Sidny Lopes Cabral has officially secured the 2026 World Cup Goal of the Tournament award following his spectacular effort against Argentina. The Cabo Verde star produced a moment of magic that saw off stiff competition from some of the biggest names in world football.
German football legend Lothar Matthaus has issued a clear warning to newly appointed national team manager Jurgen Klopp, insisting that his famous charisma and elite pedigree will mean nothing if he fails to deliver instant results. While expressing immense excitement over the former Liverpool boss signing a four-year contract, Matthaus stressed that Klopp faces a brutal reality check trying to salvage a baseline of consistency following Germany's latest catastrophic World Cup cycle.
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has broken his silence regarding the controversial scenes that followed Argentina's 2026 World Cup final defeat to Spain. The centre-back is hitting back at allegations of poor sportsmanship after the Albiceleste were filmed turning their backs during La Roja's trophy presentation.
Lionel Scaloni has issued an emotional statement to the Argentine public, apologising for the national team's failure to defend their title at the 2026 World Cup. A week after a devastating defeat in the final to Spain, the manager spoke out to reflect on a journey that mixed immense pride with the clinical pain of coming up short.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has hit back at his detractors in extraordinary fashion, claiming that those who criticised the 2026 World Cup were "consumed by hate." In a lengthy and defiant statement, the head of world football’s governing body defended the tournament’s legacy and urged his opponents to "meditate or pray" instead of spreading negativity.
Lionel Messi's arrival in MLS has heightened his status as a global marketing icon, but Steve Carell has discovered that the Inter Miami captain is a man of incredibly few minutes when the cameras start rolling. While brands are desperate to land the Argentine GOAT for their campaigns, they must adhere to a strict protocol that leaves production teams in a total panic.
Brazil have won the World Cup five times, more than any other country. They first lifted the trophy in 1958, before successfully defending their title four years later. They then made it three in 1970, while also emerging victorious in 1994 and 2002 to show what they're made of.
How many teams are in the World Cup?
The most recent edition of the World Cup, which took place in Qatar in 2022, featured 32 teams. However, from the upcoming edition in 2026, as many as 48 teams will be contesting for the ultimate prize in international football. The number of teams that will be featuring has almost quadrupled since the inaugural edition in 1930, which hosted 13 teams.
Who has made the most World Cup appearances ever?
Lionel Messi holds the record of making the most appearances in World Cups, having represented Argentina 26 times across five editions.
Who is the all-time World Cup topscorer?
Germany's Miroslav Klose tops the all-time goalscoring charts in World Cups, having scored an incredible 16 goals in 24 games across four consecutive editions from 2002 to 2014.
Who is the oldest World Cup player and how old was he?
Egyptian legend Essam El Hadary is the oldest player to have ever featured in a World Cup game. The goalkeeper was 45 years and 161 days old when he participated in Egypt's 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia at the 2018 World Cup.
Who is the youngest World Cup player and how old was he?
Former Manchester United man Norman Whiteside is the youngest player ever to play a World Cup game. The midfielder was just 17 years and 41 days old when he featured for Northern Ireland in a game against Yugoslavia at the 1982 World Cup.
Which famous footballers have featured at the World Cup?
Pele, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Gerd Muller, Roberto Baggio, Ronaldo, Romario, Eusebio, Johan Cruyff, David Villa, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo among others are some of the biggest legends in footballing history who have graced the pitch during World Cups.
Which famous managers have led teams at the World Cup?
The likes of Didier Deschamps, Franz Beckenbauer, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Vicente del Bosque, Vittorio Pozzo, Louis van Gaal, Sven-Goran Eriksson, and Ivica Osim are some of the most accomplished individuals to have managed at the World Cup finals.