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World Cup Overview

‘Five good games & worth 200m!’ - Are Vini & Co ‘superstars’?

Ex-Brazil international Anderson has told GOAL why the likes of Vinicius Junior may have earned “superstar” status prematurely, with any player that has “five good games” suddenly worth “200 million” in modern football. The former Manchester United midfielder continues to use Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the blueprint for what success really looks like.

How Riquelme outshone Maradona as Boca's greatest legend

The playmaker was a pivotal part of Boca's golden era as he became a cult icon around the world

‘He talks, then he does’ - Why there is ‘no one’ like Yamal

Lamine Yamal is “different”, fellow Golden Boy award winner Anderson has told GOAL, with there “no one” close to the Barcelona wonderkid when it comes to the hottest prospects in world football. The Spain international winger, who now has a World Cup win on his ever-expanding roll of honour, is considered to be a serious contender for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

Saudi Arabia suspends $2.5bn Neom World Cup stadium plans

Saudi Arabia’s ambitious preparations for the 2034 World Cup have encountered a significant hurdle following reports that plans for a flagship stadium have been put on ice. The proposed venue, central to the kingdom's futuristic Neom development, was intended to be a crown jewel of the first-ever 48-team tournament hosted by a single nation.

UAFA board backs Infantino during key Jeddah summit

The Union of Arab Football Associations has officially thrown its weight behind FIFA President Gianni Infantino following a high-level summit in Saudi Arabia. Chaired by Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the board convened to outline the future of the game across the region while praising the current global leadership for fostering unity.

Romeo Beckham's stepping out on his own with Intra fashion label

After hanging up his boots to pursue a career as a model, the 24-year-old has launched his own retro-inspired sportswear brand

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	Monaco	5	4	1	0	8	3	5	13	W D W W W
2	Lyon	5	3	2	0	10	2	8	11	W D W D W
3	Paris FC	5	3	2	0	8	3	5	11	W D W W D
4	Lille	5	3	1	1	8	4	4	10	L W W D W
5	Rennes	5	3	1	1	8	9	-1	10	L W W W D

Pos

Team

+/-

PTS

Form

Monaco

W
D
W
W
W

Lyon

W
D
W
D
W

Paris FC

W
D
W
W
D

Lille

L
W
W
D
W

Rennes

-1

L
W
W
W
D

Frequently asked questions

Who has won the most World Cup titles?

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.