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The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been thing short of miraculous frankincense far, particularly erstwhile you look astatine what nan superstars of nan tourney person been doing connected nan pitch.
Monday’s slate of games, which featured 3 of nan game’s premier extremity scorers, was possibly nan highest of nan tourney frankincense far.
The communicative of nan time had to beryllium Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who group nan all-time World Cup goals record, surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose for nan lead arsenic his illustrious profession accolades continue.
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Argentina's Lionel Messi reacts aft scoring his 3rd extremity during nan World Cup Group J lucifer against Algeria successful Kansas City, Mo., connected June 16, 2026. (Ed Zurga/AP Photo)
Messi not only notched his 17th World Cup extremity successful nan first half of Argentina’s triumph complete Austria, but he added an 18th extremity precocious successful nan 2nd half to put a cherry connected apical of yet different awesome performance.
Through conscionable 2 matches successful nan World Cup, Messi already has 5 goals to his name, scoring a chapeau trick successful Argentina’s first tourney triumph against Algeria. And he’s doing this astatine 38 years old, showcasing nan aforesaid accomplishment he had successful his premier for state and club, while furthering his lawsuit arsenic nan champion shot subordinate to ever deterioration a brace of boots.
But Messi wasn’t nan only superstar to show retired connected Monday. In fact, he wasn’t moreover nan only 1 to people 2 goals successful a victory.
LIONEL MESSI'S GREATNESS SHINES WITH WORLD CUP HAT TRICK AGAINST ALGERIA
France's Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland, 2 of nan game’s champion strikers, took advantage successful their matches against Iraq and Senegal, respectively.
Early successful nan first half successful Philadelphia, Mbappe recovered nan shot conscionable extracurricular Iraq’s 18-yard container erstwhile he drilled a left-foot onslaught toward goal, and it was excessively overmuch juice for nan keeper arsenic it recovered nan backmost of nan net. France was each complete Iraq, arsenic expected, and they made judge to property pinch their 27-year-old superstar starring nan way.
After a lengthy upwind delay, play yet resumed connected nan pitch, wherever Iraq made a costly correction connected a extremity footwear that nan keeper was not prepared to handle, and Ousmane Dembele served an easy walk to Mbappe to group up his 2nd extremity of nan evening.
Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring France's first extremity during nan FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I lucifer against Iraq astatine Philadelphia Stadium successful Philadelphia, Pa., connected June 22, 2026. (Shaun Botterill/FIFA)
While Messi collapsed nan grounds for all-time World Cup goals, Mbappe is not excessively acold down him, arsenic those were his 15th and 16th of his career. Mbappe is only 27 but is playing successful his 3rd World Cup for a France squad looking for revenge aft falling to Argentina successful nan 2022 World Cup Final.
Finally, not excessively acold from Philadelphia, Haaland and Norway were playing successful East Rutherford, New Jersey, successful a pivotal Group I lucifer against Senegal. France is besides successful Group I and had nan lead pinch 2 wins to commencement their tournament.
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Thus, Haaland would beryllium counted connected for his extremity scoring ways, and he didn’t disappoint. Haaland scored successful nan 48th and 58th minutes of nan lucifer connected nan measurement to a 3-2 triumph complete Senegal to necktie France astatine nan apical of Group I starring into a decisive last group shape lucifer later this week.
Haaland whitethorn moreover person had 3 goals if not for a missed opportunity erstwhile Senegal’s goalkeeper fumbled nan shot and a wide unfastened nett was successful beforehand of him astatine nan extremity of nan first half. But Haaland put it disconnected nan correct post, leaving nan 6-foot-5 Norwegian successful disbelief.
However, Haaland made up for it quickly successful nan 2nd half, and nan crowd successful New Jersey went ballistic for nan Manchester City product.
Erling Haaland of Norway celebrates pinch teammates aft scoring nan 3rd extremity during nan FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I lucifer against Senegal astatine New York New Jersey Stadium successful East Rutherford, N.J., connected June 22, 2026. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
With players for illustration Spain’s Lamine Yamal making history pinch his first-ever World Cup extremity connected Sunday, and Team USA making connection wins successful their first 2 matches successful Group D, this tourney has had it each from apical to bottom.
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The champion portion is this is only nan group stages. The knockout rounds are to travel adjacent week, wherever players for illustration Messi, Mbappe and Haaland will person much astatine stake.
But there's nary uncertainty this tourney has been tremendous to watch for each instrumentality crossed nan globe, and Monday's "Big Three" made it moreover much special.
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Scott Thompson is simply a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
