Messi Chases World Cup Record as Argentina, France and Spain Dominate Group Stage Action

Posted : 22 June 2026

Lionel Messi, captain of Lionel Messi and star of Argentina, is set to face Austria in Dallas on Monday, with the forward needing just one more goal to set a new all-time World Cup scoring record. The 38-year-old, who turns 39 on Wednesday, matched Miroslav Klose’s mark of 16 World Cup goals after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria.

Messi’s emotional reaction after his opening goal, amid reports of his father’s health concerns and recent injury struggles, highlighted the personal weight behind his performances. Despite this, his influence remains decisive, with teammate Alexis Mac Allister stressing that Messi continues to be the team’s most important figure. A win against Austria would also put Argentina on the brink of topping their group.

In another major storyline, Kylian Mbappé is preparing to make his 100th appearance for France against Iraq in Philadelphia. The 27-year-old forward, already tied on 14 World Cup goals with Gerd Müller, described the milestone as a historic moment, especially on the World Cup stage. France are aiming to secure early qualification for the knockout rounds, although thunderstorms are forecast to potentially disrupt the match.

Norway’s Erling Haaland and his team also remain strong contenders in their group, with qualification scenarios dependent on upcoming results. However, Germany suffered a setback as defender Nico Schlotterbeck was ruled out of the tournament after sustaining an ankle ligament injury.

Elsewhere, Spain responded strongly to early criticism by beating Saudi Arabia 4-0. Young star Lamine Yamal opened the scoring, while Mikel Oyarzabal added a brace to restore confidence after a disappointing draw in their opener. Spain now lead their group with renewed momentum.

Tournament debutants Cape Verde continued their impressive run, holding Uruguay to a 2-2 draw after previously earning praise for their resilience against Spain. Their coach Bubista said the team now believes qualification for the knockout stage is within reach.

In other results, Belgium were held to a 0-0 draw by Iran in a tense Group G encounter, leaving them still searching for a first win. Meanwhile, Egypt climbed to the top of their group after a historic 3-1 comeback victory over New Zealand, marking their first-ever win at the World Cup.

Messi Chases World Cup Record as Argentina, France and Spain Dominate Group Stage Action

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