Is this the greatest show on Earth? Across 56 matches over 17 days, the QatarA small country on the Arabian Peninsula, bordering Saudi Arabia. Like its larger neighbour, it has experienced rapid economic development but maintained strict conservative religious codes. World Cup has thrilled fans across the globe. The quarter-finals begin today, as the last eight teams square up.

What a ride it has been. Celebrated veterans Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo¹ are back for a final try. A new generation of talent has shined, such as France's 23-year-old Kylian Mbappe and England's 19-year-old Jude Bellingham. There have been thrilling moments, such as RicharlisonA Brazilian football player known only by his first name. 's acrobatic goal against Serbia. 

And there have been extraordinary shocks. Saudi Arabia beat Argentina, and Japan beat reigning champions France. Germany was out in the group stage. And Spain were knocked out by underdogs Morocco, who could become the first African team to reach the semi-finals. Journalist Francis Mead writes: "I've been watching World Cups since 1966 and I think this is the most exciting and entertaining one I've seen."

FIFAThe Federation Internationale de Football Association is the world's highest governing body of association football. president Gianni Infantino agrees. On Wednesday, he called the group stage the "best ever". He continued: "National teams from all continents are going to the knockout phase. This shows that football is really becoming truly global."

He is surely right on this last point. Only the OlympicsA major international multi-sport event held every four years. rival the World Cup for audience. As many as 3.57 billion people watched the last tournament on TV - almost half the entire population of the world. Figures this year are poised to be even bigger.

Yet others claim this success hides a more predictable reality. One of the favourites is likely to win. Football writer Daniel Harris is more damning: Qatar has "no team likely to do anything new, no all-time great side and no all-time great player at his peak".

The tournament has yet to offer a defining moment, to be remembered for years to come. These have come in all shapes and forms, from Diego MaradonaAn Argentine football player and manager.'s 1986 winning goal² to Zinedine Zidane's disgraceful head-butt in 2006. With seven important games left, time is running out.

For some, sport is at its best when it makes a positive statement. Take the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where African-American athlete Jesse Owens disproved the racist theories of Nazi GermanyThe German state between 1933 and 1945, when it was ruled by Adolf Hitler's Nazi party. by winning four medals.

This World Cup, by contrast, has seen such expression stifled. Qatar has come under intense criticism for its use of migrant labour and anti-LGBT+ policies. Players were banned from wearing rainbow armbands in support of LGBT+ rights. Earlier this week, one England fan was even arrested for wearing one. Can a truly great sporting event be so compromised?

Besides, this World Cup is nothing compared to the great sporting events of the past. In AD 80, Roman emperor Titus opened the Flavian Amphitheatre³ with 100 days of celebrations.

GladiatorsAncient Roman fighters who would stage battles and duels for the entertainment of large crowds. Although this is often thought of as a bloody sport, in reality it was quite rare for gladiators to be killed: their aim was to incapacitate their opponent. fought for their lives and exotic animals faced off.⁴ The arena was even filled with water to stage giant nauticalRelating to ships or sailors. battles. How can men running after a ball compete?

Yes: Infantino is on target. This year's World Cup has had it all: iconic players at their peaks, great goals and shock upsets. Even the controversial host and winter date make it one to remember. 

No: Not so fast. Everyone might be caught up in football fever now. But there are still three rounds to go. Only when the dust has settled, and we gain a little distance, can we judge it fairly.

Or... This World Cup will make sporting history. But so does every edition. From England's 1970 "save of the century" against Pele to Argentina's extraordinary 1986 run, the tournament rarely disappoints.