Day 11 saw Lamine Yamal channel Johan Cruyff’s ghost, Egypt and King Salah win their first World Cup game, while Ronaldo fanboys gave us a glimpse of the dark side of football. Also, a brand-new Meme Watch section. Read this and more in today’s Offside.
Lionel Messi’s World Cup afternoon against Austria delivered both frustration and history. A ninth-minute penalty miss saw him set a new tournament record for most penalties taken and missed. Yet he later scored to move past Miroslav Klose as the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, reinforcing a career defined by extraordinary consistency, longevity, and statistical extremes across multiple tournaments.
Lamine Yamal eased injury concerns after being substituted at half-time in Spain’s 4-0 World Cup win over Saudi Arabia, revealing the change had been planned before kick-off. The 18-year-old scored his first World Cup goal in a standout display as Spain bounced back from their draw with Cape Verde. Yamal said the decision was made to manage his workload and keep him fresh.
Belgium were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Iran at the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite dominating possession and creating more chances. Mehdi Taremi had a goal ruled out for offside, while Alireza Beiranvand produced a standout goalkeeping display. Nathan Ngoy’s red card further complicated Belgium’s night, as Iran earned a valuable point in a tightly contested Group G.
Yashasvi Jaiswal etched his name in history, becoming the fastest Indian to score two ODI centuries in just six innings with a brilliant unbeaten 110 against Afghanistan. His stellar knock, coupled with Rohit Sharma's 79, guided India to a commanding nine-wicket victory and a 3-0 series whitewash. Prasidh Krishna's five-wicket haul earlier restricted Afghanistan to 218, setting the stage for Jaiswal's record-breaking performance.
Japan and Tunisia will make FIFA World Cup history when they contest the tournament’s 1,000th match at Monterrey Stadium. The landmark Group F encounter marks a milestone nearly a century in the making, prompting special FIFA tributes and global attention. Beyond its historical significance, the match carries crucial implications for both nations’ hopes of reaching the Round of 32.
The Netherlands secured a commanding 5-1 victory over Sweden at FIFA World Cup 2026, bouncing back from their opening draw with Japan to book a place in the Round of 32. Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo scored twice each, while Crysencio Summerville added a fifth. Despite Sweden’s dominance in shots, Dutch clinical finishing proved decisive in Group F.
Morocco midfielder Ismael Saibari scored the fastest goal of the FIFA World Cup 2026 so far, finding the net after just 71 seconds against Scotland in a crucial Group C clash. The PSV star's record-breaking strike gave the Atlas Lions an early advantage and further enhanced his growing reputation as one of the tournament's breakout performers.
The United States booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 with a composed 2-0 victory over Australia in Seattle. Goals from a Cameron Burgess own goal and Alex Freeman secured a second consecutive Group D win, marking the Americans' first back-to-back men's World Cup victories since 1930 and underlining their growing tournament credentials.
Henry Nicholls marked his return with a stellar unbeaten century, guiding New Zealand to a commanding 252 for 3 on day three against England at The Oval. His 119, coupled with Rachin Ravindra's 76, forged a record partnership, extending New Zealand's lead to 352. This dominant display, built on Matt Henry's five-wicket haul, puts the hosts in a precarious position for a challenging fourth-innings chase.
In a thrilling showdown, Switzerland triumphed with a decisive 4-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, marked by an electrifying finish. The match turned dramatically when substitute Johan Manzambi unleashed a breathtaking volley in the 74th minute, igniting the Swiss side. Following a red card for Bosnia, Rubén Vargas and Manzambi struck again, with Granit Xhaka clinching the victory from the penalty spot.