Topics: FIFA World Cup, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Thomas Müller, Diego Maradona, Didier Deschamps
Thomas Müller, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and quite a few national teams could make their way to the records books in coming weeks. Here are the top records to be broken in the World Cup.

With the FIFA World Cup fast approaching, it is time to keep our eyes open for new records that could be set or who the players that can break pre-existing milestones could be.

Some of the top names in the world of football could see their milestones being broken by the likes of footballers such as Lionel Messi, Thomas Müller, or Cristiano Ronaldo, and that is why we present you with the list of eight milestones that could fall during the 29 days in which the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be played.

Individual records

Most games played

This record is currently owned by Lothar Matthäus, but in the event Argentina reach the title clash, Lionel Messi could become the owner of this milestone. Right now, Messi has played 19 World Cup matches, which means that La Albiceleste would need to reach the final (or the third-place match) to take this record away from the German legend. The German ace played in five different World Cup editions, winning the title in 1990.

Most goals scored

Miroslav Klose owns the record for most goals scored in FIFA World Cup matches, but Thomas Müller, his former teammate and compatriot, could claim the milestone for himself if he can find a way to score seven goals in this FIFA World Cup edition. Klose earned the record all to himself during Germany's run for the title in 2014.

Most World Cup editions scoring at least one goal

Right now, this record is owned by Pelé, Uwe Seeler, Miroslav Klose, and Cristiano Ronaldo, all of them being able to score in four different World Cup editions. Nevertheless, since the Portuguese superstar is ready to play one more World Cup, he could become the sole owner of this milestone if he can find the back of the net. CR7 is also the oldest player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup match, a feat he accomplished back in 2018.

Most assists

This one is a bit tricky, because some sources claim that Pelé owns the record for most FIFA World Cup assists with nine, while others say that Maradona owns the record with eight. Be that as it may, Lionel Messi has five to his name, and if he can hand out five of those during his games in Qatar, he could overtake both these legends in a single World Cup edition. "La Pulga" could also become the Argentine player with the most World Cup apps for La Albiceleste if he can play all matches in the Group stage.

Most clean sheets

England legend Peter Shilton and French ace Fabien Barthez own the record for most clean sheets in FIFA World Cup history, both of them with ten games without conceding. Nevertheless, the more-than-capable German goalie Manuel Neuer could leapfrog them if he can shut his opponents out in four of his team's matches this winter. Neuer has played sixteen FIFA World Cup matches in three different WC editions.

Team records

Most games played

Brazil and Germany co-own this record with 109 games for each national team, which means that whoever makes it the furthest in this competition will earn the record all to themselves. The only way for these teams to keep sharing the record would be if both of them are eliminated in the same round or if they can reach the final and play against themselves.

Most draws

Prior to the start of the 2022 World Cup, Italy and England share the record for most draws in the competition, with 21 for each side. Now, with the Azzurri out of the competition for the second World Cup tournament in a row, one more draw for England would give them this sort of unwanted milestone.

Most yellow/red cards

Argentina are the current record holders for most cautions in FIFA World Cup matches, as La Albiceleste's players have been booked 123 times. Speaking of red cards, Brazil hold the record with eleven reds to their squad members, but Uruguay could overtake them if Brazil's footballers behave themselves and Los Charrúas see three of their own being sent off.

Most losses

Mexico are the current owners of this unwanted record, with El Tri losing 27 FIFA World Cup games in 16 appearances in the competition. One more loss would only increase their record and could maybe set them up to be eliminated in the Round of 16 one more time, which has been the usual for them in the past seven World Cups.

Miscellaneous records

  • All World Cup winners have had coaches from the same nationality. For this edition, nine teams will want to put an end to that record with a foreign coach leading them to the crown (Ecuador, Qatar, Irán, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, Belgium, Canada, and South Korea).

  • Most goals scored in a single World Cup: 171 (1998, 2014). Something to keep an eye on for those who like attacking football.

  • The last three World Cup champions (Italy in 2006, Spain in 2010, and Germany in 2014) have been eliminated in the Group stage of the subsequent FIFA World Cup. France enter the 2022 edition as defending champions.