Mexico is proving to be no sweat at the World Cup as data analysis reveals their players perspire the least in the heat. Digital number cruncher GIGAcalculator gathered height, weight and age data for all 731 players still competing at the round of 32. They found co-hosts Mexico, winners of their four matches and accustomed to playing in sticky heat, produce the least amount of sweat per match with 23,853ml. That is over two litres less per game than the sweatiest team, Erling Haaland’s Norway.
Norway leads sweat production
Norway produces 25,900ml per match, enough liquid to keep 10 of their fans hydrated for a full day. Their heaviest sweater is midfielder Sander Berge, who loses an estimated 2,634ml in 90 minutes — that is 104% of what a typical Norwegian fan needs to drink in a day. Haaland is Norway’s fourth sweatiest and ranks inside the tournament’s top 15 perspirers.
England and Belgium in the mix
England ranks 13th out of 32 nations with an estimated 25,038ml of sweat per match. Chelsea’s 6ft 7in Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders, 20, produces the most sweat of any individual player at 2,760ml per match, more than the average Belgian fan drinks in a day. A Norway vs Belgium clash would be the sweatiest possible fixture in the tournament, generating 51,725ml combined.
Tournament total
Boffins estimate the remaining matches will produce 1,500 litres of sweat. A spokesman for the analysts said: “While fans stick to their sofas at home or glisten in the stands, the players are sweating out literal buckets on the pitch — some teams significantly more than others.”
