They’re at it again.
Just as they did on Matchday 1 of the World Cup, the big boys also left their mark on MD2. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland all scored twice as their sides made it two from two. The Golden Boot race is shaping up to be one of the most remarkable in World Cup history.
Elsewhere, substitutes are changing games at an unprecedented rate at this World Cup, with the record for goals from the bench already under threat. We dig into how the role of the super-sub has evolved since FIFA first allowed changes in 1970.
For #AskOpta we explore just how global the tournament has become through players' birthplaces and we test your memory with a challenge from Italy's victorious 2006 side.
⚽️ STAT - Substitutes Making an Impact
Until 1970, substitutions were not a thing at the World Cup.
It was 11 vs 11 for 90 minutes (or more), with no options to make changes. If someone got injured, you were down to 10.
That’s a far cry from the way the game is played now, where teams can make up to five subs per game, or even as many as seven if the match goes to extra-time and if a player has been taken off after suffering a suspected concussion.