Lionel Messi made history again at the World Cup.
This Monday (22), the Argentine star led Argentina and scored two goals in the 2-0 victory over Austria, taking the top score in the history of the tournament, with 18 goals. This is Messi’s sixth participation in the World Cup.
The result meant that the South American team joined Germany, Mexico and the United States among those already qualified for the knockout stages of the tournament — France and Norway also joined the group at night.
The game against the European team started with a bittersweet taste for Argentina. After a penalty was scored in a move involving Lautaro Martínez, Messi went for the penalty and wasted it.
Still in the initial stage, however, in a characteristic move, the Argentine star received the ball on the edge of the area and opened the scoring.
In stoppage time of the second half, he scored again after a shot by Julián Álvarez, also isolating himself in this World Cup’s top scorer, with five goals.
The Argentine star is looking for his second consecutive title in the tournament, after winning the Qatar World Cup in 2022 with the Argentina team.
FRANCE 3-0 IRAQ
There is a name hot on Lionel Messi’s trail: Kylian Mbappé. The French star is hot on the Argentine’s heels both in the race for the all-time record for goals in World Cups and for the top score in this tournament.
Playing in his third World Cup, Mbappé is close to Messi in total goals scored in the competition. The Frenchman scored twice in France’s victory over Iraq and scored 16 goals, just two less than the Argentine. Dembélé completed the 3-0 victory for the French team.
With the two goals, Mbappé reached four goals in two matches, one less than Messi in the tournament’s top scorer.
The game between France and Iraq was also marked by the first stoppage of the tournament due to storm protocol. The feature, which became known in Brazil during the 2025 Club World Cup, was activated and caused the match to be interrupted for around two hours.
NORWAY 3 X 2 SENEGAL
In the dispute between the candidates for second place in Group I, Haaland and company’s team came out on top.
The Norwegian center forward, who plays for Manchester City, is another name in the competition for the World Cup top scorer in North America. He is tied with Mbappé, with four goals.
In the game against Senegal, Haaland found the net twice. Right-back Pedersen also scored for the Norwegian team. Striker Ismaïla Sarr scored twice for the Senegalese.
The result qualified Norway for the knockout stage. With 6 points, the team can no longer be caught by Senegal. Even if they end up tied on points at the end of the group stage, the Norwegians have an advantage in the head-to-head criteria after Monday’s victory.
Norway faces France on Friday (26), at 4pm. On the same day and time, Senegal and Iraq play.
JORDAN 1 X 2 ALGERIA
In a clash of much perspiration and little inspiration, Algeria defeated Jordan 2-1.
After the Jordanian team opened the scoring and went into the break with an advantage, Ryad Mahrez’s team started to focus on high plays. The strategy worked, and the Algerian team managed to turn things around, with goals from Nizar Al-Rashdan and Gouiri.
The result eliminates Jordan, one of the four debutants in this World Cup, and takes Algeria to a direct confrontation with Austria for second place in Group J. The Algerian team will face the European team on Saturday (27), at 11pm.
Jordan, with no chance of qualifying, ends its participation in the tournament against Lionel Messi’s team, on the same day and time.
