NEW YORK (AP) — The 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, is set to be the largest in history with 48 teams and it could also be one of the most historic, as several of football’s biggest stars and nations stand on the brink of breaking long-standing records.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappé are both chasing Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who holds the all-time World Cup scoring record with 16 goals. Messi enters with 13, while Mbappé has 12. Mbappé could also become the first player to score in three separate finals, having already struck in 2018 and 2022.
Cristiano Ronaldo, already the only player to score in five different World Cups, could extend that mark to six. Both Ronaldo and Messi are also poised to become the first footballers to appear in six tournaments, having featured in every edition since 2006.
Messi, who led Argentina to the 2022 title, holds several other records that could grow, including most matches played (26), most minutes on the pitch (2,314), and most captaincies (19). He has also recorded assists in five different World Cups, a mark he could extend further.
At the team level, Argentina could become only the third nation to retain the trophy, following Italy in the 1930s and Brazil in 1958–62. Brazil, already the most successful nation with five titles, could add a sixth. Germany and France also remain contenders to add to their historic tallies.
The expanded format will bring new opportunities for emerging nations, while also giving established powers more matches to chase milestones. For fans worldwide, the 2026 edition offers not only competition but the chance to witness history as the sport’s greatest names push the boundaries of achievement
