FIFA World Cup 2026: Can Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappe Break New Records?

Within just one and a half weeks of the start of the 2026 World Cup, this tournament has already begun rewriting football history. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland have all made outstanding starts in their countries’ opening matches. With 48 teams competing and more matches ahead, many records are expected to be broken. From Argentina’s Messi to Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, continuing their World Cup legacies, Messi has set a new record with 18 goals, the highest in World Cup history. Mbappe has become France’s all-time leading goal scorer. What are some other records that have been or are on the verge of being broken in this World Cup?

Messi established the new highest goal scorer record, surpassing the previous mark of 16 goals held by Miroslav Klose since 2014. After scoring a hat-trick in the first match against Algeria, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner signaled not only his intent to match but to exceed the record. After adding two more goals against Austria, Messi broke Klose’s record and set a new high. Currently, Messi is followed by Mbappe, who has scored 16 goals and become France’s all-time top scorer with 60 goals, and is also poised to challenge this record.

England’s Harry Kane trails by four goals, and achieving that target could be challenging in this tournament. England will face Ghana on Tuesday, and Kane’s tie with Gary Lineker’s record may not last long. Following Wednesday’s match, Kane became the second England player to score in three consecutive World Cups after Sir David Beckham, who scored in the 1998, 2002, and 2006 tournaments.