Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing for his sixth World Cup as if it was his first, said Portugal coach Roberto Martinez as he hailed the 41-year-old as "an example and a reference for football."
Lionel Messi became the first man to play in six World Cup tournaments when he started for Argentina in their opening match against Algeria in Kansas City on Tuesday.
France coach Didier Deschamps toasted "extraordinary" Kylian Mbappe after the France captain scored twice in the team's opening game at the World Cup on Tuesday to become his country's all-time top marksman.