England and Portugal chase World Cup glory as Ronaldo eyes new record
England kicked off their World Cup campaign with hopes of ending a six-decade trophy drought as they faced Croatia. Cristiano Ronaldo is set to match the record for most World Cup appearances, while his rival Lionel Messi made headlines with a historic hat-trick for Argentina. The tournament also saw Bernardo Silva sign a two-year deal with Real Madrid, adding more star power to Portugal. With several high-stakes matches and standout performances, the World Cup is off to an electrifying start.
Match highlights
- Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, is expected to captain Portugal in their opening game against the Democratic Republic of Congo, aiming for a record-equalling sixth World Cup.
- Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick for Argentina, reaching 16 World Cup goals and becoming the first man to play in six World Cups.
- Bernardo Silva joined Real Madrid on a two-year contract after leaving Manchester City.
- Harry Kane encouraged his England squad to play with freedom as they faced Croatia, the 2018 World Cup finalists, in their opener.
- France began their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Senegal, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice.
