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World Cup Stars Messi, Mbappé, Haaland Deliver Early Milestones
By Aurax Desk | June 17, 2026 | 2 min read
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland each produced standout performances in the opening round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, delivering goals and record-setting moments for their national teams. The early matches have featured several landmark achievements from some of football’s most prominent players as the tournament begins across North America.
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland celebrating goals during their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, as each star delivered record-setting or standout performances for Argentina, France and Norway.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi scored a hat trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria, matching Miroslav Klose’s all-time men’s World Cup goals record of 16. The performance marked Messi’s first World Cup hat trick and added another milestone to his long international career, reinforcing Argentina’s status as defending champions. In a separate Group I match, France forward Kylian Mbappé scored twice in a 3-1 win over Senegal, becoming France’s all-time leading men’s international goalscorer after surpassing Olivier Giroud’s record. His brace extended his international tally and strengthened France’s early position in the tournament.
Norway forward Erling Haaland also made a strong debut World Cup appearance, scoring twice in a 4-1 win over Iraq. The Manchester City striker, playing in his first World Cup after Norway’s long absence from the tournament, helped his side secure a dominant opening victory. The result placed Norway among the early leaders in its group alongside France, while Haaland’s performance added another headline moment to a tournament already defined by individual milestones.
Together, the opening matches have highlighted a generational clash of elite forwards, with established stars and emerging contenders shaping the early narrative of the competition as group-stage play continues across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Sources: Information from ESPN, BBC Sport, The Guardian, Reuters.
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