Lionel Messi enters record books with hat-trick for Argentina
Kylian Mbappe hits historic double as France defeat Senegal
Erling Haaland enjoys dynamic debut as Norway down Iraq
Austria edge Jordan in successful return to the global stage
It was a day when some of the biggest stars on the planet made their FIFA World Cup 2026™ bows and they did not disappoint as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland all began their tournaments with a bang.
Mbappe got the ball rolling with a brilliant double against Senegal to become France's all-time leading scorer with 58. Haaland also found the net twice as Norway celebrated their long-awaited return to the global stage.
It was Messi, though, who shined brightest of them all as he inspired defending champions Argentina to a comprehensive victory against Algeria with his maiden World Cup hat-trick. In a record sixth World Cup finals appearance, the maestro joined Miroslav Klose at the top of the all-time scoring list with 16.
In the final match of the day, Austria celebrated their return to the World Cup for the first time since France 1998 with a dogged victory over debutants Jordan, who netted their maiden tournament goal.
France 3-1 Senegal
Group I New York New Jersey Stadium
Kylian Mbappe pretended to play the flute then hit the highest of notes. In scoring two terrific strikes against Senegal, the frontman became France's all-time leading scorer with 58 goals and the joint-fourth all-time leading World Cup marksman with 14.
After a goalless opening half, the game sprang into life in the second stanza as Mbappe and Bradley Barcola got France's campaign up and running. Senegal pulled a goal back deep into injury time to make it 2-1 but Mbappe had the final word.
Match report & quotes
Iraq 1-4 Norway
Group I Boston Stadium
Erling Haaland immediately followed in Mbappe's footsteps with a dynamic double of his own. After a lengthy wait to play on football's biggest stage, the striker wasted no time in making his mark as he hit a fantastic first and a fortuitous second to put Norway on the way to victory.
The Lions of Mesopotamia showed plenty of promise but failed to roar as they spurned a number of chances to make it 2-2. They were punished for their profligacy when Norway substitute defender Leo Ostigard and then an Aymen Hussein own goal, deep into injury time, sealed the rout.
Match report & quotes
Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Group J Kansas City Stadium
Argentina began their Qatar 2022 campaign with a surprise defeat to Saudi Arabia. There would be no such repeat in Kansas City as Lionel Messi burnished his reputation as one of the game's greatest-ever players with a performance for the ages.
Messi was already making history by taking the field against Algeria as he made a record sixth finals appearance. He further added to his legacy by scoring an exquisite treble to level Klose's historic scoring mark. The 38-year-old kicked things off with a long-range strike, which was followed up with an opportunistic second. An exquisite late strike provided the perfect denouement.
Match report & quotes
Austria 3-1 Jordan
Group J San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Ali Olwan made history as the first Jordanian player to score a World Cup goal but the Nashama began their adventure at the global finals on the losing end of things.
It was a deserved victory for the returning Austria, who took the lead through a brilliant curling effort from Romano Schmid. After an unfortunate Yazan Al Arab own goal made it 2-1, the 37-year-old veteran Marko Arnautovic showed his enduring class as he slotted from the penalty spot deep into injury time.
Match report & quotes
Standings
Stats
At 18 years 143 days, Senegal's Ibrahim Mbaye became the youngest African goalscorer at the World Cup to date.
Erling Haaland has scored in his last 11 competitive appearances for Norway dating back to November 2024.
At the age of 38 years and 357 days, Lionel Messi has become the oldest hat-trick scorer in World Cup history. The previous oldest was Cristiano Ronaldo who was 33 years and 130 days when he scored a treble against Spain in 2018.
Marko Arnautovic became, with his goal against Jordan, at 37 years and 59 days, the oldest Austrian goalscorer at the World Cup. He succeeded Toni Polster, who was 34 years and 93 days old when he scored the 1-1 equaliser against Cameroon in 1998.
Next up
Wednesday 17 June (all times local) 12:00: Portugal v Congo DR (Group K) 16:00: England v Croatia (Group L) 19:00: Ghana v Panama (Group L) 20:00: Uzbekistan v Colombia (Group K)