BY KUNLE SOLAJA, NEW YORK

When Morocco stunned Spain at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar four years ago, one player left an indelible impression on Spanish coach Luis Enrique.

“Who is that lad?” Enrique famously asked after watching Morocco’s tireless No. 8, Azzedine Ounahi, dominate midfield during the Atlas Lions’ historic run to the semi-finals.

Now, as Morocco prepare for another high-stakes World Cup showdown with France in Boston on Thursday, Ounahi once again finds himself at the heart of his nation’s ambitions.

The midfielder, who was then an emerging talent at Angers, has evolved into one of Morocco’s most influential players. Under coach Mohamed Ouahbi, Ounahi has been given greater attacking freedom and has responded in style, most notably with a brilliant brace in Morocco’s 3-0 Round-of-16 victory over Canada.

Former Moroccan federation technical director Nasser Larguet believes the 26-year-old has matured significantly since Qatar 2022.

“In 2022 he linked defence and attack; now he is the one finishing the chances,” Larguet said, praising the player’s growing confidence and leadership.

Despite a turbulent club career that has taken him from Angers to Marseille, Panathinaikos and now Girona, Ounahi has remained a cornerstone of the Moroccan national team, where his performances have consistently risen on the biggest stages.

That quality will be crucial as Morocco seek revenge for their 2-0 semi-final defeat to France in Qatar and attempt to reach another World Cup semi-final.

For the Atlas Lions, Ounahi remains the conductor of the orchestra — the player capable of controlling the rhythm, unlocking defences and inspiring another chapter in Morocco’s remarkable World Cup story.

And unlike in Qatar, nobody in world football needs to ask who Morocco’s No. 8 is anymore.

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Argentina are set to carve out a unique piece of FIFA World Cup history when they take on Egypt in their Round of 16 encounter on Tuesday.

The South Americans will become the first team ever to face three African nations in a single edition of the World Cup, underlining the growing influence of the continent on football’s biggest stage.

Already in the course of their 2026 campaign, Argentina have crossed paths with two African opponents. Lionel Scaloni’s side opened their knockout journey against fairytale debutants Cape Verde, overcoming the island nation 3-2 in a thrilling Round of 32 contest.

Earlier in the group phase, they had also met Algeria, continuing a long tradition of World Cup encounters between Argentina and African representatives.

Now Egypt stand in their path, making it three African opponents in the same tournament – a first in the 96-year history of the FIFA World Cup.

The milestone is a reflection not only of Argentina’s route through the competition but also of Africa’s unprecedented presence in the latter stages of the 2026 tournament. For the first time, multiple African nations advanced deep into the knockout rounds, increasing the likelihood of intercontinental encounters.

Historically, Argentina have had a long relationship with African teams at the World Cup.

Their tournament journey famously began with a defeat to Cameroon in the opening match of Italia ’90, one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. Since then, they have faced the likes of Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Tunisia, South Africa and Algeria across different editions of the competition.

No nation, however, had ever found itself facing three African opponents in a single World Cup before now.

The achievement further highlights the expanded nature of the 2026 tournament, which features 48 teams and a larger knockout phase, creating opportunities for records and matchups previously considered unlikely.

For Egypt, meanwhile, the match represents another opportunity to add to Africa’s growing influence at the tournament. The Pharaohs arrive unbeaten in four consecutive World Cup matches, a national record, and are eager to become the latest African side to upset one of football’s traditional heavyweights.

Whether Argentina’s historic sequence against African opposition continues beyond Tuesday remains to be seen. But regardless of the outcome, the Albiceleste have already secured a unique place in World Cup history by becoming the first team to face three African nations in a single edition of the global showpiece.

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Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has added yet another remarkable chapter to his glittering career by becoming the first player in FIFA World Cup history to score in eight consecutive matches at the global football showpiece.

The record-breaking feat places Messi alone at the summit of one of the tournament’s most exclusive statistical categories, further strengthening his claim as one of the greatest players ever to grace the World Cup stage.

Before Messi’s extraordinary run, the benchmark had been shared by two legendary figures from different eras of football. France’s Just Fontaine scored in six successive matches during the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, a tournament in which he also set the still-standing record of 13 goals in a single edition.

More than a decade later, Brazil’s Jairzinho matched that achievement by finding the net in all six of Brazil’s matches on their triumphant march to the 1970 World Cup title in Mexico.

For decades, the exploits of Fontaine and Jairzinho appeared untouchable. Yet Messi has now surpassed both legends by extending his scoring streak to eight consecutive World Cup appearances.

The milestone is another addition to a long list of World Cup records accumulated by the Argentine captain. Already among the tournament’s leading goalscorers and appearance-makers, Messi continues to redefine longevity and excellence on football’s grandest stage.

What makes the achievement even more remarkable is the span of opponents, venues and knockout pressure under which the goals have arrived. Maintaining a scoring sequence across eight consecutive World Cup matches demands not only elite finishing ability but also consistency against the highest level of international competition.

The record also highlights Messi’s enduring influence on Argentina’s fortunes. Time and again, when the Albiceleste have needed inspiration, their talisman has delivered, turning crucial moments into historic milestones.

With Argentina still in contention at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the possibility remains that Messi could extend the streak even further, pushing a record that already appears destined to stand among the tournament’s most extraordinary individual achievements.

For now, however, the numbers tell their own story: eight consecutive World Cup matches, eight scoring performances, and one record-holder standing above all others.

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