Messi reigns, minnows shine: The biggest stories from an unforgettable World Cup 2026

A rest day at the World Cup offers a chance to reflect on how the biggest edition in history has unfolded. The man who supposedly scripted his perfect World Cup exit four years ago has returned with a vengeance. Lionel Messi, now 39, leads the tournament in scoring and has delivered the kind of match-defining performances that strengthen his case as the greatest ever. Yet he hasn’t been the only A-lister. Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Ousmane Dembélé and Vinícius Júnior have all found the net regularly. Jude Bellingham has been a game-changer for England, and even Cristiano Ronaldo produced moments to silence his critics. With so many established stars taking centre stage, breakout opportunities have been limited, but Switzerland’s 20-year-old Johan Manzambi has made a name for himself, as has Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha. USA’s Folarin Balogun started brightly, though his tournament took an unexpected turn. The first 48-team World Cup sparked fears of mismatches and heavy defeats, and those fears were realized in the group stage. Qatar, Curaçao, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia and Iraq all suffered heavy losses. Portugal, with Ronaldo among the scorers, put five past Uzbekistan. But the upsets provided the counterargument – none more so than Cape Verde. Among the smallest nations ever to qualify, they held European champions Spain to a goalless draw in the group and then gave world champions Argentina a major scare in the last 32. Elsewhere, Qatar drew with Switzerland, Curaçao repelled Ecuador, and DR Congo took a point off Portugal to reach the knockout rounds for the first time. The bloated group stage and the complexity of the best-third-place qualifications frustrated some, but regardless of FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s motives – a gift to the world or a grab for revenue and influence – the new faces added colour and intrigue. Beyond the minnows, other teams broke new ground. Switzerland reached a first World Cup quarter-final since 1954. South Africa advanced from the group for the first time ever. Co-hosts Canada earned their first-ever point and win on the way to the last 16. Norway have never before reached the quarter-finals. This World Cup has also been defined by late drama. Ten stoppage-time winners have been scored – more than in any previous edition – capped by Argentina’s incredible turnaround victory over Egypt. The Algeria-Austria back-and-forth deep into injury time was breathtaking. Iran had a last-second winner against Egypt disallowed, costing them a knockout place. Brazil’s Gabriel Martinelli netted the latest winning goal in a World Cup knockout match since 1966 – at 95:00 against Japan, breaking Japanese hearts. Hydration breaks have been a persistent talking point. Boos echo around stadiums at the midway point of each half as fans vent their displeasure. The three-minute stoppages for drinking have been necessary in the extreme heat, but their blanket application even in air-conditioned venues has drawn criticism. Some see them as advertising opportunities. They have also changed the rhythm of matches, allowing defensive teams to reset and struggling sides to receive instructions from coaches. England, in particular, have benefited from Thomas Tuchel’s frantic interventions during these pauses.