The just-concluded 2022 FIFA World Cup brought all the
excitement, emotions, tears, both of joy and sorrow that fans all over the
world signed up for. With heart-bumping, nail-biting and all-round spectacular
performances from the 32 teams that sojourned to the desert country of Qatar in
search of the trophy, many new records have been set, jinxes broken and history
rewritten.
Argentina defeated France in the World Cup final to clinch
the most sought after trophy in world football, breaking a 36-year jinx,
Morocco did the same for the entire African continent, breaking an 88-year jinx
by reaching a World Cup semi-final while many players have gone on to set
numerous individual records for themselves, writing their names in the sands of
time.
In this piece, we
examine all players that set new individual records in the
just-concluded 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Lionel Messi
The Argentina star did not only break a record with the
Argentina national team, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner broke the most
individual records of the tournament. Asides winning the 35-year-old set
records for appearances, goals, assists and many more. They are;
- Most
Man of the Match awards won in FIFA World Cup history – 8
- First
person to assist at five different FIFA World Cups
- Most FIFA
World Cup appearances as captain: 19
- Most
appearances in FIFA World Cup tournaments by a player
- Only
player to win two Golden Balls [Best player of the tournament] – 2014,
2022
- The
most number of minutes played in the World Cup with 234 minutes, surpassing
Paolo Maldini.
- Oldest
player to register a goal and an assist in a World Cup game [vs. Saudi
Arabia] at 35
- Oldest
player to register a goal and an assist in a World Cup knockout game
[quarterfinal vs. Netherlands, semifinal vs. Croatia] at 35
- Most
goal contributions in a World Cup – 21 total (13 goals and 8 assists)
- Most
appearances in FIFA World Cups – 26
- Most
goals at World Cup for an Argentina player – 13
- The
first player to score in Group Stage, the Round of 16, Quarter-finals,
Semi-finals, and Final in a single edition of a World Cup.
Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe was unarguably the star of the final for the French
team, scoring a hat-trick and dragging Argentina into a penalty shootout. The
young champ gave a very good fight. Even though France did not win the trophy,
Mbappe has many wins in the bag for himself.
- Most
goals by a player aged 23 or younger in a single World Cup all-time – 8
- Most
World Cup knockout stage goals aged 23 or younger in a World Cup- 7
- Most
goals scored at a World Cup final than any other player – 4
- The
second player to score a hat-trick in the men’s World Cup final
Cristiano Ronaldo
Despite not wining the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo remains
a legend. His contributions and efforts in football cannot be underrated or
underestimated. Portugal was sent out of the World Cup tournament after Morocco
beat them in the quarter-finals round. However, the Portuguese star set a new
record for himself as;
- The
first footballer to score at five World Cups
Manuel Neuer
Germany’s goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, also broke a record
during this year’s World Cup. Germany exited the tournament at the group stage
but Neuer did well to set a new record before leaving.
- Most
appearances for a goalkeeper in World Cup history – 19
Olivier Giroud
Giroud had a good run at the World Cup and did quite well
for himself. He showed up for France time and time again when needed and
delivered up until the final. For France national team Giroud set a new record.
- Most
goals for France -52
Leandro Paredes
An individual cannot make a team but the team can make
individual players stand out. Paredes contributions to Argentina’s win paid off
as the 28-year-old defensive midfielder set a. new record for himself.
- Most
passes completed by a substitute in a World Cup match -77
Jamal Musiala
19-year-old Jamal Musiala did well for himself to set a new
record, although he had a brief run at the World Cup. The German footballer was
one of the fe teenagers that set foot on the world stage and he made sure he
made a mark during his short run.
- Most
dribbles in a World Cup match by a teenager -12, vs. Costa Rica
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