Soccer's premier goal scorers, led by Lionel Messi, show up to the World Cup with a bang Soccer's premier goal scorers, led by Lionel Messi, show up to the World Cup with a bang Text-Only Version Go To Full Site Why is Lionel Messi playing again, after propelling Argentina to the title four years ago? A week shy of his 39th birthday, was he too old? Was he fit enough? Related Story: NPR Messi scored not one, not two, but three goals against Algeria in a 3-0 victory in the opening match of Group J in front of a capacity crowd of nearly 70,000 at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium. In a remarkable career, Messi managed to do something that he'd not done before at the World Cup: a hat-trick. Twenty years to the day he scored his first World Cup goal, he moved into a tie for the all-time goal scoring lead with 16 (even with Germany's Miroslav Klose). Messi's three goals set up what's expected to be a thrilling subplot to this World Cup: Who will win the Golden Boot award, given to the top goal scorer at every World Cup. Like Messi, French superstar Kylian Mbappé had a standout day Tuesday, scoring twice in France's 3-1 win over Senegal (he now has 14 World Cup goals overall, surpassing Brazilian great Pele, and tying for third place). Erling Haaland also tallied two goals in Norway's 4-1 victory against Iraq. Other players with notable performances so far include Folarin Balogun of the U.S., New Zealand's Elijah Just, and Germany's Kai Havertz, who each have scored twice. Related Story: NPR If the opening days of the 2026 World Cup are any indication, the goal scoring and records will keep getting broken. Links
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