On a showcase day for the World Cup’s biggest stars, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe set the pace, and Erling Haaland emphatically kept up in their group stage matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026. After Messi set a new tournament record with two goals against Austria and Mbappe matched him against Iraq, Haaland delivered his own two-star performance for Norway.
In a thrilling 3-2 victory over Senegal on Monday night, Haaland came to the party in the second half, scoring twice in the first 15 minutes. His decisive goals came after a frustrating first half where he narrowly missed, shot one off the post and saw a powerful header denied just before the break.
His performance was a direct response to the day’s earlier headlines, where Messi had found the net twice for Argentina and Mbappe had done the same for France.
Roughly a month shy of his 26th birthday, Haaland is proving he belongs in the conversation with football's most decorated stars, all while leading a Norwegian team that lacks the championship pedigree of its rivals.
The trio’s incredible form has ignited the race for the Golden Boot. The three have scored a combined 13 goals in the tournament so far, with Messi leading at five and both Mbappe and Haaland close behind with four each.
Norway coach Stale Solbakken, speaking through an interpreter, acknowledged the challenge his star player faces. "It's easier to win the Golden Boot when you play for France and Argentina," he said. "But we'll try to give Erling more games and more help in the next games. He is the best striker."
While Haaland makes his mark, Messi and Mbappe are rewriting the history books. Messi’s goals in Argentina’s win over Austria in Arlington, Texas, made him the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 18 career goals. Meanwhile, Mbappe’s two goals in France's 3-0 victory against Iraq in Philadelphia brought his career total to 16, tying him with former record-holder Miroslav Klose.
Competing in his first-ever World Cup, Haaland sits at four goals. His presence is monumental for his country, which last qualified for the tournament in 1998, two years before he was born. The 6-foot-5 Manchester City striker is in phenomenal form, having now scored in 12 consecutive competitive matches for his country. Over that incredible period, he has amassed 24 goals.
Will Ronaldo start against Uzbekistan?
Once the euphoria around these three dies down, the focus will shift to the Group K match between Portugal and Uzbekistan later today. All eyes will be on the starting XI – whether Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo will start after a lacklustre outing in the frustrating 1-1 draw in the opener against Congo DR.
In their World Cup opener, Portugal found themselves with plenty of the ball but little to show for it. Manager Roberto Martinez and his squad head back to Houston for the match against Uzbekistan, well aware that they need a much sharper attack.
A look at the numbers tells a familiar, cautionary story. According to Opta, Portugal completed an impressive 783 passes against their African opponents—second only to Spain's 800—and dominated possession at 75 per cent. Despite all that control, they managed just seven shots, with only one hitting the target: a Joao Neves header in the sixth minute.
For a team with high expectations built around Ronaldo and a wealth of attacking talent, the struggle was clear. The issue wasn't moving the ball, but what happened in the final third, where creativity, sharp decision-making, and clinical finishing were all missing.
To put their struggles in context, Portugal's shot count was among the lowest of the tournament's opening round, with only five of the 48 teams attempting fewer. By contrast, Spain, who were also held to a goalless draw by Cape Verde, managed to fire off 27 shots.
Martinez will undoubtedly be hoping for a more ruthless performance against an Uzbekistan side that lost 3-1 to Colombia in their first-ever World Cup match, a debut that was marked by nerves and caution.
At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo, who played the full match in the opener and drew criticism, remains central to Portugal's campaign. Coach Martinez, and other players have thrown their weight behind him, off the field. "Cristiano is an example because of his career, because of the hunger he still has at his age," said winger Francisco Conceicao. "For us and for the new generation, he's a role model."
For Portugal, however, inspiration alone will not be enough. Against Uzbekistan, Ronaldo will need to step up and deliver what is expected of him as the focal point of his team's attack.
