Messi's World Cup Heroics Ignite Massive Interest: Interest in Lionel Messi is surging in the UAE due to his record-breaking World Cup performances and upcoming participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Archived Pulse in United Arab Emirates
Country pulse digest
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Archived Pulse in United Arab Emirates
Sports dominate trending searches in the UAE, led by the FIFA World Cup and cricket events, with rising curiosity about elite education and public holidays. Headlines on football stars Messi and Mbappé, key World Cup matches, and cricket debuts have captivated viewers.
Active topics
24
Search volume
204.4K
Leading topic
Sports
Attention mix
What the country is searching
24
Sports75% (18)
Culture13% (3)
Politics8% (2)
Entertainment4% (1)
Why people are curious
People in the UAE are primarily searching to follow live sporting events and keep updated on player performances and match outcomes, especially related to the FIFA World Cup and major cricket matches. The intent behind these searches is largely to stay informed and engaged with ongoing competitions and key moments. Additionally, cultural curiosity about elite education reflects a desire to understand social developments connected to prominent figures, while increased searches about public holidays aim to gather practical information on upcoming dates and their significance. Political searches indicate watching and learning about important regional developments and leaders.
What to know now
The pulse, explained
Wide Following of 2026 FIFA World Cup in UAE: The 2026 FIFA World Cup is driving significant search activity as UAE fans seek match schedules and free live streaming options
Austria vs Jordan Captivates Football Fans: Austria's win over Jordan in the World Cup Group J has attracted attention, with fans searching for live streams and match updates
Norway’s Victory Over Iraq Highlights Haaland's Impact: Norway's 4-1 triumph over Iraq in the World Cup, highlighted by Haaland's debut brace, is a hot topic among UAE sports followers
Mbappé Breaks Records, Gains Spotlight: Kylian Mbappé's record-breaking scoring feats with France at the World Cup have led to a surge in UAE fan interest
Elite Education Interest Rises with Royal Enrollment: Prince George's enrollment at Eton College and elite education topics have surged in cultural searches in the UAE
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Ranked searches
What people are curious about in United Arab Emirates
The leading searches, their context, and the related questions forming around them.
01Sports
ishan kishan
Ishan Kishan is currently trending with a surge in interest due to his recent explosive 125-run knock in an ODI match.
2K+ searches · 1,000% growth
shubman gill
02Sports
messi
Interest in Lionel Messi is surging in the UAE, driven by his outstanding World Cup performances and upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
100K+ searches · 600% growth
algeria vs argentinafifa world cup 2026
03Sports
كأس العالم fifa 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is generating significant interest with high search volumes in the UAE as fans look for live match updates and viewing options.
20K+ searches · 1,000% growth
04Sports
austria vs jordan
The Austria vs Jordan soccer match has garnered significant attention, especially with Austria securing a win over debutants Jordan in the World Cup Group J stage.
20K+ searches · 1,000% growth
jordan vs austriajordanjordan vs
05Sports
iraq vs norway
The World Cup match between Iraq and Norway has drawn significant attention, with Norway winning 4-1 aided by Erling Haaland's two goals and Leo Østigård's header.
10K+ searches · 1,000% growth
norway vs iraqnorway
06Sports
الاردن والنمسا
People are searching for updates on the Jordan vs Austria football match, reflecting a surge of interest in this international friendly game.
10K+ searches · 1,000% growth
النمسا ضد الأردنالاردنمنتخب الاردن
07Sports
mbappe
Kylian Mbappé is trending due to his outstanding performance with the France national football team, notably breaking goal records in the recent match against Senegal.
10K+ searches · 700% growth
france national football team vs senegal national football team standingskylian mbappé
08Sports
new zealand vs england
People are searching for live updates and details about the New Zealand vs England cricket matches, especially the ongoing Test series.
5K+ searches · 1,000% growth
nz vs engeng vs nz
09Culture
school
The term 'school' is trending in the UAE with increased interest in elite education, notably focusing on Prince George's enrollment at Eton College and other significant.
5K+ searches · 1,000% growth
10Sports
prince yadav
Prince Yadav is currently a trending topic due to his cricket debut for India A in a match against Afghanistan A, attracting significant attention in the UAE region.
5K+ searches · 1,000% growth
ind a vs afg a
11Sports
حكم
People in the UAE are searching for updates on the football match between Argentina and Algeria and related topics such as Messi and FIFA decisions.
5K+ searches · 300% growth
الأرجنتين ضد الجزائرميسيالارجنتين والجزائر
12Sports
nikhil chaudhary
Nikhil Chaudhary, an India-born cricketer, has made headlines after being called into Australia's T20 squad, marking a historic debut as the first Indian-born man to play for.
2K+ searches · 1,000% growth
Reporting and context
Source coverage helping explain why this topic is moving.
Shubman Gill emerges as ODI leader in Kohli’s absence and Rohit’s subdued form - The Indian Express
IND vs AFG: Outstanding! Shubman Gill takes one-handed blinder in 1st ODI - Watch - Yahoo Sports
IND vs AFG 2nd ODI: Ishan Kishan joins elite list with 125-run knock in Lucknow - The Times of India
6, 4, 6, 4... 100 in 77 balls, Shubman Gill breaks HUGE record of Virat Kohli, he becomes... - India.Com
IND vs AFG: Ishan Kishan smashes 71-ball ton in ODI comeback, Gill hits ninth ODI ton - WION
The wider weekly pattern
Curiosity trail
Related searches that led here, appeared alongside it, or followed.