Lionel Messi added another unforgettable chapter to football history after leading Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Austria and becoming the outright highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history.
The Argentine superstar scored twice to reach 18 World Cup goals, moving past legendary German striker Miroslav Klose’s men’s record of 16 and surpassing Marta’s overall World Cup mark of 17 goals. The achievement further strengthens Messi’s place among the greatest players the sport has ever produced.
At 38 years and 364 days old, Messi also continued to defy age. He became only the second male player in World Cup history to score four or more goals in three separate editions of the tournament. The achievement places him alongside Klose in one of football’s most exclusive groups.
Messi’s impact stretches far beyond goals. The Argentine captain has now scored or assisted in eight of his last nine World Cup appearances dating back to Qatar 2022. During that span, he has delivered 12 goals and three assists, highlighting his continued influence on the global stage.
His opening goal against Austria was particularly notable. It marked the 42nd different nation he has scored against in international football. Meanwhile, Argentina’s record when Messi scores at a World Cup now stands at nine wins, two draws and just one defeat.
Although Messi missed a penalty during the match, his influence remained decisive. Remarkably, every Argentina penalty taken at the World Cup since 2006 has been taken by Messi. No other Argentine player has stepped up from the spot during that period.
While Messi stole the headlines, Kylian Mbappé delivered another reminder that he is the leading contender to inherit football’s biggest records.
France cruised past Iraq 3-0 to secure qualification for the knockout rounds, with Mbappé scoring twice. The goals took his World Cup tally to 16, drawing level with Klose for second place on the men’s all-time scoring list. Only Messi now stands ahead of him.
Mbappé also reached another historic milestone. At just 27 years and 184 days, he earned his 100th international appearance for France, becoming the youngest French male player ever to achieve the feat.
The French forward extended his remarkable World Cup legacy by registering his sixth career multi-goal match in the competition. No player in tournament history has recorded more.
France’s victory also highlighted the growing influence of Michael Olise, who provided two assists. The performance moved him level with Sweden’s Alexander Isak as the leading assist provider at FIFA World Cup 2026.
Ousmane Dembélé joined the scoresheet as well, ending a long wait for his first goal in a major international tournament.
Elsewhere, Erling Haaland continued his prolific form as Norway edged Senegal 3-2 in one of the tournament’s most entertaining matches.
Haaland scored twice to bring his World Cup total to four goals, the highest ever recorded by a Norwegian player in the competition. His latest performance extended an extraordinary scoring streak that has seen him find the net in 12 consecutive competitive matches for Norway.
The statistics surrounding Haaland’s influence are staggering. Norway have now won 16 consecutive matches whenever he scores. During that run, the Scandinavian side has outscored opponents by a massive margin while establishing itself as a dangerous knockout-stage contender.
Norway’s victory also secured a historic achievement. For the first time, the nation has advanced from the group stage in consecutive World Cup appearances.
The final match of the day delivered more history as Algeria came from behind to defeat Jordan 2-1.
The victory marked Algeria’s first-ever comeback win in FIFA World Cup history. Riyad Mahrez played a key role in the turnaround and became the oldest Algerian player to record a goal contribution at the tournament at 35 years and 121 days.
As FIFA World Cup 2026 gathers momentum, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on football’s biggest stars. Messi continues to rewrite the history books, Mbappé keeps closing the gap on the game’s greatest records, and Haaland is proving he belongs among football’s elite.
