The 2026 World Cup has been goals galore. Of course, this World Cup was always going to have more goals than previous editions given its size, but this tournament so far has provided very few ‘snooze-fests’. With the first round of group stage matches over, there is a lot still to discover, but there is also a lot we have learnt. Here are five major talking points as the first set of fixtures from the biggest World Cup ever are now behind us.
Number One – If Need Be, Messi Can Carry Argentina To Glory Again
This statement is caveated by ‘if need be’ simply because Lionel Messi does not have to produce a 10/10 performance every match given the talent his side has. However, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner proved against Algeria that he is still one of the best players in the world. His first World Cup hattrick consisted of three goals that each showed an elite aspect of his game. The first coming from him picking up the ball on the half-turn, and then driving ten yards before smashing the ball into the roof of the net. The second was one of the easiest goals of his career but was testament to the fact that, despite being the most well-rounded footballer we have ever seen, Messi has always had, and still has, that natural poacher’s instinct. Then the third goal was maybe the most ‘Messi’ of them all. Receiving the ball on the edge of the penalty area, three touches to set himself, and an unstoppable finish into the bottom corner, whipped in with his left foot. Messi has spent the last few years of his career in the MLS, which has led many, including myself, to believe that he is not the player he was at the last World Cup. How wrong we all were. Soon to turn 39, the Argentinian superstar may not have the endurance to play week after week in Europe, but make no mistake about it, he is still one of the best players in the world based off pure ability, and if his country needs him for seven more games to deliver a second World Cup in a row, he has proved he can still win matches all by himself.
Number Two – Mbappe At The World Cup Is The Most Frightening Player On The Planet – And France Are Even Scarier
The only player who might have a case against this is the one previously mentioned. However, even Messi’s World Cup resume struggles to compare with Kylian Mbappe’s. The French star has 14 goals in 15 appearances on the world’s biggest stage, with the latest two coming against Senegal. After a frustrating first half for France, Mbappe set the game alight with a bursting run into the box which should have resulted in a penalty after Sadio Mane brought him down. But despite the referee’s reluctance to award France a spot kick, Mbappe still delivered eight minutes later. Then, in stoppage time, right after Senegal had brought the game back to 1-1, he scored arguably the best of his 14 World Cup goals, if we take occasion out of the picture, with a thunderous strike to seal a 3-1 win. With two finals, a World Cup victory, and a golden boot at this tournament, already on his resume, Mbappe on the biggest stage is a terrifying prospect. He has gone from a teenager with frightening pace, to a left winger with lethal finishing, to a number nine who can do it all. As captain of his country this tournament, and with the record of most World Cup goals in sight (although Messi also has it in reach), there is no more motivation needed for a 27-year-old star who has very clearly come to play, and play at the highest level. Mix Mbappe at this frightening level with Olise, one of the best wingers in the world, and the prospect of stopping France’s attack looks even less likely than before the tournament.
Number Three – The Expanded Tournament Hasn’t Been As Bad As Advertised… Yet
There were many controversies coming into this World Cup, with one of them being the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams. Even in the additions with 32 teams, we saw the ‘smaller’ nations struggle against the ‘bigger’ ones. England defeated Iran 6-2 in 2022, with Spain also defeating Costa Rica 7-0 in the same competition. With 48 teams, more nations would qualify, which many thought would result in more feasting for the favourites, and less competitive matches. However, that has not quite been the case yet. Of course, Germany defeated Curacao 7-1 but as already mentioned, big victories/defeats occurred in the 32-team format, and even in Germany’s thrashing, Curacao had their moment of equalising. However, that has been the only truly outlandish scoreline so far. In other groups, the underdogs have put up a real fight. DR Congo conceded early against Portugal, one of the favourites for the competition, but fought back to earn a 1-1 draw, with Yoane Wissa netting his country’s first ever goal at a World Cup, with their only other appearance coming in 1974, when the nation was known as Zaire. A couple of days before DR Congo’s draw, Cape Verde made their World Cup debut a memorable one, holding European champions Spain to a 0-0 draw, and even had a chance to win it at the end from a corner. Of course, most would still agree that 32 teams was the sweet spot given that it resulted in only two teams from each group going through, while still being very competitive, rather than the clunkiness of three teams going through in some groups. However, while there are still many more matches to come, the tournament so far hasn’t been as lopsided as many would have feared.
Number Four – Portugal Must Bench Ronaldo To Succeed At This Tournament
Cristiano Ronaldo has had one of the best careers in the history of this sport. In fact, he may even be the second greatest player to ever play the game. It is important to lead with that before proceeding with what may seem like an onslaught against the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. Portugal possess one of the most talented teams at this tournament. They have three players from a PSG side that has dominated Europe for two straight seasons, as well as Bruno Fernandes, the Premier League player of the season. However, they are being held back by two things, their manager, and Ronaldo. Even at his best, Ronaldo never quite cut it at the World Cup. Then, in 2022, he scored only a penalty in three group stage starts, before being benched for the knockouts with his replacement, Goncalo Ramos, scoring a hattrick in a 6-1 win over Switzerland. Despite that, and his goalless campaign in approximately 486 minutes of football at Euro 2024, Ronaldo has been selected as the starting number nine by Roberto Martinez. After a disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo, maybe Martinez has learnt his lesson. Ronaldo may still offer something off the bench if his team needs a goal, but that’s about it. He cannot start in a team that has the potential to play free-flowing, high-pressing football, given he can barely put together a few sprints. Add in the fact that the team often seem to play to feed him, and that he does not reciprocate, and the man who was once the best in the world, is hindering his team greatly.
Number Five – ‘Hydration Breaks’ Are A Stain On The Sport
It was painfully obvious before the tournament that the ‘hydration breaks’ taking part in every single match were a way to run more adverts and make more money. Of course, player welfare is a nice bonus for FIFA when the conditions are scorching, but that is not the case in every match. There are four stadiums in this tournament that are indoors and fully climate-controlled: NRG Stadium (Houston), AT&T Stadium (Dallas), BC Place (Vancouver), and Mercedes Benz Stadium (Atlanta). It is completely pointless to stop games for ‘hydration breaks’ in these stadiums, or in any other matter unless conditions are indeed scorching, but FIFA has done so anyway so the tournament can make more money. The sport has been split into quarters without it being said outright, a small glimpse into the worrying future for this game. Virgil Van Dijk has already come out against them and he probably won’t be the last player to do so. The breaks ruin the momentum of games completely, and do so without any benefit, with players often waiting around for someone to tell the referee the adverts are over, a dystopian stain on the beautiful game. Breaks in extreme heat? Yes, of course. Breaks in games where temperatures are at a normal level? An unnecessary stoppage in a sport designed to have as few breaks as possible.
There are still many more things we will find out from this tournament. Even in this piece it was impossible to discuss everything. The USA and Mexico had perfect starts at home, and Canada gained their first ever point at a World Cup. Erling Haaland’s brace in his World Cup debut deserves a mention, along with Scotland’s first World Cup win since 1990. The Socceroos provided arguably the biggest upset victory so far with a 2-0 win over Turkey, and England were victorious in the first all-European clash of the tournament.
In a tournament full of unknowns, one thing is for certain. No matter how much the powers that be try and bend the sport to their will, the players performing on the pitch will always outshine them, and give fans moments to savour forever. The 2026 World Cup is underway and there is plenty more drama still to come.