***** Official World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Thread *****

135,903 Views | 2616 Replies | Last: 2 mo ago by randy828
ErnestEndeavor
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1-0, could easily be 4-0
wangus12
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Ugh ****ing France
bagger05
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Just an unreal player.
Thunder18
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France finally breaks through after heavy pressure the last few minutes. Mbappe is a freak
deadbq03
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Hell of a goal.
Thunder18
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17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible
bagger05
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Sweden is generating some really good looking chances.
Maximus_Meridius
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That was almost an equalizer...
boogieman
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Mbappe is soo good.
wangus12
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How close was that.
LouisHerbertWong
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Thunder18 said:

17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible

Best player on the planet. He'll finish his national team career with 40+.
Peter Piper
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LouisHerbertWong said:

Thunder18 said:

17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible

Best player on the planet. He'll finish his national team career with 40+.

He's 27. How many more World Cups you think he'll play?

For sure in 2030 but 2034 at 35 years-old? Maybe but I wouldn't put money on that.
Enrico Pallazzo
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I'd put $$$ on 35. 39 is more the question IMO
The Ex Officio Director
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Peter Piper said:

LouisHerbertWong said:

Thunder18 said:

17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible

Best player on the planet. He'll finish his national team career with 40+.

He's 27. How many more World Cups you think he'll play?

For sure in 2030 but 2034 at 35 years-old? Maybe but I wouldn't put money on that.

Messi is 39.
My gummy-bear died. My unicorn ran away. My imaginary friend got kidnapped. The voices in my head wont talk to me.
I've got a red bull. So I got that going for me.
LeonardSkinner
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Peter Piper said:

LouisHerbertWong said:

Thunder18 said:

17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible

Best player on the planet. He'll finish his national team career with 40+.

He's 27. How many more World Cups you think he'll play?

For sure in 2030 but 2034 at 35 years-old? Maybe but I wouldn't put money on that.

Not that I'm signing on to the prediction, but remind me who the current Golden Boot leader is, and his age?
Enrico Pallazzo
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Yep, Messi is obviously an outlier, but Mbappe certainly is an outlier of his own. I think he's good for at least 2 more barring significant injury/ies. And wouldn't write off a 3rd.
Peter Piper
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The Ex Officio Director said:

Peter Piper said:

LouisHerbertWong said:

Thunder18 said:

17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible

Best player on the planet. He'll finish his national team career with 40+.

He's 27. How many more World Cups you think he'll play?

For sure in 2030 but 2034 at 35 years-old? Maybe but I wouldn't put money on that.

Messi is 39.

Different type of player. He doesn't rely on his physicality. A better comparison would be with Ronaldo.
Enrico Pallazzo
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Not sure that's the direction you want to go with the "he won't be playing at 39" argument either
The Ex Officio Director
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Peter Piper said:

The Ex Officio Director said:

Peter Piper said:

LouisHerbertWong said:

Thunder18 said:

17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible

Best player on the planet. He'll finish his national team career with 40+.

He's 27. How many more World Cups you think he'll play?

For sure in 2030 but 2034 at 35 years-old? Maybe but I wouldn't put money on that.

Messi is 39.

Different type of player. He doesn't rely on his physicality. A better comparison would be with Ronaldo.

And Ronaldo is 41.
My gummy-bear died. My unicorn ran away. My imaginary friend got kidnapped. The voices in my head wont talk to me.
I've got a red bull. So I got that going for me.
Peter Piper
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The Ex Officio Director said:

Peter Piper said:

The Ex Officio Director said:

Peter Piper said:

LouisHerbertWong said:

Thunder18 said:

17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible

Best player on the planet. He'll finish his national team career with 40+.

He's 27. How many more World Cups you think he'll play?

For sure in 2030 but 2034 at 35 years-old? Maybe but I wouldn't put money on that.

Messi is 39.

Different type of player. He doesn't rely on his physicality. A better comparison would be with Ronaldo.

And Ronaldo is 41.

And dude sucks at 41. Dude is a mere shell of what he was 10 years ago. That's what age does to you when you rely on pace and explosiveness.
LeonardSkinner
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Honestly, we should probably assume he'll keep playing until he doesn't. I could argue that, in terms of a nation's soccer GOAT, he's on a similar trajectory for France as Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been for their countries.

And when you're the country's greatest of all time, they'll give you a roster spot until you say no.
wangus12
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That was a ****ing dirty play Upamecano. Straight hit in the face and no call
AgLA06
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wangus12 said:

That was a ****ing dirty play Upamecano. Straight hit in the face and no call

I normally asume most is incidental, but I don't see how you can argue that's incidental at all. He deserves a fine for that.
carl spacklers hat
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Sweden keeper making himself some money in this match. Don't expect him to be in the Championship when the new season comes around.
People think I'm an idiot or something, because all I do is cut lawns for a living.
carl spacklers hat
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The Ex Officio Director said:

Peter Piper said:

LouisHerbertWong said:

Thunder18 said:

17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible

Best player on the planet. He'll finish his national team career with 40+.

He's 27. How many more World Cups you think he'll play?

For sure in 2030 but 2034 at 35 years-old? Maybe but I wouldn't put money on that.

Messi is 39.

Mbappe is no Messi.
People think I'm an idiot or something, because all I do is cut lawns for a living.
Thunder18
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Olise to Mbappe is unstoppable
THE_CHOSEN_ONE
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France looks unstoppable
Who?mikejones!
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Yes, I agree. Ronaldo relied so heavily on his athletic ability and just straight bullied everyone, it tend to catch up to you more than a Messi who's vision, passing, positioning, etc that made him great.

Mbappe falls more under the Ronaldo mold. I think he will find it much harder to play at a high enough level to be on a French WC team beyond 35
Enrico Pallazzo
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Mbappe might only need the 2026 WC to track down Messi's career WC goals
Who?mikejones!
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THE_CHOSEN_ONE said:

France looks unstoppable


Only thing stopping them are the posts
boogieman
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Juked outta their socks.
YokelRidesAgain
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I don't see Les Bleus losing at this tournament.
wangus12
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Enrico Pallazzo said:

Mbappe might only need the 2026 WC to track down Messi's career WC goals


And that is with FIFA hooking Messi up with what will be the easiest ever path to a World Cup Final
wangus12
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THE_CHOSEN_ONE said:

France looks unstoppable


People keep saying Argentina, but they've looked average outside of Messi moments against lackluster competition
The Ex Officio Director
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carl spacklers hat said:

The Ex Officio Director said:

Peter Piper said:

LouisHerbertWong said:

Thunder18 said:

17 goals in 18 WC matches is just incredible

Best player on the planet. He'll finish his national team career with 40+.

He's 27. How many more World Cups you think he'll play?

For sure in 2030 but 2034 at 35 years-old? Maybe but I wouldn't put money on that.

Messi is 39.

Mbappe is no Messi.

I didn't say Mbappe was.

Just pointing out that Mbappe can be in late 30s or even early 40s and still be playing.
My gummy-bear died. My unicorn ran away. My imaginary friend got kidnapped. The voices in my head wont talk to me.
I've got a red bull. So I got that going for me.
 
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