The 2018 World Cup in Russia is nearly here. In the build-up to the most eagerly anticipated tournament in football, we're looking at a whole host of incredible records, players and moments.
This time, on the eve of the tournament, we pick out five records which could well be matched or broken during this year's tournament.
The FIFA World Cup always throws up new records and we don't think Russia 2018 will be any different.
Ahead of this year's tournament we take a look at seven record titles which could be beaten by those taking part.
Some of these people are household names, others less so, but they're all in with a shout of leaving Russia as a Guinness World Records title holder.
Longevity
When Uruguay take to the field against Egypt on 15th June, both teams could have a record breaker in the ranks.
Óscar Tabarez has led the South Americans at the 1990, 2010 and 2014 tournaments, and when Uruguay’s game kicks off in Yekaterinburg it'll be his fourth World Cup in charge - meaning he will have the Most FIFA World Cup appearances with the same national team by a coach.
His World Cup highlight was undoubtedly 2010 when Uruguay finished fourth, inspired by Diego Forlan who was joint top scorer (his strike against Germany in the third-place play-off was selected as goal of the tournament) and awarded the Golden Ball, officially recognising him as the tournament’s best player.
Meanwhile Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary is likely to become the Oldest player in a FIFA World Cup if he takes to the field for the African side.
Currently 45 years old, he’s already two years older than Colombia’s Faryd Mondragón who was 43 years and three days when his side faced Japan during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
There’s a good chance El-Hadary will play for Egypt during the tournament as he was his country’s first choice shot stopper for the 2017 African Cup of Nations (also giving him the title for Oldest player at an African Cup of Nations finals tournament at 44 years 21 days), in which Egypt finished runners-up to Cameroon.
Most goals
Brazil and Germany will continue to battle it out for the Most FIFA World Cup finals goals by a team.
Like the individual goalscoring record, Germany took the team feat away from Brazil during their humbling of the 2014 hosts.
They now have 224 World Cup goals (including the years they played as West Germany), while Brazil have 221.
And with a World Cup featuring the attacking talents of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez, Diego Costa, Antoine Griezmann and Mohamed Salah, the record for the Most goals scored in a single FIFA World Cup (171 set at Brazil 2014 and France 98) could also be beaten.
Clean sheets
One group which will be determined to keep the goal tally low will be the goalkeepers, and none more so than Germany’s long term number one, Manuel Neuer. The 32-year-old is just three clean sheets shy of the Most FIFA World Cup clean sheets record held by England’s Peter Shilton and French shot stopper, Fabian Barthez.
Both Shilton and Barthez have 10 World Cup clean sheets apiece and, given he’s kept opposition sides out seven times in his last two tournaments, it’s not inconceivable for Neuer to equal this record if he’s returned from injury in time.
Captain's role
Every team needs a captain, and if there's one man who knows a thing or two about leading his country at the World Cup it's Mexico's Rafael Marquez.
The midfielder set a new record four years ago for Most FIFA World Cup finals as captain (Brazil 2014 was his fourth tournament as Mexico's skipper) and he could well lead his country at a fifth World Cup having been included in their squad.
Top goalscorer
All football fans remember the game in which German striker Miroslav Klose eclipsed Ronaldo’s goalscoring record – THAT 7-1 semi-final victory over Brazil four years ago.
Since that tournament the former Bayern Munich and Lazio striker has retired from the game.
While it’s unlikely, it’s not totally out of the question that fellow German, Thomas Müller, could at least equal Klose’s record for Most FIFA World Cup finals goals by a player.
The record currently stands at 16. Müller has scored five goals in each of his first two global tournaments (winning the Golden Boot for highest goalscorer in South Africa 2010).
Could he score six this year to match his former teammate? You wouldn’t bet against it, and there’s still a chance he’ll claim the record at Qatar 2022.
