Planet football

It's still early days, but some of these pre-tournament hot takes already look incredibly daft.

Big names including Lionel Messi, Alexander Isak, Amad Diallo and Vitinha are the early frontrunners in various stats.

While one game isn’t enough to draw concrete conclusions, some of the big dogs have already laid down a marker. Others, meanwhile, have raised a few questions.

Thierry Henry was not the only one left unimpressed by Cristiano Ronaldo's latest major tournament blank.

The Qatar World Cup killed the Messi-Ronaldo debate. But the 2026 World Cup might just be sticking nails in the coffin.

For a great many reasons we didn’t want to like this World Cup. But moments like this remind us football is great.

Mills knows all too well the effect football can have on the body. After years of knee problems, he's back living a normal life.

Fifty-three Englishmen have scored at the World Cup finals – but how many of them can you remember?

UK viewers of football have been subjected to their fair share of awful pundits over the years. It could be worse, though. A lot, lot worse.

Members of England’s 2026 World Cup squad are some of the most well-paid footballers on the planet.

More than three-quarters of England's 2026 World Cup squad were eligible to play for another country...

Whether you’ve followed England for decades or not, there’s plenty here to challenge fans of all levels.

Anyone thinking a veteran Messi would play a bit-part role at this World Cup is already mistaken.

With his hat-trick against Algeria, Messi has equalled Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record.

Could Just Fontaine's record be beaten in 2026? The expanded tournament means it's not impossible.

Messi has joined his old rival Ronaldo in marking his 200th international appearance with a goal.

The 2026 World Cup is well and truly underway, but who is the most valuable player from every team?

Which of the two era-defining icons has the more impressive record on the biggest stage of all?

Tino Livramento has been ruled out of the World Cup through injury – he's not the first to suffer this fate.

International football is all the better for upsets. Although the likes of Argentina and Spain may think otherwise…