The World Cup is the pinnacle of international football and an ideal chance to stake a claim for sporting immortality.
Some of the greatest players of all time have lifted the trophy – the likes of Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane – cementing their legacies in the process.
But the tournament is about so much more than just the winners. It’s a celebration of the players, teams, matches and moments that live on in supporters’ memories.
In that spirit, here’s just a flavour of the countless World Cup records that have been set since the tournament started back in 1930.
Most tournaments competed in
Brazil – 22
Germany/West Germany – 20
Italy – 18
Argentina – 18
Mexico – 17
Brazil are the only team to have qualified for every tournament from 1930 through to the present day. England are tied with Spain and France on 16 appearances each.
Most tournaments won
Brazil – 5 (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
Italy – 4 (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)
Germany/West Germany – 4 (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
France – 2 (1998, 2018)
Argentina – 2 (1978, 1986)
Uruguay – 2 (1930, 1950)
As well as competing in more World Cups than any other country, Brazil have lifted the trophy a record five times, most recently in 2002. They have also twice finished as runners up.
Biggest margin of victory
9 goals – Hungary 9-0 South Korea (1954), Yugoslavia 9-0 Zaire (1974), Hungary 10-1 El Salvador (1982)
Hungary haven’t qualified for the World Cup since 1986 but are still responsible for two of its biggest ever wins, each featuring one hat-trick and two braces. They reached the final in 1954, scoring 27 goals in just five games – the most by any team in a single tournament.
Most appearances
Lothar Matthaus, Germany/West Germany – 25
Miroslav Klose, Germany – 24
Paolo Maldini, Italy – 23
Diego Maradona, Argentina – 21
Uwe Seeler, West Germany – 21
Wladyslaw Zmuda, Poland – 21
Lothar Matthaus is one of only three players to have played in five World Cups. The other two are Mexico’s Antonio Carbajal and Rafael Marquez.
Youngest players
Norman Whiteside, Northern Ireland – 17 years and 40 days (1982)
Samuel Eto’o, Cameroon – 17 years and 98 days (1998)
Femi Opabunmi, Nigeria – 17 years and 100 days (2002)
Salomon Olembe, Cameroon – 17 years and 184 days (1998)
Pele, Brazil – 17 years and 234 days (1958)
Pele played a major role in winning the first of his three World Cups at the age of just 17. He scored six goals, including a brace in the 5-2 win over Sweden in the final.
Oldest players
Essam El-Hadary, Egypt – 45 years and 160 days (2018)
Faryd Mondragon, Colombia – 43 years and 3 days (2014)
Roger Milla, Cameroon – 42 years and 38 days (1994)
Pat Jennings, Northern Ireland – 41 years (1982)
Peter Shilton, England – 40 years and 292 days (1990)
The only outfield player to feature in the top five, Roger Milla is also the World Cup’s oldest goalscorer after netting the consolation in a 6-1 defeat to Russia.
Top goalscorers
Miroslav Klose, Germany – 16
Ronaldo, Brazil – 15
Gerd Muller, West Germany – 14
Just Fontaine, France – 13
Pele, Brazil – 12
Just Fontaine only played in one World Cup, winning the Golden Boot with an incredible 13 goals in just six appearances as France reached the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual champions Brazil.
Most clean sheets
Peter Shilton, England – 10
Fabien Barthez, France – 10
Sepp Maier, West Germany – 8
Jan Jongbloed, Netherlands – 8
Leao, Brazil – 8
Claudio Taffarel, Brazil – 8
The Netherlands’ Jan Jongbloed made 12 of his 24 international appearances at World Cups, finishing as runner-up in both 1974 and 1978.
Highest attendances
173,850 – Brazil 1-2 Uruguay, Maracana (1950)
114,600 – Mexico 1-1 Paraguay, Estadio Azteca (1986)
108,192 – Mexico1-0 Belgium, Estadio Azteca (1970)
98,270 – England 4-2 West Germany, Wembley (1966)
95,500 – Argentina 0-1 Belgium, Nou Camp (1982)
The record attendance came in the World Cup final, where hosts Brazil lost to Uruguay despite taking the lead early in the second half.
