Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland star as race for World Cup golden boot heats up
Day 12 of the 2026 World Cup was all about the strikers as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland all scored twice and showed again why they are the best in the business.
The goals started to flow as France, Argentina and Norway enjoyed good victories and the race for the Golden Boot is heating up. Messi leads with five but Mbappe and Haaland are behind with four after two games played.
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The Lionel Messi Show Part 2
Messi followed up his hat-trick in Argentina’s opener against Algeria by scoring twice against Austria to keep the defending champions from a 100% start to the tournament.
However, Messi once again showed that he is human after all. Argentina won a penalty when Lautaro Martinez was fouled early in the first half, giving Messi a great chance to open the scoring. However, the 38-year-old squandered the opportunity with a wicked high-flying kick.
Yet it always felt like a matter of course before Messi scored and was forced late in the first half, directing the game from the penalty spot to beat Miroslav Klose’s record and become the World Cup’s top scorer.
Austria gave very little response and it was left to Messi to finish the game in stoppage time. The Inter Miami star started the move with a good pass and then set up to finish after seeing the first shot blocked.
The victory sends Argentina safely into the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup ahead of the final group game against Jordan on Saturday night.
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Mbappe was hot on Messi’s heels after France’s double
Mbappe made his 100th appearance for France on Monday and needed less than 14 minutes to score against Iraq. The Real Madrid star left-footed a left-footed shot from just outside the box that flew past Ahmed Basil in the Iraq goal to make it 1-0.
Even a two-hour weather delay due to local lightning could not prevent the Frenchman from closing in on Messi for the World Cup crown.
Mbappe benefited from Iraq’s poor performance when goalkeeper Basil failed to control a short goal taken by defender Zaid Tahseen. Ousmane Dembele pounced and rolled the ball past Mbappe to score his 16th World Cup goal, now just two behind Messi.
France then eliminated Iraq thanks to Dembele’s first strike of the World Cup. The Ballon d’Or winner was gifted a pass without the boot from Michael Olise and fired a low shot into the bottom corner.
Haaland inspires Norway again
Erling Haaland followed up goals from Messi and Mbappe by scoring twice as Norway beat Senegal 3-2 in a thrilling game in New Jersey.
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Defender Marcus Pederson opened the scoring after Kalidou Koulibaly’s fatal error blocked his first international goal.
Haaland then doubled Norway’s lead after the break following good work from Martin Odegaard. The Arsenal midfielder drove forward on the counter, slid past Haaland and watched the striker make it 2-0.
Ismaila Sarr pulled one back for Senegal to give his side hope but Norway quickly restored their two-goal lead when Haaland slotted home from inside the box.
Sarr struck again in stoppage time but it was too little, too late for Senegal.
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Algeria ends Jordan’s World Cup dreams
World Cup debutants Jordan were kicked out of the World Cup on Monday after losing 2-1 to Algeria in San Francisco.
The underdogs took a shock lead when Nizar Al Rashdan converted with his right foot inside the penalty area.
Algeria came back in the second half when Nadhir Benbouali headed in from Riyad Mahrez’s corner but had to wait until late to win it. Another corner caused problems for Jordan’s sticks, allowing Amine Gouiri to head home a close-range shot.
Lots of goals but which one was your favourite? Have your say in our poll, as we cover every goal, goal and everything in between from every World Cup
