The 2026 FIFA World Cup may only be 10 days old, but the first-ever 48-team tournament has already begun rewriting the football history books. The world’s biggest superstars, including Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland, have hit the ground running in their opening fixtures, putting several long-standing records in serious jeopardy.
From the enduring legacies of the Messi-Ronaldo era to the explosive rise of the new generation, this World Cup is already delivering historic statistics.
Messi Equals Klose, While Mbappe Looms Behind
Since 2014, former Germany striker Miroslav Klose stood alone as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals. However, that legendary record has just been matched.
Lionel Messi netted a spectacular hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 opening victory over Algeria, climbing to the 16-goal mark. Now, as Argentina prepares to face Austria in Group J, Messi is poised to claim the top spot all for himself.
But the biggest long-term threat to this record comes from Kylian Mbappe. The France captain has already reached 14 World Cup goals (and became France’s all-time leading scorer with 58 goals overall), making him a prime candidate to shatter scoring records in the years to come.
Harry Kane Matches Lineker and Beckham
England captain Harry Kane reminded the footballing world of his clinical edge during a 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas. By scoring twice, Kane reached 10 goals in World Cup finals, drawing level with the legendary Gary Lineker as England’s all-time top scorer in the tournament.
Furthermore, Kane became only the second English player in history—following David Beckham in 1998, 2002, and 2006—to score in three different World Cup tournaments. The match against Croatia also marked his 115th appearance for his country, moving him level with Beckham among England’s most-capped players.
Cristiano Ronaldo: The Oldest Outfield Player and the Quest for 6 World Cups
Although Portugal disappointed in a shock 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cristiano Ronaldo still managed to secure another historic milestone.
At 41 years and 132 days old, Ronaldo became the oldest outfield player to ever start a World Cup match, breaking the previous record held by Canada’s Atiba Hutchinson (who was 39 years and 296 days old in 2022).
Additionally, if Ronaldo finds the back of the net in the upcoming matches, he will become the first footballer in history to score in six different World Cup tournaments.
Haaland’s Immediate Impact and Cape Verde’s Goalkeeping Heroics
- Erling Haaland (Norway): The prolific striker needed just 20 touches in his World Cup debut against Iraq to score twice in a 4-1 win. With this brace, he instantly became Norway’s joint all-time leading scorer at the World Cup, tying Kjetil Rekdal.
- Vozinha (Cape Verde): The 40-year-old goalkeeper pulled off seven crucial saves in a historic 0-0 draw against European champions Spain. In doing so, he became the oldest player to debut in a nation’s first-ever World Cup match and the oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet on his tournament debut.
Red Cards on the Rise
Another striking statistic from the opening days of the tournament is the strict officiating. A total of 6 red cards have already been brandished in just 10 days. This tally is already higher than the total number of red cards shown in the entire 2018 and 2022 World Cups combined, where only 4 red cards were given in Russia and Qatar respectively. While the all-time tournament record stands at 28 red cards (set in 2006), the 2026 edition is on a disciplinary pace that could threaten it.
