Argentina, France and Norway Eye Knockout Berths as Messi, Mbappé and Haaland Lead Golden Boot Race

Defending champions Argentina, runners-up France, and World Cup returnees Norway all made impressive starts to their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaigns and now have their sights set on securing places in the knockout stage with a second consecutive victory.

The 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup, being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has already produced several memorable moments, while some of football’s biggest stars have wasted no time making their mark.

Three generations of football superstars Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland all delivered standout performances in their opening matches and have immediately emerged as leading contenders for the tournament’s Golden Boot award.

Argentina kicked off their title defense in style with a 3-0 victory over Algeria, inspired by Messi’s first-ever World Cup hat-trick. The 38-year-old captain also equaled the record for most World Cup appearances, further cementing his legendary status in international football.

France also opened with a win, defeating Senegal 3-1 thanks to a brace from Mbappé. The French captain became his country’s all-time leading goalscorer, surpassing Olivier Giroud, while taking his World Cup tally to 14 goals.

Meanwhile, Norway celebrated their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence with an emphatic 4-1 win over Iraq. Haaland marked his World Cup debut with two goals, showcasing the finishing ability that has made him one of the most feared strikers in world football.

Eyes on the Knockout Stage

All three teams now have the opportunity to secure qualification for the knockout rounds with another victory.

Argentina, competing in Group J, will face Austria on Monday night. Austria also started strongly, defeating Jordan 3-1 in their opening match.

In Group F, France will take on Iraq, while Norway faces Senegal. Norway will be particularly motivated to continue their impressive return to the tournament and reach the knockout stage for the first time since 1998, when they were eliminated by Italy in the Round of 16.

Messi Chasing More Records

Four years after leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, Messi continues to break records at the age of 38. He already holds numerous World Cup records, including being the first player to appear in six World Cups and the player with the most World Cup matches played.

A goal against Austria would make Messi the outright top scorer in FIFA World Cup history. He has also scored in five consecutive World Cup matches, becoming the first Argentine player to achieve the feat. Another goal would see him equal the record of scoring in six straight World Cup games, currently held by France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil’s Jairzinho.

Messi’s ultimate objective remains guiding Argentina to back-to-back World Cup titles.

Mbappé Leading Football’s New Generation

Mbappé, who famously scored a hat-trick against Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final, has firmly established himself as football’s leading star following the Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era.

The French captain is aiming to lead France to a third consecutive World Cup final and potentially a third world title. With 14 World Cup goals already to his name, Mbappé is rapidly climbing the list of the tournament’s all-time top scorers and remains one of the favorites to win the Golden Boot.

Haaland’s World Cup Arrival

At just 25 years old, Haaland has finally arrived on football’s biggest stage. The Manchester City striker has dominated domestic football in recent years and boasts a remarkable international scoring record, with 57 goals in 51 appearances for Norway.

His goals-per-game ratio for the national team is among the best in world football, highlighting why many consider him one of the deadliest forwards of his generation.

As Argentina, France and Norway prepare for crucial second group-stage matches, the spotlight will once again fall on Messi, Mbappé and Haaland. With knockout qualification and Golden Boot ambitions on the line, football fans around the world will be eagerly watching to see which superstar shines brightest.