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World Cup 2026: Daily live news tracker – Injuries, squads, storylines and updates  

Eric Kwafo June 22, 2026
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World Cup 2026

Messi becomes the all-time leading scorer in men’s World Cup, surpasses Klose

Lionel Messi has become the all-time leading scorer in men’s World Cup history after scoring for Argentina against Austria in their second Group J match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday.

The Argentina captain’s goal took him to 17 at the tournament, moving him clear of Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who had held the men’s record with 16 goals.

It is another historic milestone for Messi, who is playing at his sixth World Cup and continues to add to a career already filled with records, trophies and defining moments.

At 39, the Argentine forward is still shaping the biggest matches for his country, four years after leading Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar.

His latest goal means he now stands alone at the top of the men’s scoring list and level with Brazil great Marta, who has also scored 17 goals across Women’s World Cup tournaments.

One more goal would make Messi the outright leading scorer across both men’s and women’s World Cups

Messi misses against Austria and becomes the all-time record holder for missed penalties in World Cups

Lionel Messi became the player with the most missed penalties in World Cup history after failing from the spot in Argentina’s match against Austria on Monday.

The Argentina captain sent his early penalty wide against Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager, taking his total number of missed World Cup penalties to three.

It is an unwanted record for one of football’s greatest players and adds another dramatic chapter to Messi’s long and complicated history with penalties at the World Cup.

Before the Austria match, Messi was level with Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan on two missed penalties during World Cup matches.

His latest miss means the Argentine now stands alone with the highest number of failed penalties in the tournament’s history.

Curaçao Make History as Spain Send Statement to Rivals

Day 11 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico delivered another memorable chapter at the tournament, with historic achievements, standout performances and growing title ambitions shaping the headlines across a dramatic day of football action.

Curaçao Make World Cup History With Heroic Draw

Curaçao etched their name into World Cup history after becoming the smallest nation ever to win a point at the tournament following a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Ecuador.

The Caribbean side produced a resilient defensive display and were inspired by goalkeeper Eloy Room, who emerged as the hero of the night with an astonishing 15 saves to frustrate Ecuador throughout the contest.

Room’s performance instantly drew comparisons to Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, whose own heroic display against Spain earlier in the tournament had already captured the attention of fans around the world.

The historic result marked another reminder of how smaller nations are continuing to challenge established football powers on the biggest stage.

Belgium Receive Major Blow as Doku Set to Leave Camp

Belgium’s World Cup preparations suffered an unexpected setback after reports confirmed that star winger Jérémy Doku is expected to temporarily leave the tournament for the birth of his child.

The development comes at a crucial stage of the competition as Belgium continue their Group G campaign, with Doku remaining one of the team’s most influential attacking players.

Lamine Yamal Declares Spain Have “Arrived”

Spain teenager Lamine Yamal believes La Roja have officially announced themselves at the 2026 FIFA World Cup following their commanding 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.

The 18-year-old sensation scored within 11 minutes of his first World Cup start after previously impressing from the bench during Spain’s frustrating goalless draw against Cape Verde.

Spain entered the tournament as one of the favourites, but their dominant performance in Atlanta appeared to confirm their growing momentum and title credentials.

Yamal, already one of the breakout stars of the tournament, insisted that Spain have now “arrived” on the World Cup stage as they continue their pursuit of global glory.

Brazil star Neymar available for Scotland clash

Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Neymar will be available to feature for Brazil against Scotland in their last Group C encounter of the 2026 World Cup.

England concerns over three key players ahead of Ghana clash

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here as the countdown to the biggest tournament in football officially begins.

The competition kicks off on Thursday night with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa at a packed Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The opening fixture will set the stage for the largest World Cup ever staged, with 48 nations battling for football’s biggest prize across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

USMNT Ready for World Cup Opener

Attention will quickly turn to the United States men’s national team, who begin their campaign on Friday night at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles against Paraguay.

There was positive news for the Americans ahead of the clash after defender Chris Richards declared himself fit and available for selection. The center back had been sidelined with an ankle injury suffered last month and missed recent friendly matches against Senegal and Germany during the build-up to the tournament.

His return offers a major boost for the USMNT as they prepare for a crucial opening match on home soil.

Teams Settling Into Base Camps

National teams have now completed their arrivals and preparations are intensifying across North America.

Iran touched down in Tijuana on Sunday morning despite uncertainty surrounding travel logistics and visa processing in the lead-up to the competition. The Asian side is now fully focused on final preparations ahead of its group stage campaign.

Defending champions Argentina also appear to be hitting form at the perfect moment. Lionel Scaloni’s side recorded comfortable shutout victories over Honduras and Iceland in their final warm-up matches before the tournament.

There had been concerns surrounding Lionel Messi’s fitness heading into June, but the Argentina captain eased fears after featuring in the closing stages against Iceland. Messi came off the bench for the final 20 minutes and calmly converted a penalty shortly after his introduction.

FIFA Reveals Individual Award Trophies

FIFA has officially unveiled the trophies that will be awarded to the tournament’s standout performers.

The Golden Ball will be presented to the best player of the tournament, while the Golden Boot will go to the competition’s leading goalscorer. The Golden Glove, meanwhile, will honour the best goalkeeper at the World Cup.

At the 2022 edition in Qatar, Lionel Messi claimed the Golden Ball after inspiring Argentina to the title. France star Kylian Mbappé finished as the tournament’s top scorer to win the Golden Boot, while Emiliano Martínez secured the Golden Glove award.

Biggest World Cup Ever Set to Deliver Drama

Although only a handful of nations are considered genuine contenders for the trophy, the expanded format means more countries than ever will believe they have a chance to make history.

The 2026 tournament has increased from 32 teams to 48 teams, making it the biggest World Cup ever staged. The new structure also allows eight of the 12 third-placed teams to progress into the Round of 32, opening the door for surprise qualification stories and potential knockout-stage upsets.

With anticipation continuing to build ahead of kickoff, fans around the world are preparing for a month of unforgettable football drama across North America.

Stay tuned for the latest World Cup injury updates, squad news, transfer developments, match previews and breaking stories throughout the tournament.

Tags: World Cup 2026
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