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The Roosters are repeating what happened at the 2002 World Cup
At a time when numbers tell football’s glory stories, a remarkable statistic has emerged from the heart of the 2026 World Cup, putting one European team side by side with one of the greatest generations in World Cup history.
An exceptional record that has only been achieved twice in the 21st century, revealing a striking attacking force capable of making a difference.
Opta, the global network specializing in football statistics, has revealed a unique digital achievement related to the number of teams with a super-attacking trio in a single match at the World Cup.
According to the network, only two teams since 2000 have had at least three players each make five or more decisive contributions between goals and assists in a single tournament.
The first team to achieve this record was Brazil in 2002, thanks to the golden trio of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho in the tournament in which “Samba” won their fifth world title.
As for the second team to join this elite club, it’s France at the current World Cup 2026, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olizey each registering at least five decisive contributions between goals and assists.
2 – This is the number of teams that have had 3 players with at least 5 decisive contributions (goal + assist) during the same World Cup in the 21st century.
🇧🇷 Brazil 2002 (Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho)
🇫🇷 France 2026 (Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise)Galaxy. pic.twitter.com/CizYk4rviG
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) July 1, 2026
The achievement puts the Roosters in direct comparison with the historic Brazilian generation and confirms the exceptional attacking depth enjoyed by the French side in their quest for international glory.
