Lionel Messi made history once again by scoring his first World Cup hat-trick, leading Argentina to a resounding 3-0 victory over Algeria and equaling the record of Miroslav Klose as the all-time top scorer in World Cup finals. At the same time, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland shone as true superstars, each scoring twice in their tournament debuts, while Austria celebrated a triumphant return to the world’s biggest competition with a 3-1 win against debutants Jordan — in one of the most thrilling matches of this group stage.
Messi, just days away from turning 39, became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup, surpassing all records of longevity and quality. The game in Kansas City will go down in history, not only for its impressive scoreline but also for being the night when Messi, with 16 goals, climbed to the top of the all-time World Cup scoring chart, alongside Klose. Mbappé was not far behind: with 14 goals in 15 tournament matches, the French prodigy continues to rewrite the record books, now being the all-time top scorer for the French national team, currently tied with Giroud but with far fewer caps. Meanwhile, Haaland confirmed his status as a goal machine with two goals in Norway’s victory over Iraq, demonstrating that he is ready to contend for the Golden Boot.
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The victory of Austria over Jordan, by 3-1, in San Francisco, marked not only the return of the Austrians to the finals of a World Cup after 28 years of absence but also the absolute debut of Jordan in the competition. Romano Schmid opened the scoring with a sublime shot in the 20th minute, becoming only the second Austrian to score in both European Championships and World Cups. However, Jordan did not allow themselves to be intimidated and, shortly after the break, Ali Iyad Olwan made history by scoring the country’s first-ever goal in a World Cup. The balance remained until the entry of the experienced Marko Arnautović, who at 37 years and 59 days became the oldest player ever to play for Austria in a World Cup. Arnautović had a direct influence on the two final goals: first, he caused an own goal from Yazan Abu Al-Arab by jumping higher following a corner, and then, in stoppage time, he coolly converted a penalty that sealed the final score of 3-1.
The Austrian coach, Ralf Rangnick, praised his team’s resilience and highlighted Arnautović’s impact: “It was a victory of suffering, but also of maturity. Marko came on and showed why he continues to be a reference for us, despite his age.” On the Jordanian side, coach Hussein Amotta did not hide his pride: “We showed the world that we can compete with any opponent. Olwan’s goal is historic, but we want more.”
These results carry significant weight in the group standings. Argentina is already positioning itself as a strong candidate to defend its title, with Messi demonstrating that he still has the fuel to lead the Albiceleste to the top. France, with Mbappé in record-breaking form and leading a golden generation, is not hiding its objective of returning to the final. Meanwhile, Norway, boosted by Haaland, threatens to be the most dangerous outsider in the tournament. As for Austria, this victory puts it in a good position to contend for qualification, but it will now have to face the powerful Argentina in the next match, where Arnautović is expected to earn a starting spot after his decisive performance in this opening round.
The next round promises thrilling emotions: Messi will attempt to isolate himself as the all-time top scorer, while Mbappé and Haaland will continue their pursuit of the Golden Boot, and Austria plays for the continuation of their dreams. Jordan, despite the defeat, showed that they are here to stay and will certainly be a tough opponent in the upcoming matches. The 2026 World Cup is showcasing the biggest stars and the most unlikely stories — and it has only just begun.
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