News Focus
- Kylian Mbappé becomes France’s all-time leading scorer with 58 international goals
- Erling Haaland scores twice as Norway defeat Iraq 4-1 in opening match
- Lionel Messi nets World Cup hat-trick to equal all-time goal record of 16
- Messi makes history as the first footballer to appear at six separate World Cup tournaments
The international football tournament has begun with a flood of goals. Three of the sport’s biggest stars have already left their mark on the competition.
Kylian Mbappé wrote his name into French football history. The forward scored twice in France’s 3-1 victory against Senegal in New Jersey. His first goal was a calm, low finish. His second was a powerful long-range strike during stoppage time.
These goals took Mbappé’s total for France to 58. He has broken the previous record held by Olivier Giroud. The former striker, now working as a television pundit, praised Mbappé during the broadcast. “Congratulations Kylian,” Giroud said. “He will beat every single record.”
Mbappé has now scored 14 goals at World Cup finals. He is closing in on Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16. Giroud believes the young star can reach 100 goals for his country.
Meanwhile, Erling Haaland continued his excellent scoring form. The Norwegian striker scored two goals in his team’s 4-1 win over Iraq. Haaland has a history of scoring on debuts. He previously scored hat-tricks in his first matches in the Champions League and the German Bundesliga.
Norway’s manager, Ståle Solbakken, expected this performance. “You can see he lived up to the occasion,” he said. “I had a good feeling before the game.”
However, Lionel Messi produced the most remarkable display. The Argentina captain scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win against Algeria in Kansas City. The 38-year-old now has 16 World Cup goals. This equals the record held by Miroslav Klose.
Messi also became the first player to compete at six different World Cup tournaments. He achieved this landmark one day before his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo. The match marked his 200th appearance for his national team.
After the match, Messi spoke about his feelings. “To enjoy this with my family and teammates is a really beautiful moment,” he said. “Everything I’m experiencing now is a bonus.”
The three superstars have set high standards for the rest of the competition.