World Cup Nights: Messi joins the legends, Mbappé breaks every record

A Cup night for the all-time greats. In Kansas City, Lionel Messi scores his first World Cup hat-trick and pulls level with Klose at the top of the all-time chart as holders Argentina sweep Algeria aside 3-0. In New York, Kylian Mbappé becomes France's leading scorer ever and beats Senegal 3-1; Haaland drives Norway, and Austria win at a World Cup for the first time in 36 years. Tonight Portugal, England and Colombia take the stage.

At New York's MetLife Stadium, France made hard work of it before pulling clear. Senegal held firm for an hour, then Kylian Mbappé took over: he opened the scoring on 66', Bradley Barcola doubled the lead on 82' and, after Ibrahim Mbaye's consolation on 90'+5', the France captain settled it with a thirty-yard gem deep into stoppage time. It finished 3-1 — and that strike meant double: on 58 goals, Mbappé overtakes Olivier Giroud as Les Bleus' all-time top scorer. In Boston, meanwhile, Erling Haaland finally got his World Cup: a brace (29' and 43') in Norway's 4-1 win over Iraq, completed by Østigård's header (76') and an unlucky Aymen Hussein own goal in stoppage time — the very man who had grabbed Iraq's equaliser. Norway and France top Group I on maximum points.

But the night had one towering protagonist. In Kansas City, Lionel Messi played his first match of this World Cup and turned it into legend: a hat-trick (17', 60', 76') in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria, the first of his World Cup career. La Pulga moves to 16 World Cup goals, equalling Miroslav Klose's all-time record, and becomes the first player ever to appear at six different World Cups. In San Francisco, Austria smiled too: 3-1 against debutants Jordan (Schmid 20', Alarab own goal 76', Arnautović penalty 90'+12') and a first World Cup win after 36 years of waiting. For Jordan, there was at least the consolation of a first-ever World Cup goal, from Ali Olwan. Argentina and Austria are already on three points in Group J.

It was a night for the superstars — and the records. 'I'm lost for words about Leo. What can I say? He's incredible,' shrugged Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni; on the other side of the world, even Haaland surrendered on social media: 'Messi is a madman,' crown emoji included. Three captains, three statuettes: Messi catches Klose, Mbappé passes Giroud, and the Norwegian marks his first World Cup after watching the 2022 edition from home. Powerful statements from the giants: holders Argentina and 2022 runners-up France open like the favourites they are, while debutants Iraq and Jordan go down — but not without leaving their mark.

Tonight, Groups K and L take the stage, and the menu is top-class. It starts at 9pm Italian time with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal — at 41, almost certainly at his last World Cup — facing DR Congo in Houston, back at the finals for the first time since 1974. At 10pm comes the headline act: in Dallas, England take on Luka Modrić's Croatia in a real European classic. In the dead of night Group L continues with Ghana-Panama (1am, in Toronto) and, to close, at 4am Colombia meet Uzbekistan in Mexico City, on the Uzbeks' first-ever World Cup appearance.

On we go, one night at a time. See you tomorrow at dawn.

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