A sizeable number of football stars, of course including two of the most-talked-about legends; Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, etched their names into FIFA World Cup history with new records during the 2026 tournament.
The records were published by FIFA on Tuesday, two days after the final between Spain and Argentina.
It also featured coaches, goalkeepers and emerging stars who achieved historic milestones across the competition.
Below is the full list of the record breakers:
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Record: First player to score in six FIFA World Cup editions
The 41-year-old became the first footballer to score in six different World Cups.
He also became the second-oldest goalscorer in World Cup history, behind Cameroon’s Roger Milla.
Kylian Mbappe (France)
Record: All-time leading World Cup goalscorer (22 goals)
Mbappe overtook Miroslav Klose to become the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history, finishing with 22 career goals after edging Lionel Messi by one.
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Record: Most World Cup victories (23)
Messi surpassed Miroslav Klose’s previous record by leading Argentina to seven successive wins during the tournament.
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Record: Scored in most consecutive World Cup appearances (9)
The Argentine captain scored in nine straight World Cup matches, breaking the previous record of six consecutive scoring appearances jointly held by Just Fontaine and Jairzinho.
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Record: Most World Cup goals from outside the penalty area (7)
Messi set a new benchmark with seven long-range World Cup goals, surpassing Brazilian legend Rivellino.
Rodri (Spain)
Record: Most completed passes in a single World Cup (790)
The Spain midfielder broke his own previous tournament record of 638 successful passes set at Qatar 2022.
Michael Olise (France)
Record: Most assists in one World Cup (7)
Olise eclipsed Pele’s long-standing record of six assists in a single edition, with five of his assists setting up Mbappe’s goals.
Unai Simon (Spain)
Record: Most clean sheets in a single World Cup (7)
The Spain goalkeeper kept seven clean sheets in eight matches, surpassing the previous record of five jointly held by Jan Jongbloed, Walter Zenga, Taffarel, Fabien Barthez, Oliver Kahn, Gianluigi Buffon and Iker Casillas.
Spain also conceded only one goal throughout the tournament — the fewest ever by a World Cup-winning team.
Eloy Room (Curaçao)
Record: Most saves in a World Cup match (16)
Room equalled Tim Howard’s record of 16 saves but achieved the feat in 30 fewer minutes during Curaçao’s goalless draw with Ecuador.
Didier Deschamps (France)
Record: Coach with the most World Cup matches (26)
The France coach surpassed Germany’s Helmut Schon to become the manager with the most World Cup appearances. He also became the coach with the most World Cup victories.
Dick Advocaat (Curaçao)
Record: Oldest World Cup coach (78 years, 271 days)
The Dutchman became the oldest coach to manage a team at a FIFA World Cup.
Johan Manzambi (Switzerland)
Record: Youngest substitute to score a World Cup brace
At 20 years and 247 days, Manzambi became the youngest substitute to score twice in a World Cup match.
Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane (England)
Record: First team-mates to score six goals each in one World Cup
The England duo became the first pair of team-mates to each score six goals in a single World Cup edition.
Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe (France)
Record: First team-mates to score six goals each in one World Cup
The French pair matched the feat achieved by England’s Bellingham and Kane during the same tournament.
