Argentina side won the FIFA World Cup after 36 years when they defeated France in penalty shootouts in the final. Lionel Messi, who admitted that Sunday final is his last World Cup match, ended his WC journey in most fitting fashion. The 2022 World Cup has been considered as the best World Cup so far where fans witnessed many shocking results. Many records were created and many were broken during the month long tournament. Here in this article, we will have a look at some of the records that were broken or created in FIFA 2022 WC.
1. Lionel Messi became the most capped player in FIFA World Cup history
Lionel Messi has played 26 matches in FIFA WC which is most for any player.
Most matches played in FIFA WC history:
Lionel Messi (2006-2022) : 26
Lothar Matthaus (1982-1998) : 25
Miroslav Klose (2002-2014) : 24
Messi went past former Germany player's Lothar Matthaus record to become the most capped player in FIFA WC history yesterday.
2. Messi has won 17 games in FIFA WC overall which is joint-most with Miroslav Klose
Messi has won 17 out of 26 games that he played which is joint-most with Miroslav Klose who has won 17/24 games.
2. FIFA 2022 sets a record for hitting most goals in a single WC edition
A total of 172 goals were scored in the tournament. The previous record was held by FIFA WC 1998 & FIFA WC 2014 where 171 goals were scored in total. Out of this 172 goals, 16 came from France team while 15 was recorded by Argentina side.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo become the only player to score at least 1 goal in five different FIFA WC editions:
Cristiano Ronaldo after hitting a goal against Ghana team in FIFA WC 2022, became the only player to smash at least 1 goal in five different FIFA WC tournament (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 & 2022).
Goal scorers in multiple FIFA WC tournament:
Cristiano Ronaldo - 5 (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
Pele - 4 (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970)
Uwe Seeler - 4 (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970)
Lionel Messi - 4 (2006, 2014, 2018, 2022)
4. Lionel Messsi became 4th joint-highest goal scorer in FIFA WC history
Lionel Messi has scored 13 goals in FIFA WC history overall. Messi with a goal scored (at 108 mins) in final, equaled the record of Just Fontaine who smashed 13 goals in single FIFA WC edition which happened in 1958.
Most goals scored in FIFA WC:
Miroslav Klose - 16 (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima - 15 (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006)
Gerd Muller - 14 (1970, 1974)
Just Fontaine - 13 (1958)
Lionel Messi - 13 (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
5. Kylian Mbappe became 2nd player to record a hat-trick in FIFA WC final
In the final game, the 23-year-old Kylian Mbappe scored 3 goals for the team at 80, 81 & 118 minutes, respectively, and helped his team to take the final game to penalty shootout. Mbappe tried his level best to win the final game for France but unfortunately penalty shoot out ended with 4-2 margin.
Players with FIFA WC hat-trick in final of WC:
Geoff Hurst (ENG) in 1966
Kylian Mbappe (FRA) in 2022
6. Lionel Messi becomes first player to win two Golden ball awards
Lionel Messi won 2 golden ball awards in 2014 & 2022 FIFA WC, respectively. No other player has won more than one Golden ball award in FIFA WC history.
7. Record for most matches ending with a penalty shootouts in a single FIFA WC edition:
In FIFA WC 2022, five match results were decided with a penalty shoot-outs which is most for a single WC edition.
Most matches ending with a penalty shoot-outs in a single FIFA WC edition:
5 in 2022
4 in 1900, 2006, 2014, 2018
