We’ve all seen it; countless footballers across the world love to sport wrist tape when they play and nobody has ever really explained why.

Everyone from Phil Foden, Karim Benzema, Neymar — and even Jamie Vardy — have been known to do so and many more can be seen week in, week out doing the same.

But the reason isn’t always the same: here’s what’s actually going on.

Reason 1: Injury Prevention

Safety first, there are multiple ways in which a player can succumb to injuries of the wrist and hands. The high-energy, high-contact nature of the sport sees players regularly come into contact with one another, risking damage to the joints, wrists and fingers.

An expert voice — former Cardiff City physio Ben Warbuton — explained that there are two functions: preventive and protective. One helps to reduce the risk of injury from falling, whilst it can also help reduce extension of the wrist too.

Reason 2: Playing Through Existing Injuries

One high-profile example of this is Manchester City‘s Foden. Having fractured his hand in early 2024, he became synonymous with it throughout their Premier League title run, across Euro 2024 and into the following campaign.

Referring back to Warburton’s previous comments, “Taping can give reassurance after an injury. This can give massive confidence to a player, making them feel they can play aggressively — and should they fall, their wrist is slightly protected.”

Neymar was a prime example. He used zinc-oxide athletic tape to support his wrist joints. As one of the most fouled players in football history, it was certainly a protective measure.

Reason 3: Psychology and Rituals

For some players, it is akin to a pre-match ritual. Most players have some kind of personal routine. From a physical standpoint, it may not be required if they have no current injury or risk, but the routine itself can provide a sense of focus and readiness.

One famous ritual – or good luck charm – was Vardy’s blue wrist strap. Originally there to help him recover from two broken bones, delaying surgery ensured he had to wear the lightweight cast, but it coincided with a generational run of form that saw him match a goalscoring record before making history with the 2015/16 title win.

Reason 4: Goalkeepers and Tactics

One position that hasn’t been referenced yet is the one that typically utilises it the most: goalkeepers. As already covered, protecting fingers and wrists is a key reason for tape, but it takes on added importance for keepers to combat the force of shots and awkward dives.

It can also be tactical; they can also place notes on their tape for penalty situations. That’s if it hasn’t been printed off and stuck to their water bottle, of course.

Reason 5: Style

This final one certainly lies within personal preference. Sometimes the look is all about aesthetics rather than function. For some, it forms part of a visual identity, or a way to differentiate from the crowd.

Others, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suárez, looked to hide certain objects such as a fitness tracker and a good luck bracelet under the strapping.

England’s next World Cup opponents will be the DR Congo as Thomas Tuchel’s squad look to advance from the Round of 32. England and the DR Congo will face off for the very first time, with the encounter taking place in Atlanta, Georgia.

England remain one of the tournament favourites after qualifying from the group stage unbeaten. But does the African nation pose a threat to the Three Lions’ World Cup crusade?

Who are DR Congo?

REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

Formerly named Zaire, the Democratic Republic of Congo is the second-largest country in Africa, with a population of approximately 124 million. The country was renamed the DR Congo in 1997 after President Mobutu Sese Seko was overthrown by rebel forces.

The country’s relatively new name is in reference to the great Congo River that flows through the country. The river’s name is derived from the historic African Kingdom of Kongo and the indigenous Bakongo people who lived in the region.

DR Congo Record at World Cup 2026

Who are the Best DR Congo Players?

REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

Northern-based England fans will be all too familiar with two of the DR Congo’s biggest threats. Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa is rediscovering his form after an injury-plagued start to life on Tyneside. He has netted three times in the World Cup already, making him the top scoring African player in the group stage.

Noah Sadiki was a pivotal part of Sunderland’s excellent 7th-place finish in the Premier League, earning them Europa League qualification. An energetic and forward-thinking midfielder, expect him to link well with Wissa.

DR Congo’s rearguard offers significant top-level pedigree too. Team captain and all-time leading appearance maker Chancel Mbemba is incredibly experienced at club and international level. The 31-year-old previously played for Newcastle as part of the squad that won the Championship in 2017. He is supported ably by West Ham’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Burnley’s Axel Tuanzebe in defence.

But the wildcard for the DR Congo is their veteran striker Cedric Bakambu. The 35-year-old is well travelled and has previously won the Golden Boot in both the Chinese and Greek Super Leagues. Bakambu contributed four goals in World Cup qualifying and is now just one goal behind the country’s all-time leading goalscorer, Dieumerci Mbokani.

DR Congo Manager and Style of Play

REUTERS/Raquel Cunha

• Manager: Sebastien Desabre
• Style of Play/Tactics: 5-3-2 or 4-4-2

Manager Sebastien Desabre is well-versed in international football, having coached both Uganda and the DR Congo during a 20-year managerial career. The Frenchman guided the DR Congo to the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. He also led them to impressive victories over Cameroon and Nigeria in World Cup qualification.

Desabre has shown tactical fluidity during the World Cup. The DR Congo adopted a five-man backline against Portugal and Colombia, earning a well-deserved point against Roberto Martinez’s side. But for their 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, Desabre was more offensive, opting for a 4-4-2.

With 29 clean sheets in their previous 57 games under Desabre, the African nation can soak up the pressure when required. This has paired well with a strong counter-attacking style boosted by the pace of Wissa and Sadiki.

World Cup on GIVEMESPORT

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have just become the first two men in history to play at six World Cups. The natural next question writes itself: could there be a seventh?

Their chances are low, but it isn’t impossible, and both men have left enough daylight for the question to be asked and to keep the hopes alive. The two careers have run in parallel for two decades, and now share this milestone in the same tournament.

Four years is a long time at the best of times, let alone in your forties, and will both players be able to hold on and feature on the world’s biggest stage again in four years?

Will Lionel Messi Play at the Next World Cup?

Peter Hansson/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect

Messi has been typically professional and guarded on the subject. Asked directly about 2030 after his Algeria hat-trick, he laughed off the idea before more considered answers followed later in the tournament.

Pressed again after his Austria performance, in which he became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, he settled into a familiar noncommittal stance, claiming he isn’t thinking that far ahead.

He told reporters: “I don’t know. The truth is, I’m not thinking about that right now.”

It’s the kind of answer you expect from a professional, media-trained footballer. The kind of answer that commits to nothing whilst also ruling out nothing either.

How Old Will Messi Be at the Next World Cup?

Messi is 39 during this tournament, not that it has had an effect on his performances. By the 2030 finals, he will be 43. There is a genuine pull factor for the 2030 World Cup: it is the centenary edition, and as part of celebrations Argentina will host a one-off match in Buenos Aires, a country that hasn’t staged a World Cup game since 1978. So for a player who has never been able to play in a World Cup on home soil, that could be a real incentive for him to keep going.

However, his Inter Miami contract does expire in 2028, and it remains to be seen whether he will extend, move clubs, or call time altogether on his stellar career. And surviving and playing in the MLS is a lot different to playing in a World Cup campaign at the age of 43.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo Play at the Next World Cup?

Troy Taormina (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Ronaldo has been more open and pessimistic about his own timeline. Speaking at a Tourism Summit in Riyadh, when asked whether this would be his last World Cup, he said: “Definitely yes. I will be 41 years old, and I think this will be the moment in the big competition. It’s probably one or two more years. I’ll still be at the game.”

His contract at Al Nassr runs out in 2027, with reports circulating about an executive role at the Saudi Club upon its expiration.

What Age Will Ronaldo Be at the Next World Cup?

The case against Ronaldo at 2030 is steeper than Messi’s. He’d be 45 by then, Portugal’s attack has begun to lean less on him for goals than it once did, and he has repeatedly framed this tournament as a farewell. However, you couldn’t put it past Ronaldo to keep playing until 2030.

The ex-Real Madrid forward has confirmed he wants to keep playing until he reaches 1,000 career goals. Whilst he isn’t far away from that milestone, he might need an extended contract to reach the target, and he may well keep going until 2030 to play in one last tournament, especially considering Portugal are one of the hosts.

Who Are the Oldest Players to Play at a World Cup?

The record book offers some perspective on just how rare this would be. Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary holds the record, turning out for Egypt against Saudi Arabia in 2018 at 45 years and 161 days, marking the occasion with a penalty save.

Colombia’s Faryd Mondragon is next, coming on as a substitute in 2014 at 43 years and 3 days, in what was also his farewell appearance. Cameroon’s Roger Milla remains the record-holder among outfield players, being 42 years and 39 days when he scored against Russia in 1994.

The Verdict

Most names on the list are goalkeepers, bar one. Milla’s record still sits three years younger than Ronaldo would be if he was to make it. History suggests longevity at this level belongs almost exclusively to those in the posts, which is precisely why one more World Cup campaign remains a long shot for two of the world’s greatest ever players.