Overview
- Lionel Messi, who scored a World Cup hat‑trick Tuesday, tied Miroslav Klose’s tournament goals record at 16 and became the first player to appear at six World Cups.
- Kylian Mbappé scored twice in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal, becoming France’s leading scorer and helping steady a sluggish start for Les Bleus.
- Erling Haaland netted a brace on his World Cup debut as Norway beat Iraq 4-1, underlining Norway’s attacking threat and boosting their early group position.
- Malik Tillman starred in the U.S. 4-1 win over Paraguay with a commanding midfield display that created key chances and highlighted a new offensive option for the host side.
- Critical VAR interventions and unresolved operational problems — including disallowed early goals, ongoing ticketing probes and reported visa denials — continue to shape match outcomes and tournament logistics.