Over the past five weeks, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has delivered numerous unforgettable and dramatic moments, from spectacular goals, thrilling comebacks, devastating losses, and numerous untold stories.
Spain became world champion for the second time in history. Compared to 2010, their dominance was even more prevalent this time. For the majority of the 120 minutes, Argentina posed no threat to score because Spain had total control. Finally, in the end, there was a red card, a thrilling winner, and more.
Now that the tournament is over, let’s take a look back at the small details that made the World Cup 2026 a complete blast. So stay tuned!
Argentina Makes History with Zero Shots in Regular Time
Just three teams have attempted zero shots during regular time (90 minutes) in the 900+ World Cup matches since 1966. Costa Rica did that against Spain in 2022 and against Brazil in 1990.
Argentina will be the third team in Sunday’s final.
In a World Cup final , Argentina also became the first team to go 90 minutes without a shot. Their first attempt came in the 117th minute from Lionel Messi.
The Second Player to Play Three Men’s FIFA
After Brazil’s Cafu (1994, 1998, 2002), Lionel Messi became the second player in history to play in three men’s FIFA World Cup finals (also in 2014 and 2022). He was also the second-oldest World Cup finalist ever, at 39 years and 25 days, following Dino Zoff of Italy in 1982 (40y 133d).
The Third-Youngest Player in FIFA World Cup Final
After Pelé in 1958 (17 years 249 days) and Giuseppe Bergomi in 1982 (18 years 201 days), Lamine Yamal is the third-youngest player to participate in a FIFA World Cup final at the age of 19 years and six days. Spain became the first team to include two teenagers in a single World Cup final as Pau Cubarsí (19 years, 178 days) also started.
Finished Second Fourth Time
For the fourth time (together with 1930, 1990, and 2014), Argentina finished second in the FIFA World Cup, a record shared by Germany.
First Player to Score in Six World Cups
The first player in history to score in six separate World Cup competitions was Cristiano Ronaldo.
First African Player to Score in All Stage Games
In a single FIFA World Cup competition, Morocco’s Ismail Saibari became the first African player to score in each of his team’s three group stage games.
First Player to Score 10+ in a Single World Cup.
With two goals against England in the bronze final, Kylian Mbappé became the first player since Gerd Müller in 1970 to score ten or more goals in a single World Cup campaign.
Allowed the Fewest Goals of Any Side
At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Spain allowed the fewest goals of any side in a World Cup-winning campaign—just one in eight games.
In all of their final games, they were in a winning position.
First Team to Go 90 Minutes without a Shot
In a FIFA World Cup final, Argentina became the first team in history to go 90 minutes without a shot. In the 117th minute, Lionel Messi made their first attempt.
First Red Card in World Cup Since 2010
During the first half of stoppage time, Enzo Fernández sent Spain defender Pau Cubarsí flying, earning him a second yellow card since 2010. Since Dutch defender Johnny Heitinga in 2010, Fernández is the first player to be sent off in a World Cup final since then. In total, Fernández received the sixth-ever red card in a World Cup final. In 2010, Nigel de Jong also made such a challenge on Spain’s Xabi Alonso but was not sent off.
Other Notable Records
- With Spain’s second FIFA World Cup victory since 2010, seven of the eight tournament winners have now won the competition at least twice; England is the only country with just one.
- Spain has only scored two goals in nine World Cup games that have gone to extra time.
- Torres, on Sunday in the 2026 final, and Andrés Iniesta, in the 2010 final, scored those two goals.
- Vinícius Júnior joined Jairzinho (1970), Romário (1994), and both Ronaldo and Rivaldo (2002) as the fifth Brazilian player to score in all three group stage matches of a single FIFA World Cup event.
These were some key factors that make this tournament more interesting and memorable.
People will remember World Cup 2026 for the goals, but it was won by the details!
