messi is only three goals behind him.
Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo, both on eight goals and halfway there, are a little further away but still within striking range in a tournament that offers the possibility of group-stage mismatches and eight games overall.
National records are more likely to be within reach of that pair; a goal would tie Ronaldo and Eusebio, while two would place Kane next to Gary Lineker.
In light of this, Mbappe’s next World Cup goal will tie Just Fontaine’s 13 goals for France, all of which came at the 1958 tournament and establish a record that, like the 1954 Hungary squad, should theoretically be achievable in an expanded tournament but is probably out of reach.
It could be a possibility for someone to become the first player to score ten goals at a single World Cup in 56 years. Since Gerd Muller’s ten at Mexico in 1970, no one has managed to score more than eight.
172 goals is the most ever scored in a World Cup competition
Country: (Qatar, 2022)
The simplest place to begin. Since the number of games has increased from 64 to 104 under the new 48-team structure, the question is not if this record will be broken, but by how much.
This tournament would still surpass the 2022 record by more than 50 goals, even if it matches the lowest ever World Cup goals per game (Italia 90’s 2.21).
If, as is less likely, this World Cup sets a new record that is more than three times higher than the previous one, equalling the ridiculous 5.38 goals per game set in 1954.
Even though the 2026 World Cup should by definition increase the possibility of early mismatches due to its larger player count, those 1954 numbers are insane and undoubtedly unrepeatable.
By the way, that 1954 tournament most likely made a number of records impossible for anyone to ever break again. Austria’s 7-5 victory over the hosts, Switzerland, in the quarterfinals was the highest scoring match, and it wasn’t even in the group stages.
Two of the outliers were the final and third-place play-offs, which only managed five and four goals, respectively, while five of the eight elimination games had at least six goals.
In their two group matches, Hungary scored 17 goals, which was enough to surpass the top scorers at 12 of the 16 subsequent World Cups.
Even though they were only able to defeat the Germans by two goals in the final, their final score of 27 means that even with the eight games available to teams at this World Cup, a team that advances to the semi-finals still needs to score 3.5 goals per game to defeat the Magical Magyars.
They added four more in their quarterfinal and semi-final victories over Brazil and Uruguay.
World Cup event with the most yellow cards: 345
Country: (Germany 2006)
Another easy maths game. In 2006, it was necessary to brandish and flourish cards at a rate of almost 5.5 each game; this time, the threshold is just over three.
Naturally, if you want to, you can continue doing this for almost any “most [football thing] at a World Cup tournament” that comes to mind. Offsides, penalties, corners, goal kicks, free kicks, throw-ins, and so on. Get away of here.
The Most Golden Boots at the World Cup: 1
We believe this stat to be a true head-spinner. No player has ever taken home two Golden Boots at the men’s World Cup. Thus, Kylian Mbappe (2022) and Harry Kane (2018) have the opportunity to make history in this area.
Cristiano Ronaldo has the most World Cup tournament goals: (5)
He has certainly extended his own record in North America because he has scored at least once at every World Cup since 2006.
However, Lionel Messi has the opportunity to match Ronaldo’s five goals if he doesn’t score at all, and he will undoubtedly be disappointed that he didn’t score during the 2010 World Cup.
To lessen his suffering, Messi does, though, own the record for most tournament assists with five. In addition to his real World Cup championship, you know.
Lionel Messi has the most World Cup caps: (26)
It’s quite likely that Messi will just continue to play here, but just for fun, let’s assume Argentina has a terrible game or Messi has injury or suspension issues.
With just four games between him and his former adversary Cristiano Ronaldo, a strong run for Portugal might see this record change hands.
44 years is the longest interval between World Cup victories
Country: (Italy, 1938 to 1982)
Apparently, no one has ever brought up the fact that England will be commemorating 60 years of suffering in 2026. Of course, this record is not exclusive to England.
Or even by the greatest margin, as Uruguay is vying for its first World Cup championship since 1950.
The record for the greatest interval between finals, which presently stands at 48 for Argentina between 1930 and 1978, can also be wiped out by both.
Brazil (1958 and 1962) and Italy (1934 and 1938) have the most consecutive titles
Only two teams have ever successfully defended a World Cup championship, and none have done it in 64 years.
There are several reasons for this, but it’s still remarkable. Argentina submitted a bid to join this North American alliance.
The largest margin of victory in a World Cup match was nine goals (Yugoslavia 9-0 Zaire, 1974; Hungary 9-0 South Korea, 1954; Hungary 10-1 El Salvador, 1982)
Given the overall rate of progress among lower-ranked qualifiers throughout the decades, we would still consider this one implausible, but the expansion to a 48-team format will unavoidably result in the presence of poorer clubs in the group stage than there have been in the past.
This is particularly true as traditionally weaker confederations receive the majority of the additional spots; Europe and South America each receive only a few extra spots.
New Zealand, which is now rated 86th in the world according to FIFA’s most recent list, and Jordan and Uzbekistan, which are officially ranked 62 and 57 by FIFA, are among the 13 confirmed qualifiers for next summer.
After losing to New Zealand in OFC qualification, New Caledonia, rated 151st in the world, has guaranteed a spot in the inter-confederation play-off.
Ghana was the lowest-ranked team at Qatar 2022, coming in at number 61. They were also the only team outside of the top 50 in the world at the time, aside from hosts Qatar (51).
Brazil from 1994 to 2002 and West Germany from 1982 to 1990 have the most consecutive finals
After winning the 2018 championship and placing second in 2022, France may join Brazil and West Germany in three straight finals.
Pepe is 39 years and 283 days old and the oldest goal scorer in a World Cup knockout match (Portugal vs. Switzerland, Qatar, 2022)
Cristiano Ronaldo’s overall record at this tournament is out of reach due to Roger Milla’s goal for Cameroon versus Russia at the age of 42 back at USA 94, but he still has the opportunity to become the first player beyond 40 to score in the knockout rounds.
At 35 years and 177 days, Lionel Messi is now the oldest player to score a goal in a championship game.
He is also just 100 days away from the mark set by Sweden’s Nils Liedholm in 1958. It goes without saying that Messi and Ronaldo have the opportunity to shatter these records.
Brazil has hosted the most World Cups (22)
To improve their record here, the only ever-presents have already qualified for 2026.
