Messi breaks – Lionel Messi set a World Cup record with two goals, including a penalty miss and a left-foot finish as Argentina beat Austria. Kylian Mbappé scored twice for France against Iraq, while Erling Haaland netted twice for Norway against Senegal as the tournament de
Monday, June 22, brought the kind of attacking drama World Cup nights are built on: a penalty that didn’t go in, records falling anyway, and three of the most feared strikers in the game showing up exactly when their teams needed them.
For Lionel Messi. the headline came in the end—two goals. a World Cup milestone. and another night written into history. Messi became the first man ever to score 17 goals in World Cup history. He also became the third player to score in six consecutive World Cup matches. joining Just Fontaine (France) and Jairzinho (Brazil). When Argentina beat Austria. Messi passed Klose for another mark: he has now won 18 World Cup games in his career. which passes Klose. who has 17.
But it didn’t start cleanly. Messi entered the game against Austria with 16 goals, tied with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose. In the ninth minute, he had a golden chance to pass Klose but sent his penalty kick wide. It was his first miss that was not on target and not saved. Still, the momentum shifted in the 38th minute. Left back Facundo Medina played a low cross near the penalty spot. Argentina winger Thiago Almada let the pass go under his legs for an oncoming Messi. and Messi slotted a left-footed shot past Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.
The numbers keep stacking. Messi has both taken (seven) and missed (three) the most penalties in World Cup history. He also became the fourth man to score five goals in his first two matches of a World Cup tournament. after Sandor Kocsis (Hungary) in 1954 (seven). Just Fontaine (France) in 1958 (five) and Harry Kane (England) in 2018 (five).
France answered with the same ruthless efficiency. Kylian Mbappé scored two goals as France beat Iraq, taking his World Cup total to 16 goals in his career. That leaves him tied with Miroslav Klose for the second-most in men’s World Cup history behind Messi. Mbappé also stretched his own record for the most multi-goal games in the World Cup, reaching six multi-goal games.
His night wasn’t only about scoring—it was also about longevity and pace. Mbappé has a path that could eventually match Messi’s record of 18 World Cup goals. though the only thing that mattered in the moment was that Iraq couldn’t stop him. Iraq remains winless all-time at the World Cup at 0-0-5 (W-D-L). and it has been outscored 11-2 in those matches. France, meanwhile, has now won its first two group games at each of the last four World Cups.
The tournament also kept delivering moments tied to individual milestones. Mbappé became the fourth-youngest European player to reach 100 national-team appearances behind Sergio Ramos (Spain), Lukas Podolski (Germany) and Kristen Viikmäe (Estonia).
On the other side of the field, Erling Haaland made sure Norway stayed in control of its scoring story. Haaland netted twice against Senegal. and the forward’s tally reached three goals at the tournament—up to 59 goals in 52 appearances for Norway. He has scored in his last 12 competitive appearances for Norway and has scored at least one goal in 18 of his last 21 competitive national team games.
Senegal offered few signs of stopping him. This match marked only the third time Senegal has ever conceded three goals in a World Cup match. Haaland’s goals also carried a stat that feels almost unfair: he is the sixth player to score more than one goal in each of his first two career appearances at the World Cup. and only the second to achieve this in the last 50 years (England’s Harry Kane in 2018).
Even so, Senegal did find its own bright spot through Ismaïla Sarr, who now has 20 career goals for Senegal. Those were his first two in the World Cup.
The day ended with another storyline—one that didn’t belong to the biggest names. but still mattered just as much in the groups. Algeria got its first win at the World Cup in exactly 12 years. Its last World Cup win came on June 22, 2014, against South Korea. Jordan, for its part, got its first-ever lead in a World Cup match when Nizar Al-Rashdan scored.
Algeria’s win also came with a pattern attached to its recent World Cup history: it has conceded the opening goal in nine of its last 12 World Cup games. Riyadh Mahrez made his first World Cup start since June 17, 2014.
Taken together. the results of June 22 made one thing unmistakable: the tournament’s best forwards are producing again. and defensive cracks are being punished quickly—whether it’s Messi turning a wide penalty into a record night. Mbappé driving France forward. or Haaland riding momentum past Senegal.
World Cup 2026 Lionel Messi Kylian Mbappé Erling Haaland Argentina vs Austria France vs Iraq Norway vs Senegal Algeria vs Jordan Facundo Medina Thiago Almada Alexander Schlager Miroslav Klose