Knee-jerk World Cup takeaways: Messi still supreme, Ronaldo dilemma, England turn entertainers
We’ve now seen all 48 teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in action, so what better time to give some knee-jerk reactions to the events so far?
A 48-team World Cup might actually be a good thing?
FIFA’s expansion of theWorld Cup was understandably met with reservations by some. A money-grab by football’s governing body, hosted largely in the world’s most famous capitalist economy. The advert breaks dressed up as hydration pauses have done little to dismiss those suggestions.
The football calendar is already at breaking point, with last summer’s relaunched Club World Cup and additional European competitions adding to what looks like an unsustainable work load.
Sure, some will have no sympathy for well-paid professionals, but there’s a real danger of dimming the product as burnt-out stars struggle to reach their best level.
However, the expanded format has brought us new faces and new stories. Cape Verde pulled off one of the greatest-ever World Cup shocks after holding favouritesSpain in their tournament debut, with 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha in tears after his individual heroics. The veteran, who did not turn professional until he was 25, was in tears at full-time as the magnitude of the achievement sank in. His social media following has since rocketed into the millions.
Then there’s Pico Lopes, the Shamrock Rovers defender recruited via LinkedIn to feature for the African debutants. It’s an astonishing tale, and a reminder that the World Cup can deliver narratives like nothing else.
MLS Messi is still the best player on the planet
WhenLionel Messi moved to Major League Soccer in 2023, it was widely considered the start of a winding down period for the Argentine icon. Even at 38, he’s proven far too good for MLS, but the veteran might still be too good for the rest of the world too.
Messi led South America’s qualifying for goals (8) and started his record-setting sixth World Cup with a bang. A magical hat-trick earnedArgentina a 3-0 win over Algeria and saw Messi equal Miroslav Klose as the leading goalscorer in World Cup history.
Argentina’s defence of the World Cup remains reliant on Messi, but the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has certainly still got it.
Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Ousmane Dembele might be pretenders to the throne, but the king lives on.
Tiki-taka has killed the Spanish number nine
Spain’s stumble against Cape Verde was the biggest shock of the opening round, as the European champions were held by the tournament debutants.
Luis de la Fuente’s side had 74% of the ball and 27 efforts at goal, but failed to find a route past Vozinha in the Cape Verde goal. With neither Lamine Yamal nor Nico Williams in the side, Spain lacked the X-factor that defined their Euro 2024-winning campaign.
It also led to questions over Spain’s centre-forward role. Ferran Torres and Mikel Oyarzabal both featured without impact, though neither are out-and-out forwards. Traditional numbers nines are something Spain have struggled to produce in recent years, with their possession-dominant philosophy nullifying the impact of specialist goal-getters.
It’s been 18 years since a Spaniard last led La Liga for goals, and La Roja have, arguably, not produced a world-class striker since Fernando Torres and David Villa. There’s no need to panic yet, but could that cost them in the latter stages?
Portugal need to move on from Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo‘s presence in the Portugal team is an unmissable elephant in the room. Ronaldo is his nation’s captain, greatest-ever footballer, and international football’s record goalscorer, but time waits for no one.
The 41-year-old has scored 129 goals in 148 games since moving to Al-Ittihad in 2023, but the world stage is a different kettle of fish to Saudi Pro League challenges.
Ronaldo cut an isolated figure in the draw with DR Congo, managing just 25 touches and failing to have a shot on target. He’s gone 33 shots and 10 games since last scoring at an international tournament for Portugal, and has never scored a knockout stage goal at the World Cup.
Portugal’s refusal to adapt away from their ageing talisman could cost a talented team a real opportunity.
England are international footballer’s new ‘Entertainers’
England fans have overseen their fair share of drab performances from the Three Lions at major tournaments. Who can forget the snoozefest that was a goalless draw with Algeria in 2010, or the dismal group-stage exit four years later.
England are not often associated with free-flowing football, but an enthralling opening win over Croatia might just change that script.
Thomas Tuchel‘s side scored four times in Texas, securing a 4-2 win in one of the games of the tournament. With real firepower and some fragility at the back, England could emerge as the tournament’s true entertainers.
A stunning start to the second half saw England obliterate the Croatian goal, scoring through Jude Bellingham and firing nine shots, seven of which were on target, in a dizzying 12-minute spell. More of the same and the Three Lions could become unlikely neutral’s favourites.
