The FIFA World Cup delivered a landmark day of action, with Lionel Messi setting a new all-time goalscoring record as Argentina defeated Austria 2–0 to book their place in the knockout stages.
Kylian Mbappé and France also secured qualification with a commanding 3–0 victory over Iraq, while Erling Haaland inspired Norway to a narrow 3–2 win against Senegal. Algeria completed the day’s fixtures with a 2–1 comeback victory over Jordan.
Messi Makes World Cup History
Messi scored twice to move his World Cup tally to 18 goals, surpassing Miroslav Klose’s men’s record of 16 and Marta’s overall record of 17. The milestone makes him the highest goalscorer in World Cup history across both men’s and women’s competitions.
The Argentine captain also extended several remarkable records, including scoring in six consecutive World Cup matches and becoming one of the few players to score four or more goals across three separate tournament editions.
At 38 years old, Messi continues to redefine longevity at the highest level, with a record that also includes contributions in eight of his last nine World Cup matches.
Mbappé Hits 16 Goals as France Cruise
Mbappé starred for France with a brace, taking his World Cup tally to 16 goals—level with Miroslav Klose and just two behind Messi’s record.
The French forward also marked his 100th international appearance at just 27 years old, becoming one of the youngest Europeans to reach the milestone.
France’s win ensured a fourth consecutive qualification for the knockout stages, extending their strong tournament consistency since 2014.
Haaland Fires Norway Into Knockouts
Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway edged Senegal 3–2, taking his World Cup goal tally to four and continuing a strong scoring run for his national team.
The result confirmed Norway’s progression to the knockout stages and marked their best run in recent tournament history.
Algeria Stage Comeback Against Jordan
Algeria rallied from a goal down to beat Jordan 2–1, securing a historic first-ever comeback win in World Cup history after previously struggling in matches where they conceded first.
Veteran midfielder Riyad Mahrez also made history, becoming the oldest Algerian to register a goal contribution at a World Cup.
