From viral fan moments to on-field controversies, plus the biggest stars, best performances, surprises and more.
Lionel Messi’s first ever hat-trick, Spain stunned minnows Cape Verde, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo silenced Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
What more could you ask for from the opening week of the FIFA World Cup?
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After the first round of group matches, here are the 10 most important points:
The last dance? Probably not, Lionel Messi has more up his sleeve
Before the start of the tournament in North America, many believed that Lionel Messi would be preparing for his final match. But after him First hat-trick in a World Cup – a goal that also equaled the record for most World Cup goals – Messi reminded us that his story is far from over.
Where is Cristiano Ronaldo? The disappearance of the Portuguese star
While Messi obsession has dominated the headlines in recent days, his old rival Cristiano Ronaldo has also been in the news, albeit for the wrong reasons. “Is he past his prime?” was the collective question of viewers after his mostly anonymous presentation Portugal tied with the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-1 Wednesday.
There is nothing that can stop Kylian Mbappe
become France’s all-time top scorer It always seemed a matter of when, not if, for Kylian Mbappe, and achieving the feat in the opening match of the World Cup was further proof of his exceptional talent. The 27-year-old, who is now just two goals away from equaling the most goals ever scored in a World Cup, has become accustomed to chasing records.
The Golden Boot race is shaping up
Long-range missiles, extra clicks, headshots, and more. There was no shortage of goals, and Argentine legend Messi leads the outright leader with three goals. As many as seven players – including England’s Harry Kane, Norway’s Erling Haaland, and France’s Mbappe – are tied for second place with two goals each.
Favorite title is having a hard time
This is, by far, the surprise of the tournament. Spain, the favorite to win the World Cup, faltered at its first hurdle, and stuck to it Negative tie shock From Cape Verde, an archipelago located west of the African continent with a population of about half a million people, whose team ranks second, 65 places behind, in the FIFA world rankings.
Don’t write off the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Yuan warnedThe DR Congo’s first ever goal, the DR Congo’s first in a World Cup, sparked joy among millions from Kinshasa to Nyangara. For the other teams competing in the tournament, the 1-1 draw with No. 5 seed Portugal sent a warning that underdog teams seek to challenge some of the best teams in football, especially with the world watching.
Dear Curacao, welcome to the World Cup
The crushing 7-1 loss to Germany did nothing to dampen the morale of Curacao fans, many of whom traveled to the United States. For the tiny Caribbean island – the smallest nation ever to participate in a World Cup – defeat means nothing compared to the joy of seeing one of their goals on the sport’s biggest stage. Livano Cominencia He is a hero for all of Curacao.
Pink shoes everywhere
Pink seems to be the color of the month, at least for the World Cup. Many players were seen wearing the vibrant, monochromatic shoes – or cleats, as the Americans say – regardless of the manufacturer. Be it Nike, Adidas or Puma, sportswear giants have joined the trend of making their shoes in the ‘electric fuchsia’ colour.
From tunes to booze, fans bring the party to the World Cup
It’s safe to say that the World Cup is football’s biggest celebration. Some countries do this better than others.
With their green and yellow shirts, flags and drums, Brazilian fans brought a piece of Rio to New York, while Moroccans later joined the party, red smoke from torches lighting up the World Cup atmosphere. In Boston, Scotland’s famous Tartan Army were downing beer after beer, almost draining some pubs of all their beers on the first weekend of their World Cup takeover of the city.
Meet Mexico’s unofficial mascot: Merlin the duck
To best sum up the football madness in Mexico, which hosts the tournament, the fan base is not limited to humans. A domesticated duck named Merlin, dressed in a miniature Mexican shirt and personalized duck socks, has wormed his way into the hearts of many, becoming the unofficial mascot of the country’s World Cup campaign.
