After dominating world football for years, superstars Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) concluded their World Cup journeys in tears. Meanwhile, Ramin Yamal (Spain), who tasted victory in his first-ever World Cup, and Erling Haaland (Norway), who netted an impressive seven goals, began writing a new chapter in the tournament’s storied history.
Messi’s performance in this tournament was stellar, with eight goals and four assists, totaling 12 attacking points. However, Argentina fell short against Spain in the final, missing out on the coveted trophy by a narrow margin.
Throughout his World Cup career, Messi has amassed 21 goals and 12 assists in 34 matches. Yet, he narrowly missed out on several titles this time. The all-time World Cup scoring record now belongs to Kylian Mbappé with 22 goals, who also clinched the top scorer award for this tournament with 10 goals.
While Messi hasn’t officially announced his retirement from the national team, the chances of him continuing for another four years seem slim, especially considering his previous retirement U-turn.
Sensing this could be his World Cup swan song, Messi stood motionless for a long time after receiving the silver medal. Tears streamed down his face as he solemnly exited the stadium through the tunnel.
This moment marked the end of what is likely the sixth and final World Cup for the soccer god.
Ronaldo, who shared the global soccer spotlight with Messi for two decades, also bid an emotional farewell to the World Cup.
Ronaldo scored three goals in this tournament, bringing his World Cup tally to 11, behind Messi. However, he achieved the unprecedented feat of scoring in six consecutive World Cups.
Unlike Messi, who reached the final, Ronaldo’s journey ended early in the Round of 16 against Spain, denying him a grand finale in his last tournament.
He broke down in tears, realizing his World Cup chapter had closed.
In a post-match interview, he reflected that he gave it his all and did his best. He leaves without regrets, struggling to maintain his composure.
Neymar scored a late consolation goal from the penalty spot in the sixth minute of stoppage time during the Round of 16 match against Norway, narrowing the deficit to 1-2. This goal marked his fourth consecutive World Cup with a goal, but his tournament ended shortly after. His World Cup record stands at 9 goals and 4 assists in 15 matches.
Luka Modrić (Croatia) has also likely played his last World Cup.
In his fifth World Cup, Modrić reached the milestone of 200 international caps during the group stage match against Panama. He also set the record for the oldest player to provide an assist in a World Cup at 40 years and 291 days old in the match against Ghana, showcasing his enduring class.
However, Croatia’s journey ended in the Round of 32 against Portugal, with Modrić’s teammates giving him a fitting send-off.
As these legends who dominated the World Cup for nearly two decades depart, their void is being filled by new stars experiencing their first World Cup.
Norway’s Erling Haaland, already a force in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League and English Premier League, made his World Cup debut in style. He announced his arrival on the global stage with seven goals, including a multi-goal performance in his first match.
The wonderkid Yamal not only made his World Cup debut but also clinched the title. Having already shown his world-class potential at UEFA Euro 2024, he continued to impress on the biggest stage.
Although injuries prevented him from making as strong an impact as in the Euros, his creativity and lethal left foot consistently troubled opposing defenses.
At just 19 years and 6 days old, Yamal became the third-youngest player to appear in a World Cup final, following in the footsteps of Pelé (Brazil) and Giuseppe Bergomi (Italy).
Interestingly, a photo of Messi bathing a six-month-old Yamal went viral. Nineteen years later, Yamal symbolically lifted the trophy, outshining Messi in the final and heralding a new era.
Spain’s Pau Cubarsi, who won the tournament’s Best Young Player award, is another rising star. With experience beyond his years for both the Spanish national team and Barcelona, Cubarsi’s composure belied his teenage status, playing a crucial role in Spain’s record-breaking defensive performance en route to the title.
Other breakout stars include Désiré Doué (France), who showcased explosive dribbling reminiscent of Mbappé, and Ayoub Bouaadi, the dynamic midfielder at the heart of Morocco’s high-intensity style of play.
While not among the youngest, Cape Verde’s goalkeeper Vozinha emerged as an unexpected star of the tournament.
Born in 1986, Vozinha may be in the twilight of his career, but he stunned global soccer fans with spectacular saves in his late-blooming World Cup debut.
Vozinha sees his performance in this tournament as just the beginning, actively seeking a new club to continue his journey.