Messi ties Klose's World Cup goal record, Mbappé and Haaland score braces
In the match against Algeria, Lionel Messi scored three goals, bringing his World Cup tally to 16 and tying Miroslav Klose's record. Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland also scored braces in the group stage matches of the 2026 World Cup.
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland: a stellar start to the 2026 World Cup
The first round of group stage matches at the 2026 World Cup, held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, delivered a true fireworks display of goals and legendary achievements. Three global football superstars took center stage: Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland. Each not only helped their team secure victory but also etched their names into the history of the world's premier football tournament.
Main Event
Messi's hat-trick against Algeria
On the night of June 16, at a stadium in the United States, defending world champions Argentina began their title defense with a match against Algeria in Group J. The game ended in a resounding 3-0 victory for the South American side, with all three goals scored by 38-year-old captain Lionel Messi.
This hat-trick was the first of Messi's World Cup career. Two of the three goals were scored from long range, allowing the Argentine to set another record: he became the player with the most goals from outside the penalty area at World Cups since 1966, surpassing the achievement of Brazil's Rivellino.
The match against Algeria was Messi's 200th appearance for Argentina, and at 38 years and 357 days old, he became the oldest player in World Cup history to score more than one goal in a match.
Historic brace from Mbappé against Senegal
On the same day, in a Group I match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, France faced Senegal. The French were favorites, but the first half was challenging for them. Senegal, led by Sadio Mané and Nicolas Jackson, created several dangerous chances: Jackson hit the post, and Sarr shot over the bar from a few meters out.
However, in the second half, Les Bleus showed a completely different game. In the 66th minute, Kylian Mbappé, receiving a delicate pass from Michael Olise, broke through one-on-one with the goalkeeper and opened the scoring. This goal was Mbappé's 57th for France, tying Olivier Giroud's record.
In the 90+6th minute, as Senegal tried to equalize, Mbappé put the game to bed. Receiving the ball on the opponent's half, the French captain unleashed a powerful shot from over 30 meters, sending the ball into the net to complete his brace. The final score was 3-1 in favor of France, and Mbappé became France's all-time top scorer with 58 goals.
Haaland's brace in his World Cup debut
Group I also served as the stage for Norway's triumphant return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence. The Scandinavians faced Iraq at Gillette Stadium in Boston and secured a convincing 4-1 victory.
The star of the match was Erling Haaland. In the 28th minute, he opened the scoring by finishing a cross from David Møller Wolfe—his first career World Cup goal. However, Iraq did not give up: in the 38th minute, Aymen Hussein equalized with a header.
The match was decided before halftime. In the 44th minute, Iraq defender Zaid Tahsin made a catastrophic error, playing a weak back pass to the goalkeeper. Haaland intercepted the ball and slotted it into the empty net for his brace. In the second half, Norway scored two more goals: first, Leo Østigård headed in from a corner by Martin Ødegaard, and then in stoppage time, an own goal by Aymen Hussein. For Haaland, this was his 57th appearance for Norway, and his goals were his 51st and 52nd for the national team.
Details and Statistics
Lionel Messi's World Cup records
Messi's hat-trick against Algeria allowed him to reach several historic milestones:
- 16 World Cup goals — tying Miroslav Klose's record for total goals in tournament history. Messi's goals are distributed across tournaments: 1 goal in 2006, 0 in 2010, 4 in 2014, 1 in 2018, 7 in 2022, and 3 in 2026.
- 27 World Cup matches — an absolute record for the number of games played at the World Cup. The previous record was held by Lothar Matthäus (25 matches).
- 17 World Cup match wins — tying Miroslav Klose's record. Next on the list are Brazil's Cafu (16 wins), as well as Cristiano Ronaldo, Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Lothar Matthäus (15 wins each).
- Sixth World Cup participation — an absolute record for men's football. No one before him had played in six World Cups.
- 8 assists — Messi tied Diego Maradona in this category.
- Oldest player to score more than one goal in a World Cup match — 38 years and 357 days.
- Most goals from outside the penalty area since 1966 — 6 such goals.
| Record | Messi's Achievement | Note |
|---|---|---|
| World Cup goals | 16 | Tied with Klose |
| World Cup matches | 27 | Absolute record |
| World Cup wins | 17 | Tied with Klose |
| World Cup participations | 6 | Absolute record |
| Assists | 8 | Tied with Maradona |
Kylian Mbappé's achievements
- France's all-time top scorer — 58 goals, surpassing Olivier Giroud's record (57 goals).
- 14 World Cup goals — Mbappé ranks third on the list of all-time World Cup scorers behind Klose (16) and Messi (16), ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo (15).
| Mbappé's Achievement | Figure |
|---|---|
| Goals for France | 58 (record) |
| World Cup goals | 14 |
Erling Haaland's statistics
- World Cup debut match — 2 goals and 1 assist.
- 52 goals for Norway in 57 matches — phenomenal scoring rate.
| Haaland's Achievement | Figure |
|---|---|
| Goals for Norway | 52 |
| World Cup goals (debut match) | 2 |
Context and Significance
Argentina begins title defense
Argentina enters the 2026 World Cup as the defending champion, having won the title in Qatar in 2022. The confident victory over Algeria was an ideal start to the tournament. Messi, despite his age, continues to prove he is the team's key player and the main hope for Argentine fans for a second consecutive title.
Upcoming matches in Group J: against Austria (June 22) and against Jordan (June 28). For Messi, the match against Austria will be an opportunity to take sole first place in World Cup wins, surpassing Miroslav Klose.
France confirms favorite status
France, the runner-up of the previous World Cup, started the tournament with a confident win over a strong Senegal side. Mbappé, who took the captain's armband, demonstrated not only his scoring ability but also leadership, taking charge at a crucial moment. Becoming France's all-time top scorer is an important milestone for the 27-year-old, who is already among the greatest players in the country's history.
Norway's return
For Norway, this World Cup is a historic event. The team had not participated in the tournament since 1998. The 4-1 victory over Iraq and first place in Group I after the first round (better goal difference than France) is a statement of intent to reach the knockout stages. Haaland, finally getting the chance to shine on the biggest stage, lived up to all expectations with a brace and an assist.
What's Next
| Team | Next Match | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | June 22 | Austria |
| France | June 21-22 | To be determined |
| Norway | June 21-22 | To be determined |
Argentina will continue their Group J campaign against Austria on June 22. This match will be an opportunity for Messi to finally break Klose's record for World Cup wins and continue his pursuit of the sole goal-scoring record.
France and Norway will also continue their battle in Group I. For Mbappé and Haaland, the upcoming matches are a chance not only to secure a place in the knockout stages but also to continue chasing scoring records. Mbappé, with 14 World Cup goals, is closing in on Cristiano Ronaldo (15 goals) and, with favorable circumstances, could catch up to Messi and Klose in this tournament. For Haaland, this World Cup is his debut, and he has already shown he can compete with the best scorers in history.
Editor's Prediction
The start of the 2026 World Cup has been marked by the brilliant form of three of world football's biggest stars. Messi, Mbappé, and Haaland have demonstrated they are in excellent physical and psychological shape. Lionel Messi's form deserves special attention: at 38, he is not only scoring but doing so in a style reminiscent of his best years. If the Argentine continues in the same vein, Klose's goal record could fall as early as the match against Austria.
Kylian Mbappé, now France's all-time top scorer, looks highly motivated. His brace against Senegal, including a goal from 30 meters, shows he intends not just to defend the runner-up title but to lead France to victory. Erling Haaland has finally made it to the biggest tournament and clearly intends to make up for lost time. His debut match showed he can decide games on his own, even under tight marking from defenders.
First round verdict: the main contenders for the tournament's Golden Boot have already staked their claims. The battle for the World Cup's top scorer title among Messi, Mbappé, and Haaland could be one of the main storylines of the 2026 World Cup.
— Editorial Team
