Will Jeanes
@willjeanes.bsky.social
Work for The Athletic // Football stats and history ⚽️
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/will-jeanes/
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/will-jeanes/
Ben Stokes is the first England captain to be run out in The Ashes since Tony Greig at Headingley in 1975.
🏏
🏏
December 4, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Ben Stokes is the first England captain to be run out in The Ashes since Tony Greig at Headingley in 1975.
🏏
🏏
My article with an eclectic mix of facts, stats and pieces of trivia about each of the 64 teams in Friday's World Cup draw is on The New York Times:
From @theathleticfc.bsky.social: Uzbekistan is the first double-landlocked nation to qualify for the World Cup
Here is an eclectic mix of facts, stats and pieces of trivia about each of the 64 teams in the draw. nyti.ms/4pM1r4v
Here is an eclectic mix of facts, stats and pieces of trivia about each of the 64 teams in the draw. nyti.ms/4pM1r4v
December 3, 2025 at 10:53 PM
My article with an eclectic mix of facts, stats and pieces of trivia about each of the 64 teams in Friday's World Cup draw is on The New York Times:
Reposted by Will Jeanes
From @theathleticfc.bsky.social: Uzbekistan is the first double-landlocked nation to qualify for the World Cup
Here is an eclectic mix of facts, stats and pieces of trivia about each of the 64 teams in the draw. nyti.ms/3KBTgZs
Here is an eclectic mix of facts, stats and pieces of trivia about each of the 64 teams in the draw. nyti.ms/3KBTgZs
Did you know? A quirky fact about all 64 teams in the World Cup draw
Impress your friends with some weird and wonderful knowledge about the countries involved in Friday's World Cup draw
nyti.ms
December 2, 2025 at 3:19 PM
From @theathleticfc.bsky.social: Uzbekistan is the first double-landlocked nation to qualify for the World Cup
Here is an eclectic mix of facts, stats and pieces of trivia about each of the 64 teams in the draw. nyti.ms/3KBTgZs
Here is an eclectic mix of facts, stats and pieces of trivia about each of the 64 teams in the draw. nyti.ms/3KBTgZs
Here is my article with a fact about all 64 sides in Friday’s World Cup draw:
1⃣ One team has never played at a tournament before
🦜 Who has more parrots than footballers on their islands?
🎩 Only team in World Cup history to win the drawing of lots?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
1⃣ One team has never played at a tournament before
🦜 Who has more parrots than footballers on their islands?
🎩 Only team in World Cup history to win the drawing of lots?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
Did you know? A quirky fact about all 64 teams in the World Cup draw
Impress your friends with some weird and wonderful knowledge about the countries involved in Friday's World Cup draw
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Here is my article with a fact about all 64 sides in Friday’s World Cup draw:
1⃣ One team has never played at a tournament before
🦜 Who has more parrots than footballers on their islands?
🎩 Only team in World Cup history to win the drawing of lots?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
1⃣ One team has never played at a tournament before
🦜 Who has more parrots than footballers on their islands?
🎩 Only team in World Cup history to win the drawing of lots?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
Reposted by Will Jeanes
Did you know Colombia was due to host the World Cup in 1986 but pulled out for economic reasons?
What about Norway being the only country that Brazil has never beaten?
@willjeanes.bsky.social has unearthed an eclectic mix of facts & stats about every country in the World Cup draw.
bit.ly/4iDj8kw
What about Norway being the only country that Brazil has never beaten?
@willjeanes.bsky.social has unearthed an eclectic mix of facts & stats about every country in the World Cup draw.
bit.ly/4iDj8kw
December 2, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Did you know Colombia was due to host the World Cup in 1986 but pulled out for economic reasons?
What about Norway being the only country that Brazil has never beaten?
@willjeanes.bsky.social has unearthed an eclectic mix of facts & stats about every country in the World Cup draw.
bit.ly/4iDj8kw
What about Norway being the only country that Brazil has never beaten?
@willjeanes.bsky.social has unearthed an eclectic mix of facts & stats about every country in the World Cup draw.
bit.ly/4iDj8kw
Phil Foden has now scored more Premier League goals than David Beckham (63 v 62).
November 29, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Phil Foden has now scored more Premier League goals than David Beckham (63 v 62).
Goals scored in nine Champions League games yesterday: 22
Goals scored in nine Champions League games today: 42
Goals scored in nine Champions League games today: 42
November 26, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Goals scored in nine Champions League games yesterday: 22
Goals scored in nine Champions League games today: 42
Goals scored in nine Champions League games today: 42
Hungary beat England 6-3 in the 'Match of the Century' on this day in 1953 at Wembley.
It was the first time since 1881 vs Scotland that England had conceded six+ goals in a game and Nándor Hidegkuti's hat-trick remains the last vs England in England.
It was the first time since 1881 vs Scotland that England had conceded six+ goals in a game and Nándor Hidegkuti's hat-trick remains the last vs England in England.
November 25, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Hungary beat England 6-3 in the 'Match of the Century' on this day in 1953 at Wembley.
It was the first time since 1881 vs Scotland that England had conceded six+ goals in a game and Nándor Hidegkuti's hat-trick remains the last vs England in England.
It was the first time since 1881 vs Scotland that England had conceded six+ goals in a game and Nándor Hidegkuti's hat-trick remains the last vs England in England.
England have lost a wicket in the first over of the first Test in three of the last five Ashes series in Australia.
November 21, 2025 at 5:54 PM
England have lost a wicket in the first over of the first Test in three of the last five Ashes series in Australia.
England will play Test cricket away vs Australia in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
The last time England played away in Tests vs Australia in three consecutive years was 1986, 1987 and 1988.
🏏
The last time England played away in Tests vs Australia in three consecutive years was 1986, 1987 and 1988.
🏏
November 20, 2025 at 6:46 PM
England will play Test cricket away vs Australia in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
The last time England played away in Tests vs Australia in three consecutive years was 1986, 1987 and 1988.
🏏
The last time England played away in Tests vs Australia in three consecutive years was 1986, 1987 and 1988.
🏏
It was a privilege to be involved in the production of this book and to have written one of the entries:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
The Soccer 100: A celebration of the greatest players in the sport’s history
The Athletic is delighted to announce the release of The Soccer 100, profiling players from Pele to Puskas, Maradona to Messi
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:32 PM
It was a privilege to be involved in the production of this book and to have written one of the entries:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
The 2026 World Cup will be the first with both Austria and Switzerland competing since 1954.
November 18, 2025 at 9:57 PM
The 2026 World Cup will be the first with both Austria and Switzerland competing since 1954.
Great to speak on the BBC about family connections in football. Starts at 3:47:38:
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
November 18, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Great to speak on the BBC about family connections in football. Starts at 3:47:38:
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Harry Kane has now scored more international goals than Pelé (78 v 77).
November 16, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Harry Kane has now scored more international goals than Pelé (78 v 77).
World Cups Portugal played at in the 73 years before Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut: Three
World Cups Portugal will have played at in the 23 years since Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut: Six
World Cups Portugal will have played at in the 23 years since Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut: Six
November 16, 2025 at 3:55 PM
World Cups Portugal played at in the 73 years before Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut: Three
World Cups Portugal will have played at in the 23 years since Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut: Six
World Cups Portugal will have played at in the 23 years since Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut: Six
On this day in 2008, Manchester United began their run of 14 Premier League games without conceding a goal — the record for the most clean sheets in a row in English top-flight matches.
The run ended on February 21, 2009 when Blackburn's Roque Santa Cruz scored against United.
The run ended on February 21, 2009 when Blackburn's Roque Santa Cruz scored against United.
November 15, 2025 at 11:05 AM
On this day in 2008, Manchester United began their run of 14 Premier League games without conceding a goal — the record for the most clean sheets in a row in English top-flight matches.
The run ended on February 21, 2009 when Blackburn's Roque Santa Cruz scored against United.
The run ended on February 21, 2009 when Blackburn's Roque Santa Cruz scored against United.
Luka Modrić has played for Croatia alongside someone born in 1971 and 2007:
Born in 1971: Niko Kovač
Born in 2007: Luka Vušković
Modrić had already played for Croatia 13 times when Vušković was born.
Born in 1971: Niko Kovač
Born in 2007: Luka Vušković
Modrić had already played for Croatia 13 times when Vušković was born.
November 14, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Luka Modrić has played for Croatia alongside someone born in 1971 and 2007:
Born in 1971: Niko Kovač
Born in 2007: Luka Vušković
Modrić had already played for Croatia 13 times when Vušković was born.
Born in 1971: Niko Kovač
Born in 2007: Luka Vušković
Modrić had already played for Croatia 13 times when Vušković was born.
Most goals for Argentina:
Lionel Messi: 115
Messi aged 30+: 57
Gabriel Batistuta: 56
Sergio Agüero: 41
Lautaro Martínez: 36
Hernán Crespo: 35
Diego Maradona: 34
Lionel Messi: 115
Messi aged 30+: 57
Gabriel Batistuta: 56
Sergio Agüero: 41
Lautaro Martínez: 36
Hernán Crespo: 35
Diego Maradona: 34
November 14, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Most goals for Argentina:
Lionel Messi: 115
Messi aged 30+: 57
Gabriel Batistuta: 56
Sergio Agüero: 41
Lautaro Martínez: 36
Hernán Crespo: 35
Diego Maradona: 34
Lionel Messi: 115
Messi aged 30+: 57
Gabriel Batistuta: 56
Sergio Agüero: 41
Lautaro Martínez: 36
Hernán Crespo: 35
Diego Maradona: 34
Lionel Messi has just scored a goal in Africa for the first time.
November 14, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Lionel Messi has just scored a goal in Africa for the first time.
Lionel Messi has now scored more goals for Argentina after turning 30 years old than anyone else has ever scored at any age for the country.
November 14, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Lionel Messi has now scored more goals for Argentina after turning 30 years old than anyone else has ever scored at any age for the country.
Max Dowman was not alive when the Champions League final was played on a Wednesday.
November 4, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Max Dowman was not alive when the Champions League final was played on a Wednesday.
Bert Patenaude, who scored the first World Cup hat-trick, was born on this day in 1909 in Massachusetts, USA.
Patenaude scored the hat-trick vs Paraguay in the groups of the 1930 tournament and helped USA reach the semi-finals — their best performance at a men's World Cup.
Patenaude scored the hat-trick vs Paraguay in the groups of the 1930 tournament and helped USA reach the semi-finals — their best performance at a men's World Cup.
November 4, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Bert Patenaude, who scored the first World Cup hat-trick, was born on this day in 1909 in Massachusetts, USA.
Patenaude scored the hat-trick vs Paraguay in the groups of the 1930 tournament and helped USA reach the semi-finals — their best performance at a men's World Cup.
Patenaude scored the hat-trick vs Paraguay in the groups of the 1930 tournament and helped USA reach the semi-finals — their best performance at a men's World Cup.
Dick Cheney’s death means that the earliest U.S. presidential election in which all four people who made up the major party tickets are still alive is now 2012.
November 4, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Dick Cheney’s death means that the earliest U.S. presidential election in which all four people who made up the major party tickets are still alive is now 2012.
Gerd Müller, arguably the greatest pure goalscorer of all time, was born on this day in 1945.
He is the last player to have scored two hat-tricks in one World Cup (1970) and only Lionel Messi at Barcelona (672) has scored more goals at a top-level European club than Müller's 566 at Bayern Munich.
He is the last player to have scored two hat-tricks in one World Cup (1970) and only Lionel Messi at Barcelona (672) has scored more goals at a top-level European club than Müller's 566 at Bayern Munich.
November 3, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Gerd Müller, arguably the greatest pure goalscorer of all time, was born on this day in 1945.
He is the last player to have scored two hat-tricks in one World Cup (1970) and only Lionel Messi at Barcelona (672) has scored more goals at a top-level European club than Müller's 566 at Bayern Munich.
He is the last player to have scored two hat-tricks in one World Cup (1970) and only Lionel Messi at Barcelona (672) has scored more goals at a top-level European club than Müller's 566 at Bayern Munich.