8,706 source-backed sport facts - each attributed to a named person and a number, linked to the original source. Page 26 of 88.
“I have not seen a guy practice that hard since Jerry Rice. I had to have him.”
“They did not - and had just 12% of possession from going ahead to conceding the second goal.”
“FIFA and TikTok gave 30 creators behind-the-scenes access to this World Cup, from bus arrivals to training sessions to press conferences. It's the first time FIFA has named a Preferred Platform partner and creators are now part of that dea…”
“We’re just not communicating. I always use these three letters ‘RCE.’ You got to recognize the defense, recognize the coverage, and then you start to communicate. You can change the play, you can stay with the play, but you got to be a gre…”
“Enzo Fernandez equalised with a thumping strike in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez headed a 92nd-minute winner - both goals coming from assists by Lionel Messi.”
“IShowSpeed launched a large-scale, multi-country tour tied to the World Cup spanning the Caribbean and a broader U.S. tour across 16 host cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, featuring 104 matches and surprise appearances from professio…”
“Enzo Fernández levelled the match in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martínez headed home Messi's cross deep into stoppage time to seal a dramatic 2-1 victory, ensuring the reigning world champions progressed without requiring extra time or…”
“Leading 1-0, many expected Tuchel to go for another goal - but instead the German made three defensive changes. He brought Konsa on for Gordon in the 72nd minute - switching to a back five - before bringing on further defensive reinforceme…”
“The company also announced a deal with Germany’s top pro soccer league, the Bundesliga, for more than 300 matches over the next five years, to be split between Fandango and Versant’s USA Network”
“Pickford has long been known for preparing detailed penalty cheat sheets during major tournaments, with notes taped to his water bottle to help identify opponents' preferred spot-kick placement.”
“Messi's two assists helped the South American side come from behind to win 2-1, taking him up to four assists at the 2026 World Cup - to go with his eight goals. The joint top scorer and the second highest assister in the whole show.”
“‘It’s been hugely beneficial for us,’ Hong said of the EPL deal. ‘European soccer and soccer generally is up and to the right in the United States.’”
“Following the final whistle, television cameras caught several Argentina players gathering around the England goalkeeper's bottle, reportedly reading the handwritten notes that had been prepared in anticipation of a possible shootout. Mess…”
“This summer Messi became the all-time top scorer at World Cups with 21 goals (out of his 125 Argentina goals in total). Fifteen of those 21 have come since his 35th birthday.”
“The Tampa Bay Rays chose shortstop Grady Emerson, the 2026 Gatorade National Player of the Year, with the No. 2 selection in this year's draft.”
“The veteran announced his retirement after seven seasons, bringing an end to a journey that included stops with six franchises.”
“Lionel Messi is Argentina's runaway international top scorer with 125 goals”
“Emerson, an 18-year-old Texan who spent his senior season at Fort Worth Christian playing for former Rangers’ outfielder Rusty Greer, hit .532 (42-for-79) with seven homers, 50 RBI and 31 stolen bases in 28 games.”
“He made two starts during his rookie season, completing 28 of 52 passes for 228 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions.”
“He completed nine dribbles and assisted two goals against England - the first player on record (from 1966 onwards) to do so in a single World Cup knockout game.”
“He joined Royals’ shortstop Bobby Witt, Jr. as the only high school players to be named Golden Spikes Award (nation’s top amateur player) semifinalists since the award’s inception in 1978.”
“At West Virginia, he threw for 7,354 yards and 71 touchdowns in two seasons and finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting.”
“And Argentina had 88% possession for the following 37 minutes.”
“Shortstop and No. 1 pick, Roch Cholowsky, signed with the White Sox for a reported $10.35 million.”
“Ashlyn and Jude Bellingham were first linked in early 2025, when Ashlyn was seen joining Jude's parents at a Real Madrid match.”
“Messi had seven touches in the opposition box - the same as every English player added together. Ditto his four chances created.”
“Price’s bonus was part of a deal he signed that guaranteed $8.25 million. ... In 2012, he went 20-5 with a 2.56 ERA and won the award.”
“The couple attended the Madrid Open tennis tournament together in spring 2026.”
“This time Messi and Mbappe are level on eight goals. Mbappe's France play England on Saturday in the third-place play-off. If players finish level on goals, the tie-breaker is assists - with Messi on four to Mbappe's three.”
“In 2010, the southpaw won 19 games and was second in American League Cy Young voting to Seattle’s Felix Hernandez. ... Price is top three on Tampa Bay career lists in every major pitching category, including wins (82, second) and strikeout…”
“On June 17, Bellingham kissed Castro following England's 4-2 win over Croatia.”
“Before the England tie, he had walked 47% of the distance he covered in this tournament, the highest percentage of any outfield player.”
“Longoria was selected out of Long Beach State, is Tampa Bay’s all-time leader in several categories, including games (1,435), home runs (261), RBI (892) and runs (780). ... Longoria’s No. 3 was retired by the Rays last weekend.”
“who booked their place in the title clash with a 2-0 victory over France.”
“capped 28 times by England and played nearly 400 times for Manchester United”
“Upton was with Tampa Bay through 2012 and is second on the franchise’s career chart for stolen bases (232), fourth in games (966) and hits (910) and fifth in home runs (118).”
“Argentina's 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland”
“40 times a day, five times a week over each 10-month season”
“he signed for what was a record bonus of $7 million. ... Unfortunately, that was his only season in the big leagues as a torn labrum in 2020 commenced an injury-riddled slide.”
“The Three Lions had earlier edged past DR Congo and Mexico by one-goal margins, highlighting the resilience that has carried them into just their fourth World Cup semi-final.”
“phasing out all heading in youth football up to under-11s by 2026”
“This year marked the 12th time and first since 2017 that the Rays had a top 10 pick.”
“England and Argentina have not met in a competitive fixture since the 2002 FIFA World Cup, when England secured a 1-0 victory.”
“£550 tribute to the trophy, with the words 'England World Cup Winner 2026' etched in capitals underneath.”
“The championship matchup is the most expensive sporting event in U.S. history, with ticket prices reaching an average of $11,327, according to TickPick.”
“India may have opened the three-match ODI series with a comfortable six-wicket win over England at Edgbaston”
“335 senior appearances and 85 goals”
“FIFA opened an office at Trump Tower last year and unveiled the Club World Cup trophy alongside Eric Trump. The location is just one of two offices FIFA has in the U.S.”
“Joe Root and Liam Dawson stitched together a 121-run partnership for the seventh wicket”
“five senior Republic of Ireland caps”
“Trump said he personally called Infantino to ask for a review of the red card and one-match suspension issued against U.S. striker Folarin Balogun. The suspension was unexpectedly overturned and Balogun was able to participate in the round…”
“Axar Patel backed up his four-wicket haul with an unbeaten 57”
“His side have scored 13 goals at this World Cup, but 12 of those have come from Bellingham and Kane.”
“Netflix will also air five live NFL games this regular season – all of which keenly focused on pulling in big audiences for an eventized property. Along with the standout Week One game from Australia between the (Super Bowl favorite) Los A…”
“Ten years ago, a 29-year-old Lionel Messi — with eight La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and five of his eight Ballon d’Or awards in his bag at that time while playing for Barcelona — decided that it was enough for him to live with th…”
“He has walked 47% of the distance he has covered so far at this World Cup, the highest percentage of any outfield player at the tournament.”
“The service’s biggest swing, though, may be the rights it secured for the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
““It’s over me, that’s it. I tried so hard but it just isn’t happening,” Messi, crestfallen and his psyche shattered, announced as the ‘end’ came with his missed penalty in a defeat to Chile in the Copa America final in New Jersey, extendin…”
“England have reached two World Cup semi-finals in the six decades since then - at Italia '90 and then in Russia eight years ago.”
“went from 50,000 Instagram followers to 1 million within 24 hours of his team’s stunning 0-0 tie against Spain in June and, by Wednesday, had topped 29.3 million.”
“He finally rode into World Cup lore in 2022 — a coronation with his peace of mind in La Albiceleste colours — in between two Copa America titles (in 2021 and 2024)”
“Spain have equalled Italy's record for the longest unbeaten run in international football - 37 matches.”
“he already had about 40 million Instagram followers coming into the World Cup, but his goofy demeanor in social media posts and interviews, crucial goals and Norway's surprisingly deep run gained him another 24 million.”
“India brought an end to England's remarkable 12-year unbeaten run in Men's ODIs at Edgbaston with a convincing six-wicket victory on 1st ODI.”
“Spain are the first team in World Cup history to keep six clean sheets at a single edition.”
“New Zealand defender Tim Payne had fewer than 5,000 Instagram followers before the tournament but a mission by influencer Valen Scarsini to find the World Cup’s 'least-known footballer’ skyrocketed his following to 5.6 million—more than th…”
“All-rounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar successfully guided Team India to a 259-run chase in the first ODI against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Tuesday.”
“Eloy Room, goalkeeper for Curaçao, skyrocketed in popularity after making a record-tying 15 saves in a match against Ecuador and went from 90,000 to 1.1 million.”
“The win also extended India's unbeaten run against England in ODIs to six consecutive victories while ending England's seven-match winning streak at Edgbaston.”
“Teenage sensation Gilberto Mora, 17, of Mexico was already considered a prodigy in his country and counted about 1 million Instagram followers, but his fearless play at the tournament—and comparisons to soccer legends like Pelé—made him a …”
“The 102-run stand between Axar and Washington for the fifth wicket, under the blazing sun, lifted the proverbial clouds that had briefly converged over India's march towards victory.”
“A large-scale campaign championed by CazéTV and social media influencers from Brazil made defender Douglas Santos' Instagram following skyrocket nearly 1,200%—from about 190,000 before the World Cup to 2.6 million.”
“England, who had been pegged back by the 101-run partnership between Gill (80 off 75 balls) and Iyer (35 off 53 balls), were suddenly roaring in celebration, as were the 20,744 in attendance.”
“Established global stars like Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (already the most-followed celebrity on Instagram), Brazil’s Neymar, England’s Jude Bellingham, Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappé have gained another 10 million, …”
“Since 2025, he has scored 291 runs in that position at an average of 36.37 and a strike rate of 99.31.”
“Google search volume skyrocketed more than 5,000% earlier this week for the term “taxidermied raccoon” after Haaland was seen disembarking a plane in Oslo, Norway, on Monday with his bizarre World Cup souvenir.”
“unable to add to his eight tournament goals”
“That’s how many goals Messi has scored at the 2026 World Cup, tying him for top scorer, alongside France’s Kylian Mbappe”
“earned a yellow card in the 86th minute after colliding with goalkeeper Unai Simón”
“8. That’s how many goals Messi has scored at the 2026 World Cup, tying him for top scorer, alongside France’s Kylian Mbappe.”
“France's 2-0 defeat to Spain”
“allegations of favoritism picked up steam this year after Argentina won a hotly contested match with Egypt to win 3-2 in the final minutes of the game.”
“India registered a comprehensive nine-wicket victory on September 2, 2014.”
“Others pointed out what was a historically easy path to the semifinals for Argentina, which didn’t face any of the top 13 teams in the FIFA ranking prior to that match”
“though its comeback win over No. 4-ranked England took the steam out of some of those critiques.”
“Post Malone will headline the closing ceremony on Sunday, July 19, scheduled to take place at 1:30ET before the championship game between Argentina and Spain kicks off at 3:30 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.”
“Justin Bieber is set to co-headline the first-ever official FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show, taking the stage with Madonna, Shakira and BTS.”
“Chris Martin is serving as curator of the landmark extended performance, for which the Coldplay frontman teamed with Global Citizen to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.”
“FIFA announced earlier this week that Jennifer Hudson would sing the national anthem for the final game.”
“We are thrilled to have so many stars taking to the pitch, from both the football and entertainment worlds. The closing ceremony will set the tone for a historic FIFA World Cup final, uniting the passion of 48 teams, 16 host cities and mil…”
“Esports legend Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, the most successful League of Legends player, has officially joined the Esports Foundation as a game ambassador for the Esports World Cup and Esports Nations Cup.”
“After winning at the inaugural Esports World Cup, but falling short last year, Faker will be looking to reclaim the EWC trophy”
“In the T1 jersey, he is the ultimate symbol of competitive excellence: the most decorated player in League of Legends history, still competing at the highest level and adding the inaugural Esports World Cup title to a career that has defin…”
“I think all this dry weather and sun and a little bit of wind is obviously great for the course in one way, but when I was here a couple weeks ago, the rough was a lot more penal than it's going to be this week. It's definitely burnt out a…”
“Temperatures for the week have touched the low 80s, unusually warm conditions for the western side of England. The forecast for the tournament rounds is much of the same: sunny and warm conditions, winds in the 15 mph range, with limited t…”
“Firm fast conditions like these have not been seen since the 2018 Open Championship at Carnoustie or the 2022 Open Championship at The Old Course.”
“Okay, it might be in the rough, but it's not that penal, so you get a wedge in your hand and you can figure it out from there.”
“During the knockout round, they have scored nine goals from the 79th minute on. That includes extra-time goals.”
“Messi has scored a World Cup career-record 21 goals and also tops the assists list at 12.”
“The South American champions will Spain in the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on Sunday, July 19. [...] Their latest dramatic comeback came on Wednesday, July 15, as Argentina ripped the nets twice over a six-minute, 34-…”
