The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ is drawing ever nearer – with just 26 days to go! Between now and the start of the World Cup, we will take a closer look at a different statistic from the history of the tournament each day.

26 - The number of touches involved in the move that led to Esteban Cambiasso putting Argentina 2-0 up in their Group C match in Gelsenkirchen against Serbia and Montenegro at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, a game the Argentinians went on to win 6-0.

A total of 57 seconds elapsed from the moment Javier Mascherano dispossessed Mateja Kezman, knocking the ball back to Gabriel Heinze in the process, to the moment when Cambiasso fired home. That was all the time it took for Jose Pekerman’s side to show just how well they could play.

Nine players took part in one of the great moves of that particular World Cup, with only goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri and right-back Nicolas Burdisso failing to get a touch during the build-up.

“I haven’t seen anything like it in years,” Hernan Crespo, who provided the back-heeled assist from which Cambiasso scored, later said. “It was like something you see in futsal. I’ve never taken part in such a beautiful goal.”

Cambiasso had only been on the pitch for 14 minutes, having come on after 17 minutes in place of the injured Luis Gonzalez.