Waiting for a "rain of goals" at the 2026 World Cup with Messi, Mbappe and Haaland

It’s as if the peak form of one player acts as a stimulant, pushing the others to deliver their best. This indirect chase began with Kylian Mbappe, who scored a classy brace to help France secure a convincing 3-1 victory over Senegal. Just a few hours later, superstar striker Erling Haaland responded instantly with goals in Norway’s emphatic 4-1 win against Iraq. The stage then shifted to genius Lionel Messi. The Inter Miami forward demonstrated his unparalleled class with a stunning hat-trick, leading Argentina to a 3-0 thrashing of Algeria.

Messi remains the best. On the day marking his 200th appearance for Argentina, Messi scored his first World Cup hat-trick. According to statistics, Messi also became the only player in World Cup history to score against 11 different national teams: Serbia, Mexico, Nigeria, Bosnia, Iran, Croatia, Australia, Netherlands, France, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria.

According to the schedule on June 23, three highly anticipated teams—Argentina, France, and Norway—will take the field. With matches featuring the world’s three top strikers, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland, this matchday promises to be filled with goals.

At 00:00 on June 23, Lionel Messi’s Argentina will face Austria in the second match of Group J. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will turn 39 on June 24. It would be very meaningful if Messi scores again in this match, thereby surpassing Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals.

Being able to play the World Cup on American soil, where this star has been playing professionally in recent years. The familiar stadiums and climate seem to give the 38-year-old an extra boost to shine. This is benefiting Argentinians and football fans worldwide as they witness Messi displaying his finest qualities. The things he has been doing for two decades—magical dribbling and tearing through opponents’ nets—remain unchanged.

Four hours later, France will take on Iraq. In the opening match, Mbappe scored a brace in the 3-1 victory over Senegal, raising his total World Cup goals to 14.

With two goals in the match against Senegal, Mbappe officially surpassed Olivier Giroud to become the all-time top scorer in French national team history, while also breaking the record of legend Just Fontaine for the most goals by a French player in World Cup tournaments. These milestone records are likely to motivate the Real Madrid striker to continue shining during the summer in the United States.

Against an Iraq team not rated too highly, it will be an opportunity for Mbappe to further close the gap in the historic race, while the Gallic Roosters can take a big step toward securing a place in the next round of Group I.

The clash between Norway and Senegal at 7:00 on June 23 at New York New Jersey Stadium (USA) draws much attention. This match will significantly determine the advancement chances of both teams. For Senegal, there is no room for mistakes after their loss to France.

Fans will closely watch Norway’s striker Haaland. In the opening match, the Manchester City forward shone with two goals in the win over Iraq.

On the day when all three superstars—Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland—take the field together, the matches of Argentina, France, and Norway are expected to be explosive.

The impressive start from a host of the world’s best strikers is opening up the prospect of one of the most exciting Golden Boot races in World Cup history. In recent tournaments, the top scorer award has not often seen so many standout candidates simultaneously.

Messi entered the tournament at age 38 but still maintains an astonishing ability to make a difference. His hat-trick against Algeria not only put him at the top of the scoring race but also showed that the 2022 world champion is still capable of deciding big matches.

Meanwhile, Mbappe continues to prove why he is considered one of the most World Cup-destined players in history. At the same time, Kane and Haaland are not to be outdone, making the race for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot fiercely competitive from the very first days.

Notably, these stars are all entering the tournament in excellent form. Each possesses a remarkable goalscoring rate, promising an exciting competition.