World Cup 2026: Messi, Mbappé, Kane... the confirmation

04.07.26 FT World Cup

Paraguay

0

:

France

1

Few players manage to stay at the top of their game for two World Cup in a row. Yet, there are three in particular who dazzled in 2022 and continue to shine in 2026.

Still defending champions, Lionel Messi keeps racking up the numbers with Argentina. La Pulga has already netted 6 goals in 3 appearances and looks to keep the momentum going tonight against Cape Verde in the tournament's round of 16.

Already brilliant in 2022, Kylian Mbappé has crushed his opponents in 2026. The French captain boasts three braces in four matches played, proving he hasn’t lost his striker’s instinct despite a goalless season with Real Madrid.

Harry Kane led England against DR Congo. Trailing for much of the match, the Three Lions counted on a late brace from their star forward to turn the game around 2-1 in the final quarter-hour and snatch an unlikely ticket to the round of 16. Already decisive more than five times in 2022, Prince Harry lives up to the hype once again.

Besides Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Harry Kane—each having scored five or more goals in both 2022 and 2026—three other players have shown such consistency in the past: Peru’s Teófilo Cubillas (1970 & 1978) and Germany’s Miroslav Klose (2002 & 2006) and Thomas Müller (2010 & 2014).

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.

Related teams and leagues

Paraguay

France

World Cup