Several previews of the 2026 World Cup highlight how leading players and teams could pursue long-standing record milestones during the tournament. The reports focus on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as they continue chasing statistical achievements at World Cup level, noting that their pursuit could include records unlikely to be matched in the future. Kylian Mbappé is also identified as a key contender for milestones that could further define his standing among the tournament’s most successful performers. In addition to individual targets, the coverage points to national teams as they seek to add to or break tournament benchmarks, suggesting that the competitive structure of the 2026 edition creates opportunities for multiple historic outcomes. While the outlets differ in how they frame the number and specifics of possible records—one listing a set of potential records to watch and the other emphasizing the broader theme of “record chasing”—they converge on the idea that the 2026 World Cup is positioned as a stage where prominent players and countries could rewrite parts of the record book.