Just 10 days into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, football’s biggest names are already tearing up the record books.
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland all made emphatic starts to the tournament, delivering goals and standout performances as they continue their pursuit of football immortality.
With plenty of matches still to come in the expanded 48-team competition, several more milestones appear within reach.
Messi’s stunning hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria brought his World Cup tally to 16 goals, drawing him level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose at the top of the all-time scoring charts.
The Argentine reached the mark in 27 World Cup appearances, three more than Klose, but now has the opportunity to become the outright record holder when Argentina face Austria in Group J.
France captain Mbappe is not far behind on 14 World Cup goals and has already become his country’s all-time leading scorer with 58 international goals.
The 27-year-old could soon be challenging Messi’s record as well.
England captain Harry Kane continued his remarkable World Cup career by scoring twice in the Three Lions’ 4-2 victory over Croatia.
The brace moved Kane level with Gary Lineker as England’s leading scorer at World Cup finals with 10 goals.
With Ghana up next, he has a strong chance of becoming England’s outright record holder.
Kane also joined Sir David Beckham as only the second England player to score at three different World Cup tournaments, while his 115th international appearance drew him level with Beckham among England’s most-capped players.
Mbappe is aiming to become the first player to win multiple World Cup Golden Boots after claiming the award in Qatar 2022 with eight goals.
Kane, who won the prize in 2018 with six goals, is also in contention.
However, both face stiff competition from Messi, Germany’s Denis Undav and Canada’s Jonathan David, who currently lead the scoring charts with three goals each.
Haaland, Kane and Mbappe are all just one goal behind, setting up what could become one of the most competitive Golden Boot races in World Cup history.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s tournament began quietly in Portugal’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo, but the 41-year-old remains on course for more records.
Having already scored in five different World Cups - 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 - Ronaldo shares that record with Messi.
A goal in this tournament would make him the first player to score in six separate World Cups.
Ronaldo also became the oldest outfield player ever to start a World Cup match at 41 years and 132 days, surpassing the previous mark held by Canada’s Atiba Hutchinson.
Erling Haaland wasted little time making his mark, scoring twice in Norway’s 4-1 victory over Iraq.
The Manchester City striker became the first Norwegian player to score a World Cup double and immediately drew level with Kjetil Rekdal as his country’s leading World Cup scorer.
A goal against Senegal could see Haaland claim the record outright.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha emerged as one of the tournament’s surprise stars after helping his side earn a goalless draw against European champions Spain.
The veteran stopper made seven crucial saves and, at 40 years and 12 days old, became the oldest player to appear in a nation’s World Cup debut.
He also set a new record as the oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in his first World Cup finals appearance.
France manager Didier Deschamps is on the verge of becoming the most successful coach in World Cup history.
The Frenchman currently sits one victory behind former West Germany boss Helmut Schön’s record of 16 World Cup wins.
Success against Iraq would draw him level, while a victory over Norway could move him into sole possession of first place.
The tournament has also seen disciplinary records come into focus.
Six red cards have already been issued, including three in Mexico’s opening win over South Africa.
Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic and Qatar pair Assim Omer Madibo and Homam El Amin have also been sent off.
While still some distance from the World Cup record of 28 red cards set in 2006, the early total already exceeds the number shown at both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, suggesting officials may have a busy few weeks ahead.
With the group stage still unfolding, the 2026 World Cup is rapidly becoming a tournament defined by record-breaking achievements - and many more milestones could be just around the corner.
