FIFA World Cup 2026 Results & Discussion Thread [R]

To me, the greatest world cup player I have ever had the pleasure to watch was Ronaldo Fenomeno. His 2002 World Cup performance was so incredible. Zidane being second.

CR7 is a great player, but the fact that he has 0 knockout goals in the World Cup despite being in the same amount as Messi will be a stain on his legacy. 2018 was his best chance to score buckets of goals and try to bag a golden boot. But unfortunately, he plays for Portugal and not Argentina/France. 2 of his 8 goals in WC are against Ghana. 3 against Spain. He even claims a goal against Uruguay in 2022 WC where he didnt even get a head on a Bruno Fernandes cross which became a goal.

 

Another world cup where Messi should have been sent off nothing to see here. He could go full Roy Keane on Haaland and get a yellow max.

 

You know two things can be true right

Messi is an amazing player and I think he’s becoming unarguably the goat

annnnd

Argentina and he does get the help of the whistle, as does every major star and every major team across the board

never been used to discredit the others though

 

Mbappe has Olise playmaking for him

he will win the golden boot

 

Amazing mods we have here hoping for Haalands career will end.

 

Absolutely. He had all the traits but was also a journeyman. Ended being a discount version.

True. Messi was amazing in the last world cup. I was happy he scored non penalty goals now because of the criticism he would have gotten.

 

Coaches are a waste of oxygen - 4x4 apparently

 

Reputation does help with refs.

Crying bro how’s this not a red ???pic.twitter.com/plJURXcdPW https://t.co/jnkGNhKQXK

— • (@cfcsimv2) June 17, 2026

 

Thats such a truism that one cant help but roll the eyes. How the player that people come to see performs depends on what the coach instructs him. What formation he puts him in, the teammates that are selected, and a million other coaching decisions.

All of us here know that Vinicius is Brazil's most talented player. What does that mean, as long as we put him on, and tell everyone give the ball to him, our job is done? Why is Ancelotti paid millions then? btw Arbeloa did exactly that and you mocked him endlessly.

The coach is crucial. And yes, when talent is loaded and equally distributed across a lot of teams, its exactly tactics that give the edge in such circumstances.

 

But also, opinions are like arseholes.

I recall a lot of people were upset when he won the Ballon d"or in a year where he scored like 82 goals (or was it 92?). Easy to get caught up in the moment when we have teams and players we prefer, but looking back at that 10+ years later its pretty amazing that people felt Messi stole that one. I mean, one of this year's top contenders for the award scored 10 league goals and plays the same exact position as Messi.

 

One of the reasons why Pep would struggle at International level if you ask me. He's not built to just roll out a team. He's too much hands on and there ain't no time for it.