The World Cup has been a rollercoaster ride of drama and excitement so far – think high-octane action, heart-stopping twists, and goals that have left fans gasping for breath. As the tournament hurtles into its decisive third group stage, we've taken stock of the most thrilling matches, moments, players, and goals to date. And what a fortnight it's been!
Senegal's 3-2 stunner over Norway has stolen the top spot as the best match so far – a see-sawing encounter that had both teams leaving everything on the pitch. England's 4-2 victory against Croatia also made the cut, praised for its high-octane first half and a dominant second-half display from the Three Lions.
Lionel Messi has been pure magic, netting a hat-trick to equal the all-time World Cup goals record – an incredible feat at the ripe old age of 38! Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, cemented his status as a World Cup great by becoming the first player to score in six tournaments with two goals against Uzbekistan.
And then there are the underdogs – Cape Verde's heroes have stolen hearts with their plucky performances. Vozinha's heroics between the sticks against Spain earned them a well-deserved 0-0 draw, while Kevin Pina's opening goal for Cape Verde against Uruguay was pure genius – showcasing the nation's unexpected impact on the tournament.
Other highlights include DR Congo's Yoane Wissa equalising against Portugal to secure their first-ever World Cup point, and Harry Kane equalling Gary Lineker's England World Cup record with his tenth tournament goal. Canada also made history with a 6-0 thrashing of nine-man Qatar – Jonathan David's hat-trick sealing the deal.
Source: BBC Sport