With mere days to go until the first ball is kicked in Qatar, the 2022 World Cup is almost upon us as football fans all over the globe prepare for a mid-season feast of men’s international action.
As well as global glory and sporting immortality on the line, there are also a number of World Cup records that can be broken and milestones within reach over the course of the next 64 games.
Many big names are going into the World Cup on the verge of making history with their national teams, with some long-standing landmarks likely to be passed during the finals if things go to plan for certain players and teams.
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Ronaldo’s World Cup preparation has been overshadowed by his recent interview criticising his club, Manchester United, but it shouldn’t obscure the fact that he could become the first male player in history to score at five different World Cups.
The Portugal captain scored at least one goal at each of the 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 finals to equal the record jointly held by Brazil legend Pele (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970) and Germany greats Miroslav Klose (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014) and Uwe Seeler (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970). Therefore, just one goal in Qatar will see Ronaldo move out on his own.
Ronaldo can rest easy knowing he already holds the record as the oldest player to score a hat trick at a World Cup after notching three goals against Spain in the 2018 group stage at the age of 33 years and 130 days — though of course there’s always a chance he could extend this particular record in 2022. Portugal will play Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea in Group H.
