
Legendary World Cup Heroes: The Players Who Shaped Football History
A retrospective ranking of the ten greatest World Cup performers, celebrating feats that have become part of football lore.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Lionel Messi across Soccer, Football.

A retrospective ranking of the ten greatest World Cup performers, celebrating feats that have become part of football lore.

Street gatherings, a national sing‑along campaign and official messages marked Lionel Messi's 39th birthday, coinciding with his historic milestone as the World Cup's top scorer.

Street gatherings, a coordinated broadcast campaign and social media tributes highlighted the country's homage to Lionel Messi on his birthday.

Despite 80% possession and 19 shots, England settled for a 0-0 draw against Ghana, a result that cements their progression but leaves fans yearning for more incisive play.
The partnership between Dick's Sporting Goods and Adidas launches a soccer‑centric retail narrative featuring global stars, creative collaborations and a full‑scale rollout across digital, broadcast and in‑store channels.

A look at how three‑dimensional broadcasting, powered by FIFA's offside data and immersiv.io, is reshaping how audiences experience football and what the future may hold.

The 2026 World Cup's mandatory hydration breaks have divided supporters, yet the tournament's high‑scoring matches and innovative tweaks hint at a lasting evolution in how soccer adapts to extreme conditions.

The Athletic's comprehensive rankings dissect each of the 2026 World Cup fixtures, spotlighting historic wins, record‑breaking scores and the players who defined the competition.

With his Liverpool deal ending on June 30, Mohamed Salah faces an uncertain future. His lawyer, Ramy Abbas, remains tight‑lipped, while clubs across Europe, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United States eye a potential transfer.

The 2026 World Cup is on track to shatter previous goal records, with 121 goals scored in the first 40 matches. A faster, more stable ball and a 48‑team field are reshaping the tournament’s offensive dynamics.

At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo added another milestone to his international career, reaching six World Cup tournaments and reshaping Portugal's all‑time scoring record.
Back-to‑back victories have lifted the United States Men's National Team to 30‑1 odds for the 2026 World Cup, while France remains the favorite at 4‑1. Folarin Balogun and Lionel Messi are emerging as leading Golden Boot candidates.

Record crowds and soaring resale values underscore a growing willingness among American consumers to pay premium prices for major sporting spectacles, while FIFA faces criticism over its pricing and political entanglements.

Despite soaring ticket prices and travel hurdles, World Cup matches are drawing near‑full stadiums across the United States, underscoring America's appetite for marquee events and setting a promising template for the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics.

Through 44 matches of the 2026 tournament, organizers have logged more than 2.85 million spectators, keeping stadiums at roughly 99.6 percent capacity. The surge comes despite average ticket prices climbing into the hundreds of dollars and travel restrictions that have limited some international arrivals.

Despite soaring ticket costs and restrictions that have barred many would‑be fans, the 2026 World Cup is drawing near‑full stadiums across the United States, underscoring a U.S. appetite for marquee events.

The collaboration blends heritage soccer design with cutting‑edge performance, positioning the new shoe at the intersection of sport, music and fashion.

Three generational talents dominate the tournament, reshaping narratives and driving record audiences.

Bad Bunny teams with Lionel Messi and Adidas to launch the limited‑edition F50 Ghost Sprint, a soccer sneaker that blends retro boot design with sprint‑shoe technology, arriving just before the World Cup Final.

When DoorDash mistakenly wished rapper T‑Pain success at the 2026 World Cup, confusing him with little‑known soccer star Tim Payne, the mishap sparked a clever campaign that turned a slip‑up into a celebration of both music and the beautiful game.

In a recent match, Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for Portugal against Uzbekistan, marking his sixth consecutive World Cup tournament with a goal. The strike not only underscores his longevity but also places him at the forefront of World Cup history, as Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé chase his record.

Cristiano Ronaldo's brace against Uzbekistan highlighted his historic World Cup milestone and a massive fan turnout in Houston.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the sixth minute of Portugal’s match against Uzbekistan, becoming the first player to find the net in six different World Cup tournaments.

FIFA is weighing whether to keep short water breaks that have punctuated recent World Cup matches, a move that could reshape how players manage heat during the tournament.