Welcome to Sportstar’s coverage of the twelfth round of the FIDE Candidates 2026 tournament happening in Cyprus on Saturday.
R Praggnanandhaa (Black) vs Andrey Esipenko (White) – R 12 Board
R Vaishali (White) vs Zhu Jiner (Black) – R 12 Board
Divya Deshmukh (White) vs Tan Zhongyi (Black) – R 12 Board
April 12, 2026 17:49
Hikaru Nakamura records second-longest move in FIDE Candidates history
Hikaru Nakamura records second-longest move in FIDE Candidates history during loss vs Javokhir Sindarov
American GM Hikaru Nakamura spent over one hour to make a move during a FIDE Candidates 2026 match against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov on Friday in Cyprus.
April 12, 2026 17:49
Sindarov leads the open section
Sindarov and Nakamura’s clash earlier in the tournament would be remembered for Nakamura taking more than an hour to make a move, a record in itself. It’d be interesting to see whether the Uzbekistan GM bags another victory that almost wins him the Candidates title or whether Nakamura pulls off an upset.
April 12, 2026 17:46
Can Divya pick a win tonight
Divya Deshmukh is placed seventh in the standings and will face Tan Zhongyi, against whom she had drawn earlier in the tournament.
April 12, 2026 17:37
Earlier in the tournament
Zhu Jiner defeated Vaishali in Round five. Today, Vaishali will play with the White pieces, looking to consolidate her lead heading into the rest day tomorrow.
April 12, 2026 17:36
Important match for Vaishali today
R Vaishali leads the tournament with 7/11 points after a Round 11 victory over Aleksandra Goryachkina yesterday, holding a one-point advantage over the chasing pack, which includes today’s opponent, Zhu Jiner.
April 12, 2026 17:34
Women’s section pairings for today
Anna Muzychuk — Aleksandra Goryachkina Vaishali Rameshbabu — Zhu Jiner Divya Deshmukh — Tan Zhongyi Bibisara Assaubayeva — Kateryna Lagno
April 12, 2026 17:34
Open section pairings for Round 12 today
Andrey Esipenko — Praggnanandhaa R Matthias Bluebaum — Fabiano Caruana Javokhir Sindarov — Hikaru Nakamura Wei Yi — Anish Giri
April 12, 2026 17:33
It is Round 12 today
Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s coverage of the FIDE Candidates 2026 taking place in Cyprus.
FIDE Candidates 2026: Check out all live updates from Round 12 of the Candidates tournament happening in Cyprus on Sunday.
Updated : Apr 12, 2026 17:49 IST
Comments
Follow Us
SHARE
Copy link
Email
Facebook
Twitter
Telegram
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Reddit
READ LATER
Welcome to Sportstar’s coverage of the twelfth round of the FIDE Candidates 2026 tournament happening in Cyprus on Saturday.
R Praggnanandhaa (Black) vs Andrey Esipenko (White) – R 12 Board
R Vaishali (White) vs Zhu Jiner (Black) – R 12 Board
Divya Deshmukh (White) vs Tan Zhongyi (Black) – R 12 Board
April 12, 2026 17:49
Hikaru Nakamura records second-longest move in FIDE Candidates history
Hikaru Nakamura records second-longest move in FIDE Candidates history during loss vs Javokhir Sindarov
American GM Hikaru Nakamura spent over one hour to make a move during a FIDE Candidates 2026 match against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov on Friday in Cyprus.
April 12, 2026 17:49
Sindarov leads the open section
Sindarov and Nakamura’s clash earlier in the tournament would be remembered for Nakamura taking more than an hour to make a move, a record in itself. It’d be interesting to see whether the Uzbekistan GM bags another victory that almost wins him the Candidates title or whether Nakamura pulls off an upset.
April 12, 2026 17:46
Can Divya pick a win tonight
Divya Deshmukh is placed seventh in the standings and will face Tan Zhongyi, against whom she had drawn earlier in the tournament.
April 12, 2026 17:37
Earlier in the tournament
Zhu Jiner defeated Vaishali in Round five. Today, Vaishali will play with the White pieces, looking to consolidate her lead heading into the rest day tomorrow.
April 12, 2026 17:36
Important match for Vaishali today
R Vaishali leads the tournament with 7/11 points after a Round 11 victory over Aleksandra Goryachkina yesterday, holding a one-point advantage over the chasing pack, which includes today’s opponent, Zhu Jiner.
April 12, 2026 17:34
Women’s section pairings for today
Anna Muzychuk — Aleksandra Goryachkina Vaishali Rameshbabu — Zhu Jiner Divya Deshmukh — Tan Zhongyi Bibisara Assaubayeva — Kateryna Lagno
April 12, 2026 17:34
Open section pairings for Round 12 today
Andrey Esipenko — Praggnanandhaa R Matthias Bluebaum — Fabiano Caruana Javokhir Sindarov — Hikaru Nakamura Wei Yi — Anish Giri
April 12, 2026 17:33
It is Round 12 today
Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s coverage of the FIDE Candidates 2026 taking place in Cyprus.
#Deadspin #Argentinas #Lionel #Messi #breaks #World #Cup #goals #record #Austria">Deadspin | Argentina’s Lionel Messi breaks World Cup goals record vs. Austria
June 22, 2026; Arlington, Texas, U.S.; Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Lionel Messi added to his legacy Monday afternoon by scoring his record-breaking 17th career World Cup goal in the first half of Argentina’s match vs. Austria in Arlington, Texas, breaking a tie with Germany’s Miroslav Klose.
Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, scored the historic goal on a first-touch left-footed strike from just inside the 18-yard box in the 38th minute off an assist from Facundo Medina.
Messi, who became one of the first two players to appear in six World Cups last week alongside Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, entered this summer’s event three goals behind Klose. Behind his first career World Cup hat trick in the Group J opener vs. Algeria on June 16, he pulled even entering the second group-stage match.
He appeared destined to break the record approximately 30 minutes earlier when Lautaro Martinez was tackled in the box and Argentina was awarded a penalty kick. However, Messi missed the ensuing penalty kick wide of the right post in the ninth minute.
#record #Kylian #Mbappé #break #World #Cup">Every record Kylian Mbappé can break at the 2026 World Cup
Kylian Mbappé is just 27 years old.
But the French superstar is embarking on his third World Cup, and his latest run at glory begins later today as France takes on Senegal. And when they do, Mbappé’s prodigious track record has the forward on the cusp of several records on the sport’s biggest stage.
Here is every national and international record Mbappé can break at this year’s World Cup.
Update Monday June 22: Mbappé scored early against Iraq to continue his march up the record books.
Previous: With this goal against Senegal, Mbappé has now moved up in several of these categories:
Update: Mbappé’s second goal against Senegal has moved him to the top of two different records for France.
French national records Mbappé can break at the 2026 World Cup
Mbappé is on the verge of breaking several national records at the 2026 World Cup.
French National Team record goals
Mbappé enters the 2026 World Cup just one goal behind Olivier Giroud for the French National Team:
Kylian Mbappé: 59 Goals
Olivier Giroud: 57 Goals
Thierry Henry: 51 Goals
Antoine Griezmann: 44 Goals
Michel Platini: 41 Goals
With just one goal, Mbappé would match Giroud atop the French record books, and a pair of goals would put Mbappé at the top of the list.
Update Monday June 22: Mbappé‘s goal against Iraq moved him two clear of Giroud on this list.
Previous: Mbappé’s first goal against Senegal pulled him level with Giroud with 57 goals for the French National Team. His second moved him to the top.
French National Team World Cup goals
In addition to becoming France’s all-time leading goal scorer, Mbappé can become the nation’s top goal scorer in World Cup matches this year. Just Fontaine currently holds that mark, as the French legend scored a stunning 13 goals in just six matches at the 1958 World Cup, a record that still stands for goals in a single tournament.
Here is where Mbappé stands on that list:
Kylian Mbappé: 15 Goals
Just Fontaine: 13 Goals
Thierry Henry: 6 Goals
Zinedine Zidane: 5 Goals
Michel Platini: 5 Goals
Olivier Giroud: 5 Goals
Update: Mbappé’ first goal against Senegal pulled him level with Fontaine with 13 World Cup goals for France. His second moved him to the top of the pile.
International records Mbappé can break at the 2026 World Cup
In addition to the French records Mbappé can break at the 2026 World Cup, he can also break some international records at the 2026 World Cup, or even add to one that he already holds.
With another standout run of play, Mbappé could become the all-time leading goal scorer in World Cup history.
Currently, that record is held by Miroslav Klose from Germany, who tops the list with 16 goals. Klose is followed by Ronaldo (15), Gerd Müller (14), and Lionel Messi, who is chasing that mark as well as he enters play with 13 World Cup goals on his legendary resume.
Here is where Mbappé stands on that list:
Lionel Messi: 18 Goals
Miroslav Klose: 16 Goals
Ronaldo: 15 Goals
Kylian Mbappé: 15 Goals
Gerd Müller: 14 Goals
Just Fontaine: 13 Goals
Pelé: 12 Goals
Update Monday June 22: Messi’s brace against Austria pulled him to the top of this list, but Mbappé‘s goal against Iraq pulled the French star level with Ronaldo for third all-time.
Previously: With his goal against Senegal, Mbappé now has 13 World Cup goals, putting him level with Just Fontaine and Lionel Messi. His second pulled him ahead of that pair, and level with Gerd Müller.
Messi’s hat trick against Algeria has moved him level with Miroslav Klose on this list.
All-Time World Cup Finals Goals
This is one record Mbappé already holds.
He could theoretically add to it this year.
Mbappé scored one goal in the 2018 World Cup Finals, when France defeated Croatia 4-2. He scored three more goals during the 2022 Finals, when France lost to Messi and Argentina on penalties.
Here is the list of all-time goal scorers in the World Cup Finals:
Kylian Mbappé: 4 Goals
Geoff Hurst: 3 Goals
Vavá: 3 Goals
Pelé: 3 Goals
Zinedine Zidane: 3 Goals
Gino Colaussi: 2 Goals
Silvio Piola: 2 Goals
Helmut Rahn: 2 Goals
Mario Kempes: 2 Goals
Paul Breitner: 2 Goals
Ronaldo: 2 Goals
Lionel Messi: 2 Goals
In the history of the World Cup, no player has won the Golden Boot twice.
Mbappé could change that this year.
The French star won the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup, thanks to the eight goals he scored in France’s run to the Finals. But if he were to win the Golden Boot at the 2026 World Cup, he would become the first player in the over 90-year history of the World Cup to secure that honor twice.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi scores their second goal against Austria.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
elcome to Sporstar’s live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Austria in Dallas. Both the teams come into the game after wins over Algeria and Jordan, respectively.
Argentina, the defending world champion, got off to a disappointing start when its captain Lionel Messi missed a penalty. He made amends before the break when he rattled the net with a brilliant left-footed strike to put his team ahead.
Argentina Starting XI: Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Facundo Medina; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez, Thiago Almada
Austria Starting XI: Alexander Schlager; Kevin Danso, Stefan Posch, David Alaba; Nicolas Seiwald, Xaver Schlager; Romano Schmid, Konrad Laimer, Marcel Sabitzer, Paul Wanner; Michael Gregoritsch
Argentina’s Lionel Messi scores their second goal against Austria.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
elcome to Sporstar’s live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Austria in Dallas. Both the teams come into the game after wins over Algeria and Jordan, respectively.
Argentina, the defending world champion, got off to a disappointing start when its captain Lionel Messi missed a penalty. He made amends before the break when he rattled the net with a brilliant left-footed strike to put his team ahead.
Argentina Starting XI: Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Facundo Medina; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez, Thiago Almada
Austria Starting XI: Alexander Schlager; Kevin Danso, Stefan Posch, David Alaba; Nicolas Seiwald, Xaver Schlager; Romano Schmid, Konrad Laimer, Marcel Sabitzer, Paul Wanner; Michael Gregoritsch
#Argentina #Austria #Highlights #FIFA #World #Cup #Messi #scores #Argentina #enters #knockouts">Argentina vs Austria Highlights, FIFA World Cup 2026 — Messi scores twice as Argentina enters knockouts
Argentina’s Lionel Messi scores their second goal against Austria.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Argentina’s Lionel Messi scores their second goal against Austria.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
elcome to Sporstar’s live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Austria in Dallas. Both the teams come into the game after wins over Algeria and Jordan, respectively.
Argentina, the defending world champion, got off to a disappointing start when its captain Lionel Messi missed a penalty. He made amends before the break when he rattled the net with a brilliant left-footed strike to put his team ahead.
Argentina Starting XI: Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Facundo Medina; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez, Thiago Almada
Austria Starting XI: Alexander Schlager; Kevin Danso, Stefan Posch, David Alaba; Nicolas Seiwald, Xaver Schlager; Romano Schmid, Konrad Laimer, Marcel Sabitzer, Paul Wanner; Michael Gregoritsch
Comments
SHARE