FIFA World Cup: Double Strike for Messi, Haaland and Mbappe

Captain Lionel Messi broke the record of 16 World Cup goals and led Argentina to their second victory at the FIFA World Cup 2026, securing a place in the knockout stage.

In front of 70,000 fans in Arlington, USA, Argentina defeated Austria 2–0, with Messi scoring both goals.

Messi struck in the 38th minute of the first half, firing a powerful shot from inside the box off a pass from Facundo Medina straight into the net. His second goal came in injury time.

With this, Messi surpassed Germany’s Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals. In Argentina’s opening match against Algeria, Messi had scored a hat-trick to equal Klose’s tally.

This match also placed Messi third on the list of players to score in six consecutive World Cup games. At 38 years old, he also equaled the record of scoring four goals in a single tournament at that age.

Messi had missed a penalty in the ninth minute against Austria after Lautaro Martínez was fouled, but his shot failed to find the net.

With back-to-back wins in Group J, Argentina advanced to the knockout stage with 6 points from 2 matches. Austria, with 3 points, sits second. Jordan and Algeria, having lost their opening games, remain without points.

Meanwhile, France also booked their place in the knockout stage with two consecutive wins, thanks to captain Kylian Mbappe’s brace.

At Philadelphia Stadium, France defeated Iraq 3–0 to secure their place in the knockout stage.

Earlier, France had beaten Senegal 3–1 in their opening match. Captain Kylian Mbappe gave France the lead in the 14th minute. Heavy rain halted the game for two hours at the end of the first half. In the 54th minute, Mbappe scored his second goal to double the advantage.

With 16 World Cup goals, Mbappe has now climbed to joint second place among all-time scorers. Remarkably, the 27-year-old achieved this in just three World Cups. Argentina’s Lionel Messi leads the chart with 18 goals.

Ousmane Dembele added a third goal in the 66th minute, sealing France’s dominance over Iraq.

In Group I, France tops the table with 6 points from 2 matches.

Norway also advanced to the knockout stage after defeating Senegal 3–2 in their second match at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday morning.

Erling Haaland starred with two goals, while Markus Pedersen scored once. Ismaïla Sarr netted both goals for Senegal.

Norway led 1–0 at halftime and added two more in the second half. Senegal fought back with two goals but couldn’t stop Norway.

With consecutive wins, Norway now has 6 points in Group I, level with France, though France leads on goal difference.

Senegal and Iraq suffered their second straight defeats, leaving Senegal’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage almost over.