Cristiano Ronaldo has leapt to the defence of his Portugal teammates following their underwhelming 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their 2026 World Cup opener. Despite storming down the tunnel at full-time in Houston, the legendary forward insisted that nothing was missing from their performance, urging the squad to keep their heads up as they prepare for their next group stage challenge.
England made a winning start to the 2026 World Cup as they beat Croatia 4-2 in their Group L opener on Wednesday. Harry Kane scored twice in the first half, only for the Three Lions to be pegged back on both occasions, and it required a brilliant solo goal from Jude Bellingham early in the second period to put Thomas Tuchel's side back ahead before Marcus Rashford made the points safe late on.
Thierry Henry has pulled no punches in his assessment of Cristiano Ronaldo's performance during Portugal's frustrating start to their 2026 World Cup campaign. The former Arsenal striker highlighted a specific moment where he believes the legendary forward's desire for personal glory cost his nation a vital goal in their 1-1 draw against DR Congo.
Brazil have won the World Cup five times, more than any other country. They first lifted the trophy in 1958, before successfully defending their title four years later. They then made it three in 1970, while also emerging victorious in 1994 and 2002 to show what they're made of.
How many teams are in the World Cup?
The most recent edition of the World Cup, which took place in Qatar in 2022, featured 32 teams. However, from the upcoming edition in 2026, as many as 48 teams will be contesting for the ultimate prize in international football. The number of teams that will be featuring has almost quadrupled since the inaugural edition in 1930, which hosted 13 teams.
Who has made the most World Cup appearances ever?
Lionel Messi holds the record of making the most appearances in World Cups, having represented Argentina 26 times across five editions.
Who is the all-time top scorer of the World Cup?
Germany's Miroslav Klose tops the all-time goalscoring charts in World Cups, having scored an incredible 16 goals in 24 games across four consecutive editions from 2002 to 2014.
Who is the oldest player ever in the World Cup and how old was he?
Egyptian legend Essam El Hadary is the oldest player to have ever featured in a World Cup game. The goalkeeper was 45 years and 161 days old when he participated in Egypt's 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia at the 2018 World Cup.
Who is the youngest player ever in the World Cup and how old was he?
Former Manchester United man Norman Whiteside is the youngest player ever to play a World Cup game. The midfielder was just 17 years and 41 days old when he featured for Northern Ireland in a game against Yugoslavia at the 1982 World Cup.
Which famous players have played in the World Cup?
Pele, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Gerd Muller, Roberto Baggio, Ronaldo, Romario, Eusebio, Johan Cruyff, David Villa, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo among others are some of the biggest legends in footballing history who have graced the pitch during World Cups.
Which famous managers have managed in the World Cup?
The likes of Didier Deschamps, Franz Beckenbauer, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Vicente del Bosque, Vittorio Pozzo, Louis van Gaal, Sven-Goran Eriksson, and Ivica Osim are some of the most accomplished individuals to have managed at the World Cup finals.