8 Records that Could be Broken at Qatar 2022
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By Martin Graham | 7th Apr 2022
With the teams now in the know regarding their group stages opponents for the 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup holding later this year in Qatar, we take a look at eight records which could be broken, set, extended or matched at the upcoming global showpiece.
Dangerous Brazil: Most red cards in World Cup history
Brazil are the only side to have participated in every single World Cup in history, so it is understandable that they lead the way in the records book for number of dismissals received.
In the 21 World Cups to date, Brazilian players have been sent off 11 times since the concept of cards was introduced to football. Brazil could extend their record, or have it matched by Uruguay who are next with nine red cards to their name.
Stalwarts: Brazil and Germany’s World Cup match record
The two most successful teams in FIFA World Cup history, five-time tournament winners Brazil and four-time tournament winners Germany, have both played 109 matches in the World Cup.
This tournament will see both teams struggle to extend their lead at the top of that record. Germany will also have the added incentive of catching up to Brazil in number of titles won, as Qatar 2022 provides Die Mannschaft with an opportunity for a fifth title.
Bad luck Pique: Mexico’s record of 27 World Cup match losses
El Tri are the most unfortunate team in World Cup history, with a record number of 27 matches lost. This becomes even worse when you put into perspective that they have played the most matches of all other teams who have failed to win the competition (57 matches).
This shows how close they have come to the title, and the team from the CONCACAF region will be hoping they don’t extend their lead at the top of this unfortunate record list.
Messi and Ronaldo to reach 20 World Cup matches
The world will witness Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo possibly turn out for their teams for the last time at the FIFA World Cup in this year’s tournament.
Both players will be looking to join the exclusive club of players who have featured in 20 matches or more in the tournament. Messi is only a game away, while Ronaldo will have to play all three group stage games to hit that mark.
Only 11 players have played 20 matches or more at the world finals. Like Messi, who is one away from reaching that mark, Ronaldo can join this select group at Qatar 2022 if he makes three appearances with Portugal.
Mercurial Messi to match Lothar Matthaus?
Messi could also be breaking and setting two other appearance records at the tournament.
Argentina legend Diego Armando Maradona is the player with the most World Cup appearances in Argentina. Messi has already broken the record of most international caps for his country, and could be taking the World Cup record from his predecessor.
Two appearances will see Messi match Maradona’s 21 World Cup appearances for Argentina, and one more could make the Paris Saint-Germain forward the outright record holder in his country.
Meanwhile, Messi, who will be hoping to do one better than his silver medal from the 2014 World Cup, could match German great Lothar Matthaus on 26 World Cup appearances if he makes it all the way to the final.
That would be one impressive way to retire for the seven-time Ballon d’or winner.
Ronaldo to cement place as goal-scoring legend
The man with the most international goals in football history, Cristiano Ronaldo, is set to extend his record once again in 2022.
The hyper-competitive Portuguese superstar, however, will have his sights set on one record: the only player to score in five World Cups.
It is a feat not even Pele has achieved, and all it takes is one goal for Ronaldo in Qatar to etch his name into the history books.
Didier Deschamps to achieve legendary manager status
France manager Didier Deschamps is already in the World Cup history books as one of only three managers to win the World Cup as a player and a coach, and one of only two to win the title as captain and coach.
Among all the qualified managers for this edition, he has coached the most games – 12 – and is on course to extend that record.
But what he will be most interested in is setting the record for most wins in the World Cup as a manager, as two more wins will have him at 11 wins in total, a feat no manager has managed at the mundial.
Four consecutive capitulations by defeating champions?
Deschamps will be hoping to pick up the wins he needs to stand out at the top of the World Cup manager pyramid because it will mean that France returns the World Cup back to normalcy after the last three World Cups saw the defending champions exit the tournament from the group stages: Italy at South Africa 2010, Spain at Brazil 2014, and Germany at Russia 2018.
Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer
