The World Cup is over, long live the World Cup: A look back at one of the best tournaments ever

A Tournament to Remember: Reflections on the 2026 World Cup

Goldlaner.com – It has concluded. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially come to an end, leaving behind memories that will endure for generations. Following an extraordinary campaign featuring 308 goals across 104 fixtures contested in 16 host cities spanning three continents, Spain emerged victorious to claim the championship trophy. Although the concluding match may not have thrilled neutral observers, it proved entirely appropriate that the tournament’s finest squad secured the ultimate prize.

While Spanish supporters worldwide rejoiced over their nation’s second World Cup triumph (the Spanish editor can personally attest to this celebration occurring in North London, despite a persistent headache), the rest of the footballing world took time to reflect upon an emotionally charged, record-shattering, and star-filled edition of the global competition.

Overcoming Doubts and Celebrating Success

For numerous years, questions plagued this particular World Cup. Would the event prove safe for all participants? Would local populations demonstrate genuine enthusiasm? Would billions of dollars ultimately represent a financial waste? While skeptics found validation on certain occasions, the 2026 tournament stands as a magnificent triumph nonetheless. This achievement owes little to politicians or administrative organizations; rather, it belongs to the millions of supporters who traveled to North America to celebrate together. It belongs to the legendary players who delivered performances at peak levels and to the underdog nations that exceeded all expectations.

As we present our final World Cup edition of this newsletter, it seems entirely fitting to honor some of the most enchanting moments from this remarkable tournament.

Official Honors and Personal Recognition

Before Spain claimed the primary trophy, several individual accolades were distributed following yesterday’s championship match. France’s Kylian Mbappé secured the Golden Boot after netting 10 goals, simultaneously establishing himself as the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer. Spanish defender Pau Cubarsí received recognition as the tournament’s finest young talent, while goalkeeper Unai Simón earned the Golden Glove award. Midfielder Rodri completed the quartet of official honors by winning the Golden Ball for player of the tournament.

However, beyond these established awards, we at The Beautiful Game wished to acknowledge our own selections. Consider this CNN’s version of the World Cup Oscars. You may contest certain choices, but that remains perfectly acceptable given my considerable fatigue.

Our Personal Awards

Best Match: Apologies to Spanish enthusiasts, but the final certainly did not claim this distinction. Fortunately, spectators enjoyed numerous extraordinary encounters throughout the month-long competition. The first contest that immediately surfaces involves England’s valiant performance against Mexico within the Estadio Azteca. Reduced to ten players and battling both altitude and passionate home supporters, the Three Lions managed to advance to the quarterfinals against their co-hosts.

We also witnessed Cape Verde securing a 2-2 draw with Uruguay, followed by those same Blue Sharks pushing defending champions Argentina into extra time during the Round of 32. Ultimately, however, I award this honor to Argentina’s remarkable 3-2 comeback victory against Egypt in the Round of 16. That encounter contained everything: abundant controversy, spectacular goals, and what can only be described as a Lionel Messi-shaped miracle.

Best Goal: This category typically proves difficult to determine, yet this year presents a straightforward decision. Cape Verde’s Sidny Lopes Cabral receives the award for his spectacular strike against Argentina during the knockout phase. Several factors elevate this moment. The goal itself demonstrated exceptional quality, as Cabral first evaded his marker on the wing before cutting inside and curling his effort into the upper corner of the net.

The context amplified its significance. Scoring during extra time against Messi’s Argentina transformed Cape Verde supporters from skeptics into believers in miracles. Furthermore, Cabral’s celebration proved unforgettable—he sprinted toward the stands searching for someone familiar to share in the joy. This iconic scene will endure in football memory for years to come.

Biggest Upset: This selection generated considerable discussion among our editorial team. Without continually referencing Cape Verde, few anticipated such remarkable performances from the diminutive island nation, rendering many of their results seemingly improbable on paper. Curaçao, the smallest country ever to participate in the competition, also deserves mention for maintaining a draw against Ecuador during group play.

After thorough consideration, however, I award this distinction to Paraguay for defeating Germany in the Round of 32. While the German squad has experienced recent struggles with their current generation of players, they certainly should have prevailed against Paraguay based on merit alone. The South American side somehow took the lead and relied upon tremendous fighting spirit to limit Germany to merely a single goal in what became one of the tournament’s most surprising results.

At least Argentina supporters can take comfort in having won something, even if their journey ended in heartbreak.