The opening ceremony has dazzled, the first goals have been scored, and Group A has already delivered the first chapter of what promises to be another unforgettable FIFA World Cup. Now the real chase begins.

For two decades, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated football's global conversation. Now they stand on the brink of another historic first: both are set to become the first players in history to appear at six different World Cups, having featured in every tournament since Germany 2006. This feat reflects not only excellence but extraordinary longevity.

For Messi, the opportunities don't end there. The Argentina captain already holds the record for most World Cup appearances with 26 matches and is expected to extend that mark further in North America. Should he feature in all three group-stage matches, his total will rise to 29 before the knockout rounds are even considered. His record for most World Cup minutes played is also expected to surpass the current mark of 2,314. Likewise, Messi is set to strengthen another record that may remain untouched for generations: most World Cup matches played as captain.

He currently stands at 19.

Goals have often defined Messi's greatness, but his playmaking legacy could receive another historic boost in 2026. The Argentine already holds the record as the only player to register an assist in five different World Cup tournaments, having created goals in every edition since 2006. Should he provide another assist this summer, he'd extend that remarkable achievement. There's also a broader assist record within reach. Depending on the methodology used, Brazil legend Pelé is credited with 10 World Cup assists, while stricter modern calculations place Germany's Fritz Walter at nine.

Messi currently sits on eight assists and could potentially equal or surpass either benchmark before the tournament concludes.

While Messi's pursuit centres on appearances and assists, Cristiano Ronaldo has a unique piece of history in his sights. The Portugal captain remains the only player to have scored in five different World Cups. Having found the net in every edition since 2006, Ronaldo now has the opportunity to become the first footballer ever to score in six separate World Cup tournaments. For a player whose career has been built on goals and records, it'd represent yet another achievement unmatched in the sport's history.

At 27, Kylian Mbappé isn't merely chasing records. He's chasing greatness. The French superstar scored in the 2018 World Cup final against Croatia and then produced one of the greatest individual performances in a final, netting a hat-trick against Argentina in 2022. If France reach the final again and Mbappé scores, he'll become the first player in history to score in three separate World Cup finals. Even more remarkably, he'd become the first player ever to score in three consecutive World Cup finals.

There's another historic target within reach. Germany's Miroslav Klose remains the World Cup's all-time leading scorer with 16 goals. Messi currently has 13 goals, while Mbappé has already amassed 12 despite still being in his twenties. A deep run by either Argentina or France could place Klose's record under serious threat.

Defending a World Cup title has long been one of football's most difficult challenges. Only two nations have successfully achieved it. Italy won back-to-back tournaments in 1934 and 1938, while Brazil repeated the feat in 1958 and 1962. Argentina now have the opportunity to become just the third nation to retain the World Cup. Should the reigning champions triumph again in 2026, they'd also become the first team in 64 years to successfully defend football's most prestigious trophy.

No nation owns more World Cup records than Brazil, and no nation arrives in 2026 with more opportunities to extend them. The five-time champions already hold the record for the most World Cup titles and could push that total to six with victory in North America.

  • Messi and Ronaldo are set to become the first players to appear at six World Cups.
  • Messi holds the record for most World Cup appearances (26) and most matches as captain (19).
  • Ronaldo is the only player to score in five World Cups; he could make it six.
  • Mbappé could become the first to score in three consecutive World Cup finals.
  • Klose's all-time record of 16 World Cup goals is under threat from Messi (13) and Mbappé (12).
  • Argentina can become the third nation to successfully defend the World Cup, after Italy and Brazil.