Sports
World Cup: Records Messi Holds and Milestones Still Within Reach
By Abigail David
Lionel Messi further cemented his place in World Cup history after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria, adding to an already remarkable list of achievements at football’s biggest tournament.
The Argentina captain equalled Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals and matched the German legend’s tally of 17 World Cup victories.
The Inter Miami forward also became the first player to score against 11 different national teams at the World Cup, surpassing the previous record of 10 shared by Brazil’s Ronaldo Nazário and Germany’s Jürgen Klinsmann.
At 38 years and 357 days old, Messi set another milestone by becoming the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick, overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s previous record set at the 2018 tournament.
Among the major records already held by the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner are six World Cup appearances, the most by any player, 27 matches played, a record 20 games as captain and the highest number of minutes played in tournament history.
Messi is also Argentina’s leading World Cup scorer and the highest-scoring South American in the competition’s history. He remains the only player to have scored in every knockout stage of a single World Cup, a feat achieved during Argentina’s triumph in Qatar 2022.
The Argentine star has registered assists in five different World Cups, won the Player of the Match award a record 12 times and is the only footballer to claim the adidas Golden Ball on two occasions.
With Argentina still competing, Messi could become the first player to reach 30 World Cup appearances and surpass Klose’s goal record outright, adding further chapters to one of football’s greatest careers.
By Abigail David
Spain have been crowned champions of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in a thrilling final on Sunday.
Substitute Ferran Torres emerged as the hero, scoring the decisive goal in the second period of extra time to hand La Roja their second World Cup title, 16 years after their maiden triumph in South Africa in 2010.
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez produced a series of outstanding saves to keep his side in the contest, but the South Americans’ task became more difficult in stoppage time of the second half when midfielder Enzo Fernández was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsí.
With Argentina reduced to 10 men, Spain dominated possession in extra time and finally found the breakthrough when Nico Williams brilliantly knocked the ball into Torres’ path, allowing the forward to fire home the winning goal.
Luis de la Fuente’s side capped an outstanding tournament with another disciplined defensive display, conceding just one goal in seven matches while combining defensive solidity with their trademark possession-based football.
Argentina, led by captain Lionel Messi, fought valiantly throughout the tournament, overcoming Egypt in the knockout stages and coming from behind to defeat England in the semi-finals.
However, the holders were unable to find a way past Spain, who claimed the biggest prize in world football for the first time since 2010.
By Abigail David
FIFA has announced that the winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will receive championship rings for the first time in the tournament’s history, alongside the World Cup trophy and gold medals.
The world football governing body unveiled the initiative on Thursday ahead of Sunday’s final between Spain and Argentina at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
According to FIFA, the introduction of championship rings brings a tradition commonly associated with American sports to the FIFA World Cup.
In a statement, FIFA said a limited edition of 2,026 individually numbered rings would be produced to commemorate the tournament.
Thirty rings will be presented to members of the World Cup-winning team, while the remaining 1,996 will be offered to fans worldwide as officially licensed memorabilia.
FIFA said each ring will feature the FIFA World Cup trophy on one side, while the other side will be customised to reflect the identity of the championship-winning team. The rings will also be individually numbered, custom-fitted and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
The governing body added that the winning team’s captain and head coach will receive temporary rings immediately after the final, with the customised versions to be presented at a later date.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will see Spain and Argentina compete for the title on Sunday.
By Abigail David
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have been drawn in Group B alongside Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo for the 2026 WAFU B U20 Championship, the qualifying tournament for the 2027 Africa U20 Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The draw, held on Wednesday, also placed hosts and defending champions Côte d’Ivoire in Group A with Niger and Benin Republic.
The Group B fixtures will see Nigeria renew its long-standing youth football rivalry with Ghana’s Black Satellites, while Burkina Faso and Togo complete the group.
The WAFU B Championship serves as the qualification tournament for the 2027 U20 AFCON, which will be hosted by Ghana. The continental competition will feature 12 teams, with the four semi-finalists earning places at the FIFA U20 World Cup.
Nigeria enters the tournament with a strong record in the regional competition. The Flying Eagles won the WAFU B title in 2022 and successfully defended it in 2024, defeating Ghana 2-1 in the final played in Lomé.
The team also reached the final of the inaugural edition in 2018 and finished runners-up at the most recent tournament after a 1-0 defeat to hosts Côte d’Ivoire.
The Flying Eagles will begin preparations for the championship as they seek another regional title and qualification for the 2027 U20 AFCON.
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