8 - The 2026-27 Premier League season will see eight managers take charge of their new side on MD1, excluding newly promoted sides and the inaugural campaign of 1992-93, this will be the most for a season in the competition. Refresh.

252 - During the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, Maxence Lacroix was the only player to record 50+ tackles (60), 200+ duels won (204) and 250+ clearances (252). Reinforcement.

David Ornstein@david-ornstein.bsky.social · 2w ago

🚨 Maxence Lacroix set for medical today before joining Chelsea from Crystal Palace. ~£52m deal being finalised⁠. 26yo centre-back to sign #CFC contract until June 2032⁠. Chibuike Nwaiwu among alternative #CPFC options to Chrislain Matsima 🚨 @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/739...

1 - 19-year-old Pau Cubarsí led all players in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final for: Touches (139) Passes successful (121) Passing accuracy (96%) Line-breaking passes (21) Clearances (6) Unfazed.

38 - Spain are now unbeaten in their last 38 matches in all competitions, the longest ever run by any European or South American team in history. Premier.

2 - Spain’s Ferran Torres was just the second substitute to score the winning goal in a FIFA World Cup final, after Germany’s Mario Götze in 2014, which also came against Argentina. Repeat.

4 - Argentina have finished as runners up at the FIFA World Cup for the fourth time (also 1930, 1990, 2014), the joint-most of any side, along with Germany. Agony.

1 - Spain have conceded just one goal in their eight games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the fewest goals conceded by any team in a World Cup winning campaign. Immovable.

7 - England have been eliminated every time they have faced a top 10 ranked nation in the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup since 1998 (7/7). Obstacle.

9 & 2 - Lionel Messi completed nine dribbles and assisted two goals against England - the first player on record (from 1966) to do so in a single FIFA World Cup knockout game. Catalyst.

2 - There are just two occasions of a team scoring first in the semi-final but not reaching the final of the FIFA World Cup in the 21st century – both of them are England (vs Croatia in 2018 and Argentina in 2026). Familiar.

1 - The 2026 final between Spain and Argentina will be the first ever FIFA World Cup final between the reigning UEFA European champions, and the reigning CONMEBOL Copa America champions. Showdown.

3 - Having won their first FIFA World Cup semi-final in 1966, England have now lost each of their last three matches at this stage (1990, 2018, 2026). Heartbreak.

10 - Including two today, Lionel Messi now has 12 assists in FIFA World Cup matches, 10 of which have come in knockout rounds. No other player on record (from 1966) has more than eight in total at the finals. Difference.

5 - Argentina have scored five goals from outside the box at the 2026 FIFA World Cup (Lionel Messi x2, Giovani Lo Celso, Julián Alvarez, Enzo Fernández) - the joint-most on record (from 1966) by any side in a single edition. Scope.

30 - England v Argentina is the first FIFA World Cup match on record (since 1966) not to see a single shot in the first 30 minutes. Indeed, the previous record for longest wait for a shot was England's last game against Norway (29th min). Cagey.

121 - Tonight, Harry Kane becomes England's record outfield appearance maker, with his 121st cap taking him ahead of Wayne Rooney (120). Only goalkeeper Peter Shilton (125) has played more times for the Three Lions. Leader.

23 - Aged 23y 12d, Jude Bellingham is the second-youngest player to score 2+ goals in successive FIFA World Cup knockout stage games behind only Pelé in 1958 (17y 249d). Talisman.

25 - European players to be involved in at least 25 goals at major competitions (FIFA World Cups/UEFA EUROs) since 1966: Cristiano Ronaldo - 34 (25G 9A) Kylian Mbappé - 26 (20G 6A) Harry Kane - 25 (21G 4A) Miroslav Klose - 25 (19G 6A) Elite.

81 - With another goal and assist today, Harry Kane has now been involved in 81 goals in 63 appearances for club and country in all competitions in 2025-26 (73 goals, 8 assists). Speechless.

33.2% - England had just 33.2% possession vs Mexico, their lowest in a FIFA World Cup match on record since 1966, while their 48 clearances were their most in a World Cup game since making 54 against Belgium in 1990. Resolute.

11 - England have qualified for their 11th FIFA World Cup quarter-final – only Brazil (15) and Germany (14) have reached more. Marching.

2006 - Jarell Quansah is the first England player to be sent off at the FIFA World Cup since Wayne Rooney in 2006 against Portugal. Rash.

3 - Arsenal players with 3+ assists at a FIFA World Cup tournament on record (from 1966): Dennis Berkgamp, 1998 (3) Martin Ødegaard, 2026 (3) Bukayo Saka, 2026 (3) Magicians.

2 - Jude Bellingham is the first player to score two goals at the Estadio Azteca in a FIFA World Cup game since Diego Maradona in 1986 against Belgium in the semi-final. There were just 98 seconds between his two strikes. Lightning.

9 - Kylian Mbappé has scored nine goals in nine knockout stage games at the FIFA World Cup - now the most of any player in these rounds, overtaking Leônidas and Ronaldo (both 8). Occasion.

13 - Erling Haaland has scored in each of his last 13 competitive internationals for Norway, scoring 25 goals in this run. Inevitable.

3 - Martin Ødegaard is only the third player on record (from 1966) to assist a goal in each of his first three FIFA World Cup appearances, after Igor Belanov for USSR in 1986 and Michael Ballack for Germany in 2002. Creator.

4 - Côte d'Ivoire's Yan Diomande is only the second African men's player in history to play as many as four FIFA World Cup matches while still a teenager, after Nigeria's Sunday Oliseh in 1994. Star.

1 – Germany suffered their first ever FIFA World Cup elimination via a penalty shootout, having won their previous four, while it’s only their second loss on penalties at a major tournament following the 1976 UEFA EURO final to Czechoslovakia (3-5). Faltered.

75.4% - Germany’s 75.4% share of possession is the third-biggest by a side on record in the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup (since 1966), after Spain v Russia in 2018 (79.3%) and Spain v Morocco in 2022 (76.8%). Stalled.