The World Cup is the biggest event in international football. Spain are the current holders of the World Cup and the next tournament will be held in Brazil 2014.
Here are ten of the great achievements from the chapters of World Cup records:
Most wins
Brazil have won the World Cup more than any other nation with a total of five wins; 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.
They have been helped along the way by some of the best players to have ever graced the game such as Pele, Romario and Ronaldo. They are the hosts of the 2014 tournament.
Most appearances in the final
Brazil also hold the joint record for most appearances in a World Cup final. They have appeared seven times in the World Cup final along with Germany (and former West Germany).
Italy are in third with six final appearances two ahead of Argentina with four appearances in fourth place.
Goals scored in consecutive matches
It is also Brazil and Germany who hold the record for the highest number of consecutive matches scoring a goal at the World Cup. Both nations have scored in 18 consecutive matches at the finals; Brazil between 1930 and 1958 and Germany between 1934 and 1958 and 1986 and 1998.
Most goals in a single tournament
The highest number of goals ever scored by one team at a World Cup was a tally of 27 by Hungary in the 1954 tournament. West Germany scored 25 in the same tournament and France bagged 23 goals in the 1958 World Cup. Brazil scored 22 goals in the 1950 tournament and 19 goals in the 1970 tournament.
All-time top goal-scorers
The fat Ronaldo played in three tournaments in 1998, 2002 and 2006. He scored 15 goals in total which is more than any other player in the history of the tournament.
Gerd Muller is the closest to him on 14 goals having played one tournament less; 1970 and 1974. Miroslav Klose matched the record of Muller with 14 goals over the 2002, 2006 and 2010 tournaments.
Most appearances by player
Lothar Matthaus has the current records for most ever appearances at World Cup tournaments with 25 caps for West Germany.
Paolo Maldini, one of the greatest defenders of all time, is close to him on a tally of 23 caps for Italy. Diego Maradona of Argentina, Uwe Seeler of West Germany and Wladyslaw Zmuda of Poland are all third with 21.
Most red cards
The highest number of red cards ever handed out during a World Cup came in Germany 2006. A total of 28 red cards were shown including one to Zinedine Zidane in the final against Italy.
France 1998 produced the second highest number of red cards with 22 including David Beckham’s famous dismissal against Argentina.
Penalty Shoot-Outs
Germany (and West Germany) have the best record in terms of penalty shoot-outs at a World Cup with the record for most wins, which is four.
Argentina are second to Germany with three wins and one defeat via shoot-outs. England hold the record for most defeats at a World Cup due to penalty shoot-outs with three.
Most goals in qualifying round
Australia currently hold the record for most goals scored in consecutive qualifying games with a massive total of 53 goals.
They secured a 22-0 win over Tonga on April 9 2001 before romping to a 31-0 win against American Samoa just two days later on April 11, 2001. Archie Thompson scored 13 goals in the win over American Samoa.
Youngest & oldest players
The youngest ever player to appear in World Cup qualifiers was Souleymane Mamam of Togo when he played against Zambia on May 6, 2001 aged just 13-years and 310 days old.
The oldest ever player is MacDonald Taylor aged 46-years and 180 days old when he played for the Virgin Islands against St Kitts and Nevis in February 2004.
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