Brazil's 2-0 win over Serbia to close out Thursday's action means all 32 teams have now played at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The global finals gives us a chance to see the world's biggest stars on the grandest stage – and some have fared better than others so far.
We take a look back on the first match performances of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.
LIONEL MESSI
It took only 10 minutes for Messi to make his mark in Qatar, slotting home a penalty against Saudi Arabia as the Argentina captain joined an elite band of players to score at four finals.
That was as good as it got for Messi, though.
After Messi had a goal chalked off by VAR for offside – one of three disallowed for Argentina in the first half – Saudi Arabia staged a heroic comeback to pull off one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.
First, Saleh Al Shehri charged forward and past the robust Cristian Romero, and dispatched superbly a low finish beyond Emiliano Martinez.
Six minutes later, Saudi were in front. Salem Al Dawsari evaded a collection of Argentine markers on the corner of the area with typically quick feet before he curled an unstoppable shot high into the opposition net.
Messi and Co were flat in attack as they went in search of an equaliser. They will need a big improvement, starting against Mexico on Saturday, if they hope to progress from Group C.
Ratings: Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
KYLIAN MBAPPE
The title-holders got their World Cup defence off to a flying start with a 4-1 walloping of Australia in Group D.
The Socceroos stunned Les Bleus through a well-worked Craig Goodwin goal on nine minutes. After that it was all France. Perhaps more accurately, it was all Mbappe.
The Paris Saint-Germain showed he has the speed to cause any team problems, continuously ghosting past the Australia defence, as seen when he showed his defender a clean pair of heels before crossing to Olivier Giroud to head home his second and France's fourth.
It wasn't just his terrifying pace; Mbappe showed he has all the tricks with a series of back-heels and flicks, including a sumptuous one to find Adrein Rabiot, who in turn passed for Giroud to score the equaliser.
And then there was the goal, Mbappe leaping majestically to head home an Ousmane Dembele cross via the post.
France's talisman has already given an early glimpse that he has the appetite to power an injury-ravaged team in the absence of Ballon d'Or winner Karin Benzema.
If 2018 announced the arrival of Mbappe on the world stage, 2022 could be his coronation as the game's biggest star.
Ratings: France 4-1 Australia
CRISTIANO RONALDO
If Ronaldo was worried about joining the job seekers' queue following the termination of his contract with Manchester United, you'd never know it.
On Thursday, the 37-year-old claimed a piece of World Cup goalscoring history as he became the first man to score in five editions of the World Cup as he slotted home a controversial penalty to help Portugal down Ghana 3-2 in their Group H clash.
The typically ice-cold spot-kick was Ronaldo's eighth career goal at the World Cup.
"It was a beautiful moment, my fifth World Cup, we won, and we started with our good foot," Ronaldo said after the win.
"It's a very important win, we know the first match is crucial, but the world record is also something that makes me very proud."
But there was controversy surrounding the penalty, which was awarded after Ronaldo crashed theatrically to the turf following minimal contact with Ghana defender Mohammed Salisu.
Furious Ghana coach Otto Addo described the penalty decision as a "gift" to Ronaldo.
He may have a point, and Ronaldo was effective without being spectacular against the Africans. What is undeniable is that, no matter the background noise, Ronaldo has a habit of still making himself the centre of attention on the biggest stage.
NEYMAR
The sight of Neymar crying on the bench and ice taped to his injured ankle following a heavy tackle was not a welcome one and could potentially end his tournament before it even gets going.
The Brazil captain Neymar suffered a sprained ankle in his team's 2-0 Group G win over Serbia on Thursday and faces a medical assessment in the next 48 hours, the national team doctor said after the match.
Doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said the Brazilian superstar suffered the injury after a collision with his opponent.
Neymar was substituted in the 79th minute.
"We need to wait 24 to 48 hours to have a better assessment," Lasmar said. "We have not scheduled any MRI and tomorrow we'll have a new assessment.
"We need to wait, we cannot make any premature comments about his evolution."
Neymar was seen limping heavily after the game while photos of the striker showed swelling on his right ankle.
Coach Tite said the Paris Saint-Germain player initially stayed on the field after hurting his ankle "because the team needed him".
He also moved to play down fears that the 30-year-old could face a lay-off long enough to end his World Cup campaign.
"You can be certain that Neymar is going to play in the World Cup," he said.
A downcast-looking Neymar declined to speak to journalists as he left the stadium on Thursday. Let's hope Tite's assessment of Neymar is brighter than the player's demeanour at the end of the game.
Ratings: Brazil 2-0 Serbia
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Company%20Profile
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Manchester City 4
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Real Madrid 1
Oscar (90)
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
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Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
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PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
Scorecard
Scotland 220
K Coetzer 95, J Siddique 3-49, R Mustafa 3-35
UAE 224-3 in 43,5 overs
C Suri 67, B Hameed 63 not out
We Weren’t Supposed to Survive But We Did
We weren’t supposed to survive but we did.
We weren’t supposed to remember but we did.
We weren’t supposed to write but we did.
We weren’t supposed to fight but we did.
We weren’t supposed to organise but we did.
We weren’t supposed to rap but we did.
We weren’t supposed to find allies but we did.
We weren’t supposed to grow communities but we did.
We weren’t supposed to return but WE ARE.
Amira Sakalla
GOODBYE%20JULIA
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Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
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UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
SPECS
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
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15 years, 235 days old
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15 years, 271 days old
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16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
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Try out the test yourself
Q1 Suppose you had $100 in a savings account and the interest rate was 2 per cent per year. After five years, how much do you think you would have in the account if you left the money to grow?
a) More than $102
b) Exactly $102
c) Less than $102
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
Q2 Imagine that the interest rate on your savings account was 1 per cent per year and inflation was 2 per cent per year. After one year, how much would you be able to buy with the money in this account?
a) More than today
b) Exactly the same as today
c) Less than today
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
Q4 Do you think that the following statement is true or false? “Buying a single company stock usually provides a safer return than a stock mutual fund.”
a) True
b) False
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
The “Big Three” financial literacy questions were created by Professors Annamaria Lusardi of the George Washington School of Business and Olivia Mitchell, of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Answers: Q1 More than $102 (compound interest). Q2 Less than today (inflation). Q3 False (diversification).
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
