These are seven records that the 2022 World Cup has already seen. And we haven’t even reached the Round of 16 yet.
The FIFA World Cup is only held every four years, making each edition significant in its own way. This year, we are seeing players making their final appearances, debutants impressing early in the tournament, and history being made.
These are seven records that the 2022 edition has already seen. And we haven’t even reached the Round of 16 yet.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo is the first man to score in 5 World Cups
Very few football players make it to the World Cup. Much less, five World Cups. And then there is Cristiano Ronaldo, who, after scoring in Portugal’s opening match against Ghana, has become the first man to score in five editions of the tournament.
At 37 years old, and as one of the most influential players of all time, he is still making history.
2. Gavi becomes Spain’s youngest-ever player at a World Cup
When Spanish player Gavi stepped onto the pitch in their match against Costa Rica, he was 18 years and 110 days old, becoming Spain’s youngest player to represent their flag in a major international tournament.
On top of that, with a goal in the 74th minute, he became the youngest player to score in a World Cup since Pele in 1958.
3. Olivier Giroud reached Thierry Henry’s record for France
Against Australia, Olivier Giroud scored France’s fourth goal of the match, bringing his international record to 51 goals. This is a milestone for the Frenchman, as he equaled Thierry Henry’s record for most goals in the men’s national football team of France.
Could Giroud surpass the record as France moves on in the tournament?
4. Qatar became the first World Cup hosts to lose their opening match
History was made within the first match of the entire tournament when Qatar lost to Ecuador, 2-0. Qatar became the first host team in history to lose their opening match, and Ecuador became the first nation to defeat the host in the opening match as well.
5. Qatar is the first host to lose all three group-stage matches
As the group stage went on, Qatar’s team was unable to redeem themselves, as they lost all three elimination matches, making history yet again (though not in a way they would have hoped).
6. Morocco advances into the Round of 16 for the first time since 1986
Defeating Canada 2-1, Morocco has advanced to the Round of 16βtheir first time making it past the group stage in 36 years.
In addition, with seven points from the group stage, Morocco also became the first African team to finish at the top of a FIFA World Cup group since 1998.
7. Jamal Musiala recorded the most dribbles for a teenager in a World Cup
In Germany’s last game of the tournament, 19-year-old Jamal Musiala completed 12 dribbles against Costa Rica. With this, he has become the teenager with the most successful dribbles in World Cup history.
Despite Germany’s 4-2 win over Costa Rica, however, Die Mannschaft has been eliminated from the tournament. But we will certainly see more from the youngster in the future.
With so many records already made within the first stage of the 2022 World Cup, who knows how many more we’ll see in the coming weeks?
Banner image from FIFA World Cup on Twitter.