The 2026 FIFA World Cup was a tournament to remember, with historic individual achievements on the field. Eight players and two coaches etched their names in the World Cup record books, rewriting the tournament's history.

Among them was Dick Advocaat, the oldest coach to take charge of a World Cup match at 78 years old. He surpassed Ghana's Carlos Queiroz and Greece's Otto Rehhagel in the tournament's all-time rankings. Advocaat's team, Curaçao, gave it their all, but fell short of making it to the final round.

Didier Deschamps, the France coach, also made history by becoming the coach with the most World Cup appearances, a record previously held by Germany's Helmut Schön. Deschamps led his team to a remarkable run but ultimately fell short of lifting the trophy.

In a remarkable feat, two teammates from the England team, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, became the first teammates to each score six goals in a single World Cup edition. They were later matched by France's Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé, cementing their place in football history.

Another player who made waves at the tournament was Johan Manzambi, the youngest substitute to score twice in a World Cup match. At 20 years old, he broke records and left a lasting impression on fans worldwide.

But the star of the show was undoubtedly Kylian Mbappe, who became the FIFA World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer with 22 goals in just 22 appearances. He surpassed Lionel Messi, who set multiple records of his own, including the most World Cup victories (23), most consecutive World Cup appearances with a goal (9), and most goals scored from outside the penalty area (7) in World Cup history.

On the other side of the pitch, Michael Olise from France registered seven assists during the tournament, breaking the long-standing record of six set by Pelé at the 1970 World Cup. Rodri, a midfielder from Spain, also broke his own record by completing 790 passes during the tournament.

Other notable achievements included Cristiano Ronaldo, who became the first player to score in six separate FIFA World Cups, adding to his remarkable international career. Eloy Room, the Curaçao goalkeeper, equalled the record for most saves in a World Cup game with 16 against Ecuador, matching Tim Howard's mark but doing so in 30 fewer minutes.

Unai Simón, the Spain goalkeeper, set a new tournament record by keeping seven clean sheets in eight matches, helping his team win the title.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be remembered for its record-breaking achievements, with several players and coaches etching their names in history books. It was a testament to their hard work, skill, and perseverance, making it a truly unforgettable tournament.

Key Facts

• 8 players and 2 coaches broke World Cup records • Dick Advocaat became the oldest coach to take charge of a World Cup match at 78 years old • Didier Deschamps became the coach with the most World Cup appearances • Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane became the first teammates to each score six goals in a single World Cup edition • Kylian Mbappe became the FIFA World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer with 22 goals • Michael Olise registered seven assists during the tournament • Rodri completed 790 passes during the tournament • Unai Simón set a new tournament record by keeping seven clean sheets in eight matches