 |
The World Cup is rarely a pleasant stage for legends. The history of this tournament is full of stories of pressure, disappointment, and unfulfilled endings.
Diego Maradona had a great 1986, but his remaining three World Cups ended in bitterness, tears, and scandal. Zinedine Zidane had a brilliant 1998 final, but also carried the burden of two red cards in two different World Cups.
Lionel Messi had to wait until his fifth attempt to lift the trophy. Cristiano Ronaldo , despite being one of the greatest goalscorers in football history, remains haunted by the World Cups that have never truly belonged to him.
That's why the 2026 World Cup is so unusual. This time, the stars aren't stifled by pressure. They enter the tournament ready, playing more freely, more sharply, and consistently appearing at the moments when their team needs them most.
Messi and Kylian Mbappe both have 6 goals, turning the Golden Boot race into a direct confrontation. Harry Kane and Erling Haaland are close behind with 5 goals each.
Vinicius Junior and Ousmane Dembele have scored 4 goals each. Ronaldo, despite not having an easy tournament, still managed to score 2 goals. Jude Bellingham, Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, and Lamine Yamal have also made their mark. Michael Olise hasn't scored yet, but his 5 assists and influence on France's gameplay are enough to put him in the group of standout players.
It's not just the number of goals that's noteworthy. More importantly, it's the context in which they were scored. As the match heated up, the big names stepped up.
When pressure no longer suffocates the stars.
The World Cup has been a place where many superstars have lost their form. In 2010, Messi, Ronaldo, Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba, Kaka, Wayne Rooney, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic—names among the elite of world football at the time—scored only two goals combined. In 2006, the only player to score more than three goals was Miroslav Klose, a very good striker, but not the kind of global superstar like Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, or Zidane.
This year's context is completely different. When Argentina needed inspiration, Messi created it. When France needed goals, Mbappe responded. When England were trailing 1-0 to the Republic of Congo and facing a crisis, Kane scored two goals to send his team through. These are the kinds of moments the World Cup always expects from great players, but not every tournament gets to see them so frequently.
After the match, Kane said the England team had been talking about "hero moments." These could be a goal, a save, a tackle, or a moment of taking responsibility. Against the Republic of Congo, Kane was the hero. This isn't new for him personally, but it's noteworthy in the broader context: too many big stars are simultaneously living up to expectations.
 |
The 2026 World Cup will see many big stars in top form at the same time, something that doesn't often happen in the history of the tournament. |
Of course, it could be argued that the 2026 World Cup will have more goals because the tournament will expand to 48 teams. The quality of the opponents will be somewhat diluted, and the increase in the average number of goals is understandable. But that argument only explains part of the reason.
Messi not only scored against Jordan, but also netted a hat-trick against Algeria and scored two goals against Austria. Mbappe not only scored against Iraq, but also did the same against Senegal and Sweden. Kane scored against Panama and the Republic of Congo, but also netted a brace against Croatia.
In other words, the superstars aren't just taking advantage of the easy matches. They're making a difference against even strong opponents. This makes the individual competition at this year's World Cup feel less like a side event and more like a central part of the tournament.
Why this World Cup is different
One of the biggest changes lies in the physical and mental state of the top players. In the past, the World Cup often came at the end of the club season, when many stars were exhausted. They had to enter the world's biggest tournament with their bodies and minds no longer at their optimal levels.
This year, many top players seem to have prepared better. Messi and Kane are both cited as examples of how to manage physical condition to reach peak performance.
Mbappe, who appeared fatigued at Euro 2024, is now playing with explosive energy and high confidence. Advances in sports science, nutrition, and recovery are helping stars enter the World Cup with a better foundation than before.
However, what makes the tournament so appealing isn't just the big names. The 2026 World Cup still has room for smaller stories: lesser-known goalkeepers like Vozinha of Cape Verde or Eloy Room of Curacao, host nations like the USA, Canada, and Mexico advancing to the round of 16 through teamwork, or underdog teams producing memorable defensive performances.
It is this very combination that gives the tournament its vitality. Superstars dominate the headlines, but they don't hog the World Cup. They shine in a context still full of surprises, many underdog teams, and many remarkable team stories.
 |
Ronaldo has also scored 2 goals so far. |
Modern football has followed two seemingly contradictory paths for many years. Off the pitch, the individual image of stars is increasingly prominent. On the pitch, however, coaches often demand that they make greater sacrifices for the overall structure of the game.
In this World Cup, those two things temporarily meet at their most beautiful point: the stars still serve their teams, but they haven't lost their ability to decide matches.
That doesn't happen often. Many legends only had one truly brilliant World Cup. Some didn't even have one at all. But at the 2026 World Cup, many great players are simultaneously in top form, scoring goals, providing assists, and dominating the tournament's narrative.
The World Cup doesn't usually prioritize fame. But sometimes, very rarely, the stars come together. And when that happens, the tournament becomes truly special.
Source: https://znews.vn/messi-kane-mbappe-khien-world-cup-2026-khac-biet-post1665521.html
