Messi

Lionel Messi has turned the 2026 World Cup group stage into a personal procession through the record books. Across Argentina's three Group J games, against Algeria, Austria and Jordan, the 39-year-old captain has broken or equalled a string…

As the clock ticked down on Saudi Arabia’s 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in Houston last Friday, the online backlash was already in full swing. Prince Abdul Rahman bin Musaid, a former Al-Hilal president with 6.7 million followers on X, did not…

On 17 June 2006, in Frankfurt, a 21-year-old wearing the number 17 shirt stepped up to take a penalty for Portugal against Iran. He was wearing 17 because Luis Figo — Portugal's captain, their most decorated player, the man whose shoes he…

Day 11 of the fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">FIFA World Cup 2026 produced 13 goals across four matches, with Lionel Messi once again dominating the headlines as Argentina defeated Austria.…

The gods of football, as someone noted afterwards, clearly did not want the record broken from the penalty spot. They had something better in mind. In the ninth minute at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Messi struck a penalty wide of…

The World Cup rarely offers such neat symmetry. This almost feels scripted. And if it is, I am loving it. Last week, Messi, Mbappe and Haaland scored a total of seven goals within hours of each other. This time they scored a total of six,…

History has been rewritten in Texas. Just two days shy of his 39th birthday, Lionel Messi has officially become the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history, inspiring Argentina to a clinical 2-0 victory over Austria at Dallas…

Argentina and Austria clash at Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium) on Monday night in a monumental Group J fixture where the winner will directly book their ticket to the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds. Both nations arrive in exceptional…

The first round of group stage matches is complete. All 48 teams have played. Here is what the numbers tell us about a tournament that has already broken records before the serious business begins. Goals: The Highest Rate Since 1958…

It was one of the most exciting days of this FIFA World Cup yet. 16 goals were scored across four matches. Both finalists of the last edition started their World Cup journeys with a bang. And in between, one of the dark horses of the…