Records are meant to be broken, and some of the top marks could be swept into history during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In this article, we highlight the records that are worth keeping an eye on during the upcoming World Cup.
Highest number of participations at the World Cup
The first record was actually broken at this year’s World Cup when the teams going to the World Cup were locked in. It became clear then that Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa will all be going to their sixth World Cup, which marks a new record.
Eternal rivals Messi and Ronaldo can further expand this record chapter if they actually take the field at the World Cup. Regarding Ochoa, however, the only hiccup being that in the 2006 World Cup,he was the second goalkeeper in addition to the legendary Oswaldo Sánchez and did not earn playing time.
6 World Cups: Lionel Messi (Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico)
5 World Cups: Antonio Carbajal (Mexico), Andrés Guardado (Mexico), Rafael Márquez (Mexico), Lothar Matthäus (Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Luka Modrić (Croatia), Fernando Muslera (Uruguay), Yūto Nagatomo (Japan), Manuel Neuer (Germany)
Most goals in the World Cup
Older football fans will certainly remember Miroslav Klose, who scored for Germany at the beginning of the 21st century. The German is still the most successful goalscorer in the history of the World Cup with 16 goals scored in four tournaments.
However, that could change this summer, as Lionel Messi has 16 and France’s attacking ace Kylian Mbappé has 12. If the Real Madrid superstar continues his current momentum at this World Cup – 0.86 goals per game – it seems only a matter of time before Klose is dethroned.
World Cup Top Scorers
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 16 goals (before this WC, the count was 13)
- Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 16 goals
- Ronaldo (Brazil) – 15 goals
- Gerd Müller (West Germany) – 14 goals
- Just Fontaine (France) – 13 goals
- Pelé (Brazil) – 12 goals
- Kylian Mbappé (France) – 12 goals
Most times in the World Cup final
Around the turn of the century, the legendary Brazilian right-back Cafu also made his mark in the world of football, and to this day he is the only footballer to have played in three World Cup finals. This, truth to be told, was due to the injury of his comrade Jorginho, who was injured in the 1994 gold medal match. But the fact remains. Moreover, in 1998 and 2002, Cafu played the entire tournament from start to finish, in the latter case also being the captain of Brazil. If you want to make a bet, then in the 2026 World Cup four men have the opportunity to stand next to Cafu. These include Argentine Lionel Messi (finalists in 2014 and 2022) and French Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Lucas Hernandez (all in 2018 and 2022).
Most wins as a coach at the World Cup
France national team head coach Didier Deschamps wrote his name in the record books eight years ago when he became the third person, alongside Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer, to win the World Cup both as a player (1998) and as a head coach (2018).
The 57-year-old Frenchman could also grab another record at the 2026 World Cup. He has 19 matches and 14 wins to show for it at the World Cup so far. The top marks in the final tournaments belong to Germany’s Helmut Schön, with 25 matches and 16 wins, respectively.
Most wins as a player in the World Cup
Speaking of victories, the all-time leader among players is Miroslav Klose, who managed to feel the joy of winning in 17 matches over four World Cups. Lionel Messi has 16 match wins to show for it so far, truth to be told, it’s only a matter of time before that top mark falls.
Most clean sheets at the World Cup
While goals are usually the focus of records, goalkeepers also have their own record. So far, the most clean sheets at the World Cup have been kept by the legendary Peter Shilton and Fabien Barthez – both with 10.
Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has 8 clean sheets to show for it, so if Belgium have a good tournament, it is entirely possible that the Real Madrid goalkeeper will also become a legend.
The youngest Ballon d’Or in history
Although the title of the best footballer in the world is not directly related to the World Cup, you can be fairly sure that a player who shone at the World Cup will lift the Ballon d’Or trophy this year. Regardless of how old he is.
Because if you are good enough, you are also old enough. In 1998, Ronaldo Nazário demonstrated this when, at the age of 21, he scored 25 goals in a season in the Italian top league and led Brazil to the World Cup final. Achievements for which he was also awarded the Ballon d’Or title.
To this day, the Brazilian is the youngest winner of the Golden Ball in history, but it is not excluded that the 2026 World Cup will bring with it the next young talent who will make everyone gasp and lead their team to the golden cup.
Possible options? 20-year-old Frenchman Désiré Doué, 19-year-old Brazilian Endrick and of course, still only 18-year-old Spaniard Lamine Yamal.
How to bet responsibly on the World Cup
- Don’t rely on emotions when betting
- Be aware of your budget
- Avoid losing money by placing new bets
- Use analysis and look at each game separately
- Enjoy the tournament, because the most important thing is football itself
- Use our sports betting app to keep your bets under control.
The 2026 World Cup is the perfect opportunity to experience sports betting at its best – plenty of games and markets, lots of excitement and moments to talk about.
Good strategy, thorough analysis and a responsible approach make every game an experience to enjoy.
Also, keep an eye on OlyBet, where we bring 2026. special offers for the 2020 FIFA World Cup, which you don’t want to miss.
