Canadian striker Cyle Larin just rewrote one of his country's soccer records. He scored in consecutive FIFA World Cup matches — something no Canadian player had ever done before. It's a small but telling marker of how far Canadian men's soccer has come.
A First for Canada
Larin found the net in two straight World Cup games, a run that started in Canada's opening match of the tournament. The 28-year-old forward, who plays for Mallorca in Spain's La Liga, has been a key figure in Canada's attack for years. But this was different. The World Cup stage is the biggest in the sport, and Larin delivered. No Canadian had managed goals in back-to-back games at the tournament until now.
What the Record Means
Canada's men's team has only qualified for the World Cup twice — in 1986 and 2022. The 1986 squad went scoreless. That makes Larin's feat even more striking. He's not just scoring; he's doing it in the most high-pressure environment the sport offers. For a program that's still building its identity on the global stage, these goals are concrete proof of progress. Larin's first World Cup goal came in 2022 against Belgium. He followed it up with another in the next match against Croatia. Both games ended in losses, but the goals themselves broke a decades-long drought for Canadian scorers at the tournament.
Larin's Journey to the Moment
Larin has been a regular for Canada since 2014. He's the country's all-time leading scorer with 29 international goals. But World Cup goals are a different category. They're rarer and harder to come by. To score in two straight matches, against top-tier opposition like Belgium and Croatia, shows composure and finishing ability that few Canadian attackers have ever shown at that level. Larin didn't just break the record — he did it against two of the best teams in the world. That matters.
What Comes Next
Canada's World Cup run in 2022 ended in the group stage. But Larin's record stands. The next World Cup in 2026, which Canada will co-host with the United States and Mexico, offers a chance for him to extend that streak. Whether he can score in a third consecutive World Cup match remains to be seen — but that's a question only the 2026 tournament will answer.
