Lionel Messi broke down in tears at the final whistle, as the captain appeared to realise just how close his World Cup dream came to an end in a game in which he missed a penalty before coming up with a vital late equaliser. (Pics: AFP)

With 42 teams competing for World glory for the first time in tournament history, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be an exciting prospect. Here are the five best matches from the group stage that cannot be missed. (Pics: AFP)