After the upsets and the feel-good stories, the World Cup shifted into a new gear on Tuesday.
It could have been billed as Superstar Day. Three of the biggest names in global football were looking to make an impact as their countries began their campaigns.
In the event, they did not disappoint. Lionel Messi made the biggest splash, scoring a sensational hat-trick as Argentina cruised to a 3-0 win against Algeria. Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland were outgunned but not by much: they scored twice as France and Norway recorded commanding victories in Group I.
It was, all told, a brilliant day of football, albeit one dominated by some of the pre-tournament favourites. Here, in the latest of The Athletic’s daily World Cup recaps, is the best of it…
Matchday six results
Group I: France 3 Senegal 1
Group I: Iraq 1 Norway 4
Group J: Argentina 3 Algeria 0
Group J: Austria 3 Jordan 1
Is Messi looking even better?
Three and a half years ago, in Qatar, Messi bent the World Cup to his will.
He played as if he was on a second date with destiny — desperate to make up for past failures and yet also, somehow, a picture of equanimity at the centre of the cyclone. When he lifted the trophy, after Argentina overcame France in an all-timer of a final, it felt like the perfect denouement to one of the great World Cup stories. Signed, sealed, delivered, I’m… done.
Messi, though, had other ideas. He tried to keep people guessing, never formally confirming that he wanted to stick around until 2026, but everyone knew. If he was still playing, his legs still just about keeping up with that whipsmart mind, how could he possibly resist one last hurrah?
The logical view was that he would have a less central role this time. Messi will turn 39 next week. When he last played in a worldwide competition — the Club World Cup with Inter Miami last summer — he looked physically diminished. It was sad but it was understandable. Time comes for us all, right?
Wrong.
On a muggy night in Kansas City, Messi ripped up the rulebook for roughly the 183rd time in his career.
He was electric. He looked leaner and meaner than he has for years. He scored all of Argentina’s goals against Algeria and tracked back, snapped into tackles (one of which, admittedly, could easily have led to a red card) and swapped gleeful passes with those behind him. The overall impression was of a man in his element, high on his own vivacity.
“It’s a beautiful moment,” he told reporters after the final whistle, the match ball in his possession. “I’m feeling really good.”
And why wouldn’t he? Not only had he just dominated this game, but he had added yet another record to an ever-growing list, matching Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the highest scorer in World Cup history (16). He will surely break it in the weeks — or more likely, days — ahead.
That Messi is feeling good was obvious to anyone watching. Many players trade on past glories at this stage of their career; this was proof that Messi remains shockingly, gloriously relevant.
Will Mbappe or Haaland approach immortality this summer?
Two of the other great individual talents at this World Cup had already shown off their wares on Tuesday.
First came Mbappe. The France captain had a testing season for his club, Real Madrid. There were whispers of disquiet behind the scenes and criticism of his work ethic. Around 96 million people have clicked through on a website set up by a group of disgruntled fans calling for him to leave the club. It did not seem like ideal preparation for his third World Cup.
In the first half against Senegal, he cut a frustrated figure. Then came sweet release. Mbappe could (should) have won a penalty after a superb burst into the box. Moments later he produced a brilliant, subtle finish to put France in front. Then, when it looked like Senegal might rescue a point in stoppage time, he slammed home a glorious shot from outside the box.
Later in the afternoon, it was Haaland’s turn in the spotlight. The Manchester City striker came into Norway’s game against Iraq with a frankly ludicrous goalscoring record at this level: 55 goals in 50 matches. It was, though, his first World Cup game. Would the occasion get to him?
Erling Haaland lets it all out after scoring his first World Cup goal (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Not a bit of it. Haaland prodded home a trademark poacher’s goal at the far post just before the half-hour mark, then doubled his tally in amusing fashion, closing down Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan and deflecting the ball into an empty net.
These were not spectacular finishes, but Haaland won’t care. He is an accumulator, a collector of goals. Quality, after all, is no match for sheer quantity. If he adds to his personal pile in the next few weeks, Norway could take some stopping.
Hassan, meanwhile, will likely be dreaming of Haaland’s enormous frame floating into his peripheral vision for years.
Should we be worried about the pitches?
The stage was not exactly set for a rant. His team had just secured a commanding victory; the endorphins were winning out over any latent stress. Still, Didier Deschamps, France’s manager, did want to talk about something.
“Let’s say it’s special,” he said. “It’s… different.”
He was talking about the pitch at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.
“There’s a concrete slab underneath and the grass is very, very, very short,” Deschamps continued. “Whether it’s watered or not, we adapt, but if there isn’t a good layer of soil underneath… not a single player has played in studded boots today because there isn’t enough depth to it. The problem is we don’t train on it. I warned the players: the bounce is different.”
Kylian Mbappe falls on a pitch with a “concrete slab underneath” (Jose Hernandez/Anadolu via Getty Images)
It was an eye-catching assessment of the surface at the stadium that will host the World Cup final. What makes it doubly concerning is that it is a completely different complaint to the one made by Vinicius Junior, the Brazil forward, after his side’s draw against Morocco on Saturday.
Vinicius Jr did not mention the depth of the turf. He cared more about the lack of moisture. “The grass dries out quickly and the game ends up being very slow,” he said. “We can’t build up a rhythm. We want to move the ball from one side to the other and this disrupts our game.”
Still, it could be worse. At least MetLife isn’t being tormented by evil sprinklers…
A sprinkler erupts at Gillette Stadium in Boston at half-time of Norway vs Iraq (Getty Images)
What to know about Wednesday’s games
We have four more matches coming on Wednesday. Together, they complete the first round of matches: by tonight — or Thursday morning if you’re in Europe — we will have seen all 48 teams in action.
Much of the focus today will be on events in Houston, where Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal begins its Group K campaign against DR Congo. At 41, Ronaldo is the oldest outfield player at this World Cup, yet he remains central to his country’s plans: coach Roberto Martinez adores him, as he was at pains to stress in a recent interview with The Athletic.
Ronaldo’s record at this level speaks for itself. He has 143 international goals, 23 more than any other male player in history. Nor is he slowing down: he scored 15 in 21 appearances across 2024 and 2025. He may, however, feel like he has a point to prove to his doubters. He was not at his best at Euro 2020, World Cup 2022 or Euro 2024, leading some to question his ability to shape big tournaments. He will want to start well, especially after his great rival Messi put on a show.
Talking of superstars in their forties, we have the first chapter in what will — surely? — be Luka Modric’s last World Cup hurrah. The midfield schemer is expected to start for Croatia against England in what could turn out to be a late bolter for the title of best game of round one.
Luka Modric and Croatia beat England in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals (Mladen Antonov/AFP via Getty Images)
England have talent aplenty. Thomas Tuchel is a coach who can filter out all the noise and historical baggage that usually surrounds the team. You can never rule out some kind of dysfunction kicking in, but they look a good bet to reach the latter stages. Croatia have been tricky opponents in the recent past and won’t roll over in Dallas.
Ghana take on Panama in the other game in that group before the evening match in Mexico City. That one pits debutants Uzbekistan against Colombia and — yes — yet another golden oldie. Anyone with any aesthetic sensibility at all will be hoping 34-year-old James Rodriguez can nutmeg and through ball his way to an ending worthy of his own World Cup story over the next few weeks.
Fixtures
Group K: Portugal vs DR Congo (1pm ET; 6pm BST)
Group L: England vs Croatia (4pm ET; 9pm BST)
Group L: Ghana vs Panama (7pm ET; 12am BST)
Group K: Uzbekistan vs Colombia (10pm ET; 3am BST)