On the World Cup's day of stars, Messi towers over Haaland and Mbappe

On the World Cup's day of stars, Messi towers over Haaland and Mbappe2hMark OgdenMessi ties Klose's WCup goals record with hat trick3hLizzy BecheranoScaloni 'at a loss for words' on Messi's brilliance1hLizzy BecheranoMbappé nets stunner, breaks France record in win4hMark OgdenNorway win as Haaland nets 2 in debut at WC5hConnor O'HalloranBerhalter says Poch taught U.S. 'what we're about'8hJeff CarlisleSources: Man Utd set £40m valuation on Rashford15hMark OgdenSources: England eye mid-WC match vs.

MLS side4hJames OlleyIran's Torabi cleared to re-enter U.S. for WCup7hJeff CarlisleWhich players have scored a hat trick in the World Cup?

3hKeith JenkinsWorld Cup Daily: Messi with a historic hat trick, Mbappé and Haaland also score2hESPNMbappé rewrites France, World Cup history books as Les Bleus beat Senegal7hGabriele Marcotti and Julien LaurensHaaland shines in World Cup debut, and provides hope for Norway3hConnor O'HalloranAre World Cup hydration breaks important? Or do they stop teams' momentum?14hMark Ogden and Yash ThakurWhy the USMNT's dominant opening win may predict a deep World Cup run19hRyan O'HanlonTransfer rumors, news: Chelsea eye move for Palace's Lacroix4hESPNTransfer big board: Best players in each position who could move2dSam TigheMahomes, Jay Z top celebrities at 2026 World Cup3hESPN staffCape Verde GK Vozinha stopped World Cup favorites Spain ...

then gained 8M followers12hEd DoveRunners-up in 2018, third place in 2022: Can Croatia shock the World Cup again?22hRob DawsonKey issues for England at 2026 World Cup: Fatigue, fitness and do Gordon, Stones start?23hTom HamiltonSpain won't panic yet about Cape Verde draw, but they need Yamal fit and firing1dAlex KirklandEvery team's odds to win the World Cup: Spain falls from favorite status after draw11hDoug GreenbergplayArgentina fans in Buenos Aires react to Messi's hat trick goal vs.

Algeria (0:31)Mark OgdenJun 16, 2026, 11:54 PM ETMultiple AuthorsEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsIt was the day the FIFA World Cup superstars came out to play -- and score -- but the biggest star of them all is Lionel Messi, and he reminded the world that he is still the GOAT with a stunning hat trick against Algeria.Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland had arrived at the tournament earlier Tuesday, and they announced their presence with the sound of the ball crashing against the back of the net with two goals apiece for France and Norway, respectively, in their games against Senegal and Iraq.For a moment, it seemed as though the game's two hottest young players had hammered out a message that this was going to be their World Cup and that the old guard of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could have ringside seats to watch them dominate the race for the Golden Boot.

- As it happened: Messi scores sensational hat trick against Algeria - Mbappé rewrites France, World Cup history books as Les Bleus beat Senegal - Haaland shines on World Cup debut, and provides hope for NorwayBut Messi, who will be 39 next week, had other ideas. Not only did he score this World Cup's first hat trick, but he also zoomed up the all-time scoring charts to move level with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose as the leading World Cup scorer with 16 goals.In the space of 80 minutes -- Messi was substituted to a huge ovation with 10 minutes left to play in Kansas City -- the Inter Miami CF star moved past Mbappé, Gerd Müller and Brazil's Ronaldo to join Klose at the top of the pile.

It's only a matter of time before Messi claims top spot for himself, but don't rule out the prospect of Mbappé dislodging him from that position before this World Cup is done. Mbappé's double in France's 3-1 win against Senegal in East Rutherford, New Jersey, made him Les Bleus' all-time leading goal scorer with 58 goals in 99 internationals, moving him clear of former Arsenal and Chelsea forward Olivier Giroud.The Real Madrid star also climbed to third in the all-time World Cup scoring charts, pulling clear of Pelé (12 goals) and Messi (13) -- for a few hours at least -- with his 13th and 14th goals at soccer's biggest tournament.

Haaland will be 26 next month so is just a year younger than Mbappé, but unlike France's talisman, the Manchester City star has no World Cup backstory with Norway. His appearance against Iraq in Boston was his World Cup debut on Norway's first game in the competition since 1998.The only Haaland with a World Cup pedigree was his father, Alf-Inge, who played twice for Norway at USA 1994, so Erling arrived in the U.

S. playing catch-up on both his dad and Mbappé, who is perhaps his biggest rival for the Golden Boot over the next month.play1:00Leboeuf backs Mbappé to break Klose's World Cup goal recordBut while Mbappé's double against Senegal was all silk and style -- his opener was a one-touch finish from a sublime Michael Olise pass followed by a stunning strike from distance -- Haaland's goals were typical of his most bustling, predatory style.

His first was a sliding finish at the far post, less than 6