TICKETS
Oldest coach
Holder: Otto Rehhagel (71 years old)
Chasers: Mircea Lucescu (80), Dick Advocaat (78)
‘King’ Otto set the benchmark when guiding Greece against Diego Maradona and Argentina in 2010. If ‘The Light’ can get Romania through the UEFA play-offs – they take on Türkiye in the Path C semi-finals – he will be almost 81 when they encounter Australia, Paraguay and USA in Group A. ‘The Little General’ led Curaçao to their first World Cup qualification and will be pushing 79 when they battle Germany, Ecuador and Côte d’Ivoire in Group E. South Africa coach Hugo Broos will be 74 during the global finals.
Oldest knockout-phase scorer
Holder: Pepe (39 years old)
Chasers: Cristiano Ronaldo (41), Luka Modric (40), Edin Dzeko (40)
International football’s all-time leading marksman may refer to his long-term former Portugal and Real Madrid team-mate as a “brother”, but he’d still love to swipe bragging rights from him. Ronaldo will turn 41 in February. Luka Modric, who blew out 40 candles in September, is another pursuing Pepe. Ronaldo and Modric, however, have both failed to net in the knockout phase of a World Cup. If Edin Dzeko helps Bosnia and Herzegovina emerge triumphant from Path A in the UEFA play-offs, the striker, who will turn 40 in March, will also look to make history.
Most appearances as coach
Holder: Helmut Schon (25)
Chaser: Didier Deschamps (19)
‘The Tall Man’ has held the record since seizing it from his mentor Sepp Herberger over 50 years ago. The Bayonne native will equal it if he guides France in the quarter-finals and break it if they go one step further. Deschamps also requires three wins to snap Schon’s milestone for the coach with the most World Cup victories.
Youngest adidas Golden Ball winner
Holder: Ronaldo (21 years old)
Chasers: Multiple
‘O Fenômeno’ was 21 when his electrifying dribbling, three assists and four goals illuminated France 1998. The likes of Franco Mastantuono, Lamine Yamal, Estevao and Desire Doue are among those who could outrank Ronaldo.
Most victories
Holder: Miroslav Klose (17)
Chaser: Lionel Messi (16)
The German grabbed it from Cafu thanks to Mario Gotze’s volley at the Maracana. ‘The Atomic Flea’ could reclaim the record for South America in the group stage, where Argentina play Algeria, Austria and Jordan.
Most goals
Holder: Miroslav Klose (16)
Chasers: Lionel Messi (13), Kylian Mbappe (12)
Klose had the cheek to rob Ronaldo in his home country, and in Germany’s nation-crushing 7-1 victory over Brazil in the 2014 semi-finals. The aerial emperor’s 16-goal landmark is, however, under threat. Messi has 13 goals to his name. Mbappe has one fewer and has scored 11 goals in his last 11 appearances in the competition. A huge haul could also be enough for Harry Kane, Neymar or Cristiano Ronaldo, who all have eight goals to their name, to clinch the categorical crown.
Most substitute appearances
Holder: Denilson (11)
Chaser: Marcus Rashford (9)
The Brazil winger came off the bench in 11 of his 12 outings in the competition. The England attacker has come on as sub in four of his last six internationals.
Most clean sheets
Holders: Peter Shilton and Fabien Barthez (10)
Chaser: Thibaut Courtois (7)
The Englishman has held it since 1990. The Frenchman has shared it since 2006. The 6ft 7ins Belgian will have a shot at shutouts against Egypt, IR Iran and New Zealand in Group G. Courtois, who has made 15 appearances in the World Cup, is also five shy of Hugo Lloris’s record for the most by a goalkeeper.
Most editions played in
Holders: Antonio Carbajal, Andres Guardado, Rafa Marquez, Lothar Matthaus, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo (5)
Chasers: Messi, Ronaldo (5)
Messi and Ronaldo will relieve four men of this distinction if they appear in North America.
Most final appearances
Holder: Cafu (3)
Chasers: Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi (2)
‘The Express Train’ represented Brazil in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 deciders, coming on for Jorginho in the former. His compatriot Pele won three World Cups but missed the climax to Chile 1962 through injury. Messi played for Argentina in the 2014 and 2022 finals, while Mbappe did for France in the last two. Messi could emulate Pele and play in the fixture the longest time apart: 12 years.
Hat-tricks in most editions
Holder: Gabriel Batistuta (2)
Chasers: Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Goncalo Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo (1)
Four men are one treble off forcing ‘Batigol’ into sharing. If Mbappe scores thrice in his first outing – France face Senegal in their opener – he would also emulate Sandor Kocsis and Gerd Muller in registering back-to-back hat-tricks.
