With mere days to go till the primary ball is kicked in Qatar, the 2022 World Cup is nearly upon us as soccer followers everywhere in the globe put together for a mid-season feast of males’s worldwide motion.
In addition to international glory and sporting immortality on the road, there are additionally various World Cup information that may be damaged and milestones inside attain over the course of the following 64 video games.
Many large names are going into the World Cup on the verge of creating historical past with their nationwide groups, with some long-standing landmarks prone to be handed throughout the finals if issues go to plan for sure gamers and groups.
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Ronaldo’s World Cup preparation has been overshadowed by his current interview criticising his membership, Manchester United, however it should not obscure the truth that he might turn into the primary male participant in historical past to attain at 5 completely different World Cups.
The Portugal captain scored at the very least one purpose at every of the 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 finals to equal the report collectively held by Brazil legend Pele (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970) and Germany greats Miroslav Klose (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014) and Uwe Seeler (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970). Subsequently, only one purpose in Qatar will see Ronaldo transfer out on his personal.
Ronaldo can relaxation straightforward figuring out he already holds the report because the oldest participant to attain a hat trick at a World Cup after notching three targets towards Spain within the 2018 group stage on the age of 33 years and 130 days — although in fact there’s at all times an opportunity he might lengthen this explicit report in 2022. Portugal will play Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea in Group H.
Lionel Messi has performed in additional World Cup video games in complete (19 video games) than another lively participant, main his outdated foe Ronaldo by two video games. It stays to be seen how the 2022 event will pan out, however all Messi must do is outlast Ronaldo and avoid damage to emerge from Qatar with that report intact.
Sergio Ramos is joint-second alongside Ronaldo on the checklist of lively gamers (17 video games) however, having not been chosen by Spain, is unlikely so as to add to his tally earlier than the top of his profession.
Germany duo Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer are simply behind with 16 video games every, and theoretically might overtake Messi in 2022 ought to Die Mannschaft make good progress by the knockout section whereas some disastrous destiny befalls Argentina. The identical goes for veteran Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.
Diego Maradona set the Argentina national-team report for World Cup appearances with 21 video games, which means that Messi is greater than prone to surpass his idol throughout the course of the 2022 event.
If Argentina attain the ultimate with Messi taking part in in all seven matches, he would surpass ex-Germany midfielder Lothar Matthaus’ all-time report of 25 World Cup appearances.
Whereas Messi has scored six targets in World Cup matches, he has by no means discovered the web in a match past the group stage. Nevertheless, his 4 assists in knockout section video games is a World Cup report he collectively holds with Pele because the 1966 event (which is way back to dependable information extends).
Ronaldo vs. Messi
The dual goliaths of the trendy sport are set to hitch an unique group of gamers in historical past to look at 5 completely different males’s World Cups. Messi and Ronaldo will be a part of Matthaus and Mexico pair Antonio Carbajal and Rafael Marquez as the one gamers to play at 5 finals throughout their careers. Mexico veteran Andres Guardado might additionally make it on to the pitch at a fifth finals ought to the 36-year-old midfielder function for El Tri at Qatar 2022.
A number of different gamers have been included in 5 World Cup squads throughout their profession however fell wanting making appearances in any respect of them. For instance. Gianluigi Buffon has been included in 5 Italy World Cup squads (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014) however remained an unused substitute at France ’98.
Equally, Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has turn into a event staple and has been included in his fifth World Cup squad in 2022. Nevertheless, “Memo” served as a back-up in 2006 and 2010 and did not make it onto the pitch.
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All-time prime scorers
There are a few distinguished forwards who’re inside placing distance of changing into their nation’s all-time report purpose scorer throughout the Qatar World Cup.
Neymar heads into the event having scored 75 targets in 121 video games for Brazil, leaving him simply three targets shy of usurping Pele’s report for the Selecao which has stood since 1971.
In the meantime, Harry Kane can also be simply three targets away from breaking Wayne Rooney‘s report and changing into England‘s new all-time highest purpose scorer. The Tottenham Hotspur star has 51 targets in 75 video games for his nation, whereas Rooney bowed out with 53 targets in 120 appearances.
What’s extra, Kane gained the Golden Boot at Russia 2018 with six targets, placing him second on England’s event goal-scorer checklist behind Gary Lineker (10 targets). A glut of targets in Qatar might see Kane break two extremely spectacular national-team information in a single fell swoop.
Streaks
In addition to being grouped among the many favourites to carry the trophy in Qatar this winter, Argentina additionally come into the 2022 World Cup because the undisputed kind staff in world soccer.
Lionel Scaloni’s aspect are on a formidable 35-game unbeaten streak that stretches all the way in which again to July 2019 — particularly the third-place playoff on the 2019 Copa America. The Albiceleste gained 2-1 to assert bronze on that fateful day and have not misplaced a single match since. Actually, they’ve even returned to the Copa America in that point and gained it, in 2021.
What’s extra, Argentina want so as to add simply three extra video games to their phenomenal run to surpass the report of 37 males’s worldwide video games with out loss set by Italy between October 2018 and October 2021. Argentina, who beat the European champions 3-0 after they met in June’s intercontinental Finalissima at Wembley, might set the brand new report towards Mexico of their second Group C match in Qatar.
Talking of streaks, a doff of the cap is due for Wales, who will play their first World Cup finals match for 68 years, thus ending the longest-running event absence of anyone nation within the FIFA competitors’s 92-year historical past.
Canada are additionally set to make solely their second-ever look and their first since 1986, the second longest absence amongst all of the nations which have certified for the 2022 finals in Qatar.
Talking of Wales, United States head coach Gregg Berhalter will make World Cup historical past when his aspect face Gareth Bale & Co. of their opening Group B sport on the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan on Monday.
On the age of 49, Berhalter will turn into the primary man to have represented the U.S. at a World Cup as each a participant and a coach, having beforehand taken to the sphere for the USMNT on the 2002 and 2006 tournaments.
Info from ESPN’s Stats and Info Group was used on this report
