Argentina, France and Norway all kicked off their campaigns with wins as Messi, Mbappe and Haaland stole the headlines on Tuesday.
Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Lionel Messi delivered one of the great World Cup individual performances on Tuesday, scoring a hat-trick on his 200th Argentina appearance to equal Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup goals record of 16 in a commanding 3-0 dismantling of Algeria in Kansas City.
The 38-year-old Inter Miami star also became the first man in history to play in six World Cups – a milestone shared only with Cristiano Ronaldo, who is yet to feature.
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Rodrigo De Paul’s incisive through ball released Messi to unleash a long-range screamer past Luca Zidane in the 17th minute. He added a clinical tap-in in the 60th after Alexis Mac Allister’s thunderous effort was parried, before curling a third into the bottom corner on 76 minutes.
He departed four minutes later to a standing ovation, his first World Cup hat-trick complete. The goals also took Messi past Pele’s all-time World Cup goal contributions record, moving to 24.
France 3-1 Senegal
France launched their bid for a third World Cup crown in style, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice as Les Bleus overcame Senegal 3-1 in New Jersey.
Mbappe broke the deadlock on 66 minutes, converting a brilliant Michael Olise pass before PSG substitute Bradley Barcola added a second.
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Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back in stoppage time but Mbappe had the last word, blasting in from long range in the 96th minute to become France’s all-time top scorer with 58 goals in 99 appearances.
His double took his World Cup tally to 14 – two behind Klose’s record which Messi matched hours later.
Norway 4-1 Iraq
Erling Haaland marked his World Cup debut with a brace as Norway ended a 28-year absence from the tournament with a 4-1 victory over Iraq in Foxborough.
The Manchester City striker tapped in from close range on 29 minutes before Aymen Hussein equalised with a fine header. Haaland then capitalised on a goalkeeping error to restore the lead and take his international tally to 57 goals in 51 matches.
Leo Ostigard headed in a third from an Odegaard corner before Hussein turned a Haaland header into his own net for the fourth. Norway face Senegal next on June 22.
– AFP
Picture: X/@FIFAWorldCup
