Lionel Messi defied the critics by scoring half a dozen goals in record-breaking fashion, debutants like Cape Verde made big headlines but so did Miguel Almirón, albeit for the wrong reasons in the World Cup group stage which ended on Saturday.
The first phase came to a dramatic conclusion when Austria's Saša Kalajdžić headed a 3-3 equalizer against Algeria on effectively the last play of the 72 games deep into stoppage time.
It ended a mammoth 17 days of football to bring the numbers down from 48 teams to the 32 that had featured overall in the past.
But anyone who might have wondered whether the increase in teams would lower the quality of play was proven wrong.
Messi and other stars deliver
Messi led the way as title holders Argentina reached the last 32 by winning all their three group matches along with top contenders France and co-hosts Mexico.
The 39-year-old is not only the tournament top scorer as he aims to win the Golden Boot award for the first time, he gained the overall goal record with 19 goals and is the first player to score in seven World Cup games in a row, a run that started in 2022.
Not to be outdone, Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, became the first man to score at six World Cups, and 40-year-old Luka Modric from next opponents Croatia has also found the net.
France stars Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, Norway's Erling Haaland and Brazil's Vinícius Júnior have four goals each and England skipper Harry Kane three as many top stars have delivered.
Spain's Unai Simon and Raul Rangel of Mexico made sure that their teams did not concede a goal in the three matches.
Cape Verde part of African success
European champions Spain started with a 0-0 against Cape Verde where Simon's counterpart Vozinha stole the show and two more draws against Uruguay and Saudi Arabia saw them reach a last 32 duel against Messi's Argentina in a huge surprise.
"It is the dream of every footballer to play against Argentina and Lionel Messi," Vozinha said.
Cape Verde were among a record nine African teams to advance, partly due to the increase of teams but also due to results, with Morocco holding Brazil 1-1, Ghana playing 0-0 against England and Ivory Coast only losing 2-1 against Germany in stoppage time.
Morocco have big aims after becoming the first African team to reach tze semi-finals in 2022, with coach Mohamed Ouahbi saying: “We have all the ingredients to be the best nation. I believe in it, the players believe in it."
Their next game is on Monday against the Netherlands, the same when when record winners Brazil face a tough test against dark horse Japan who are unbeaten in 10 matches and beat Brazil 3-2 in a friendly last autumn.
All three host nations, the US, Mexico and Canada advanced, with Canada among the teams to register a first-ever World Cup win, with others including Egypt and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which participated as Zaire in 1974.
Difficult times for Congo and Iran
Congo had a difficult build-up because of the Ebola outbreak in the country, but evenm worse hit were Iran.
Team Melli had to move their base camp from the US to Mexico and were subject of strict entry rules by the US, with the war between both countries since February making things even more fifficult.
Iran also suffered heartbreak on the pitch. The had a stoppage time winner against Egypt that would have sent them into the last 32 nullfied upon review but their exit was not sealed until Saša Kalajdžić's goal for Austria.
"I used to think we were an oppressed team. But I note that we are also an unlucky team," coach Amir Ghalenoei said in reference to their hardship off and on the pitch.
Almirón and more
The World Cup attendance record has already been broken and so far only one match, France v Iraq, saw a major interruption due to thunderstorms.
Paraguay's Almirón meanwhile earned the dubious distinction of being the first player to be sent off for covering his mouth in a confrontation with an opponent as new rules for referees have come into effect.
Almirón is eligible to return on Monday against Germany, who have the biggest win of the tournament, 7-1 against Curaçao, but have not fully convinced yet.
While Germany could afford defeat in their last group game this is now not longer possible for them or anyone else.
The tournament effectively starts from zero with the knock-outs which will see 10 more days of action to complete the last 32 and last 16 back-to-back en route to the July 19 final.
"Everything is at stake - either advancing to the next round or going home," Germany sporting director Rudi Völler said.
