It's a month that goes by far too quickly, but it's the FIFA World Cup, a festival of football that delights the eyes and fulfills the hopes of billions throughout the world.
In 2018, more than half of the world's population tuned in to watch the event, which occurs every four years, and this time was held in Russia. Let's look at seven records and statistics from the history of the competition as we prepare for the first-ever winter edition (geography dependant) of the World Cup.
1. Scorer of the first-ever World Cup goal
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One Lucien Laurent, a Frenchman, can claim the honor of scoring the inaugural World Cup goal. He scored just twice for his country, but after scoring in the 19th minute of France's 4-1 win over Mexico in the tournament's first game, who needs a third?
2. Most goals in one World Cup campaign
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Just Fontaine's fourth-place finish on the list of the World Cup's all-time leading goal scorers is all the more remarkable given that the French legend played in only one tournament. France lost the 1958 World Cup semifinal to eventual winners Brazil, but their star player, Just Fontaine, will live on in football folklore for his flawless individual campaign.
3. Most goals in one World Cup match
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Even though Fontaine had a renowned, goal-filled campaign and a World Cup hat-trick during it, he will never be able to declare that he scored five goals in a single World Cup tournament. Nobody can indeed do it better than Oleg Salenko. In a 1994 group-stage match against Cameroon, the Russian scored five goals (two in each half) to lead his team to a 6-1 victory.
4. The player with the most World Cup triumphs
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Continuing his stay in Brazil, the legendary Pele embodies the success of his country, which has won the World Cup more times than any other country. The diminutive Brazilian was a shining star on the international stage and won three World Cup winner's medals, remarkably hoisting the trophy in 1958, 1962, and 1970. He is widely considered the greatest footballer of all time.
5. The youngest player in World Cup history
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Pele's spectacular debut in the 1958 World Cup might have led you to believe he holds the record for the youngest player in the tournament's history, but you'd be wrong. Whiteside, a former Manchester United player, holds the record for the youngest international player. In 1982, at 17 years and 41 days, he made his international debut for Northern Ireland, playing against Yugoslavia.
6. The oldest player in World Cup history
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From the youthful Whiteside to the grizzled veteran of an Egyptian goalkeeper named Essam El-Hadary, who led his team to a victory over Saudi Arabia as captain four years ago (making him the oldest player and captain in World Cup history in the process), the range of ages represented at this tournament is wide. Although this was his 159th and final national team appearance, it was not a triumphant one, as Egypt ultimately exited the tournament in the group stage after a 2-1 loss.
7. We have one newcomer to the World Cup this year
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Only one of the 32 teams competing in this year's World Cup is making its debut on football's biggest stage. To wit, hosts Qatar, the reigning AFC Asian Cup champions, despite having never played a World Cup match before.