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Messi Chases World Cup History Against Austria
Lionel Messi stands on the brink of another World Cup rewrite, and he does it with the weight of a nation — and his own family — on his shoulders.
On Monday in Dallas, the 39-year-old Argentina captain needs one goal against Austria to move clear as the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer. He currently shares the record of 16 with Miroslav Klose, a mark he reached in ruthless style with a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 opening win over Algeria.
The goals were familiar. The emotion was not.
Messi broke down after his first of the night, tears cutting through the usual steel. Only later did it emerge that his father is recovering from an unspecified health issue. The celebration, the glance to the sky, the long, lingering look to the bench — it all made sense.
He is playing hurt in more ways than one. A hamstring problem shadowed Argentina’s build-up to the tournament and raised doubts about how much he could give, how often he could start, whether the body could still keep pace with the genius in his head.
The answer, for now, is simple: his presence alone lifts everyone around him.
Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister did not bother hiding it after the Algeria win. “If anyone thought this group was better off without Leo, today it became clear that Leo is the most important of them all,” he said. The line cut through all the pre-tournament noise about systems, pressing and balance. Argentina are still Argentina because Messi is still Messi.
Beat Austria in Dallas and the holders are through. If Jordan fail to defeat Algeria later on Monday, Argentina will lock up top spot in Group J as well. One more step in the defence of their crown, one more chance for their captain to push the record out of reach.
And while Messi chases history in Texas, another forward is closing in from the other side of the bracket.
Mbappé’s 100th and a record in sight
In Philadelphia, Kylian Mbappé will bring up his 100th cap for France when they face Iraq in Group I. A landmark night on its own, but this one comes wrapped inside a World Cup and a scoring race that spans generations.
“There is nothing bigger — one hundred is a historic figure, and to have the chance to reach that tally here at a World Cup means it will be a special match for me,” Mbappé said on Sunday.
He is 27. He already has 14 World Cup goals. That tally, level with West Germany legend Gerd Müller, moved there thanks to his brace in France’s opening 3-1 win over Senegal. Two more, and he would stand just two behind Messi and Klose.
France, beaten by Argentina on penalties in that breathless 2022 final, expect to handle Iraq and book their place in the knockout phase. The only threat may come from above, with thunderstorms forecast in Philadelphia and the prospect of interruptions hanging over the fixture.
Group I could be settled quickly. Norway, led by Erling Haaland, know a win over Senegal in New Jersey, coupled with a French victory, will send both European sides through. Haaland already has two goals after their 4-1 dismantling of Iraq. He is not in the record conversation yet, but his scoring rhythm feels ominous for anyone in his path.
Spain respond, Yamal returns
Sunday brought a different kind of response in Miami and beyond.
Spain, stung by criticism after a flat 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in their opener, erupted with a 4-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia in Group H. The European champions had been accused of being ponderous, predictable, too cautious. They answered with pace, incision and a statement scoreline.
Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, making his first start in two months after recovering from a hamstring injury, opened the scoring and changed the mood. From there, Spain flowed. Mikel Oyarzabal struck twice, and a Hassan al-Tambakti own goal completed the rout.
Luis de la Fuente did not hide the edge that had crept into his squad.
“When someone questions your work, it is only human that anyone with courage and pride reacts to prove people wrong,” the Spain coach said. His players did exactly that, climbing to the top of Group H with four points from two games and restoring a sense of authority to their campaign.
The other half of that group produced one of the tournament’s most compelling stories so far.
Cape Verde keep dreaming
World Cup debutants Cape Verde are refusing to play the role of grateful guests. After holding Spain in that opening 0-0 draw, they came from behind again to grab a 2-2 result against Uruguay in Miami, another fearless performance that stretched belief back home and inside their own dressing room.
Their coach, Bubista, allowed himself to look beyond the next 90 minutes.
He spoke of a team now “dreaming of a place in the knockout rounds” — a prospect that would have been dismissed as fantasy before the tournament began. “We want to show the entire world that we are in the condition to fight for qualification, and I think that that’s what we showed in today’s match,” he said.
Cape Verde have become the tournament’s unexpected disruptors: compact, brave, and unafraid of reputations. They leave every pitch with more admirers and, crucially, more points.
Belgium stall, Iran make a different kind of statement
Not everyone is gathering momentum.
Belgium, still searching for their first win, were held to a 0-0 draw by Iran in Los Angeles in Group G. After a stalemate with Egypt in their opener, the Red Devils again lacked the creativity and precision to break down organised opposition. They finished with 10 men and never truly looked like forcing the issue.
Iran, by contrast, left their mark in another way.
Competing at this World Cup while their country and the United States are engaged in negotiations to end their war, the Iranian players left a handwritten message in the dressing room at Los Angeles Stadium.
“May peace, respect and friendship prevail among all nations,” it read. “Thank you, Los Angeles for your hospitality. And thank you to every Iranian who gave their heart, voice and soul for Iran throughout these 180 minutes.
“We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honour, and left with dignity. May peace, respect and friendship prevail among all nations.”
On a day of records chased and dreams sharpened, it was a reminder that this World Cup stretches far beyond the goals column.
Now the stage swings back to Dallas and Philadelphia. Messi hunts a solitary strike that would redraw the record books. Mbappé chases his own milestones with a century of caps and a growing tally of World Cup goals. Between them lies the shape of this tournament — and perhaps the answer to who will own its history when the lights finally go out.
