World Cup Day 6: Messi Hat-Trick Ties Klose Record as Mbappé and Haaland Also Deliver

Lionel Messi scored his first World Cup hat-trick to equal Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 goals as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 in Kansas City. It was a day that also saw Kylian Mbappé become France’s all-time leading scorer and Erling Haaland open his World Cup account with a brace on debut. Austria rounded off the day with a 3-1 win over debutants Jordan in Santa Clara.

France 3-1 Senegal | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford

France produced a dominant second-half display to see off a spirited Senegal side after a disappointing opening 45 minutes in New Jersey.

France generated very little in the first half, with Senegal creating the better chances. Didier Deschamps made no substitutions at half-time but pushed Michael Olise centrally, and the change paid immediate dividends.

Mbappé opened the scoring in the 66th minute, turning and firing into the net from a precise Olise through-ball. Bradley Barcola, introduced from the bench in the 80th minute, doubled the advantage shortly after, racing onto an Adrien Rabiot pass and chipping the advancing goalkeeper.

Eighteen-year-old PSG forward Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back for Senegal in stoppage time before Mbappé had the final say — a 29-metre strike that flew into the top corner.

The goal was Mbappé’s 14th at World Cups, making him joint fourth on the all-time list alongside Gerd Müller, and his 58th international goal overall — moving him past Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading scorer.

Norway 4-1 Iraq | Boston Stadium, Foxborough

Erling Haaland delivered on his long-awaited World Cup debut, scoring twice in the first half as Norway beat Iraq 4-1 for their first World Cup win in 28 years.

Haaland opened the scoring in the 29th minute, bundling home a low cross from David Møller Wolfe. Iraq hit back through Aymen Hussein’s header, only the country’s second World Cup goal in their history. Haaland restored Norway’s lead quickly, pressing goalkeeper Jalal Hassan into a costly error on a backpass and deflecting the clearance into the net.

Leo Østigård powered home a Martin Ødegaard corner in the 75th minute before Kristian Thorstvedt glanced in a late fourth from a Haaland flick-on.

Haaland now has 57 goals in 51 international appearances, with a goals-per-game ratio that exceeds those of Gerd Müller and Sándor Kocsis among players with 50 or more international goals.

Argentina 3-0 Algeria | Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City

Lionel Messi produced a masterclass on his record sixth World Cup appearance, scoring his first hat-trick at the tournament to equal Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 World Cup goals.

A Rodrigo De Paul pass split the Algerian midfield and Messi drove the ball powerfully into the top corner from the edge of the box in the 18th minute — too much for Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of France World Cup winner Zinedine.

Messi’s second came when a Mac Allister shot was spilled by Zidane and the Argentine captain tapped home from close range. He completed the hat-trick in the 76th minute, set up by substitute Nico Gonzalez. Both teams had goals disallowed by VAR in the first half.

Messi, making his 200th international appearance, now has 16 World Cup goals — level with Klose’s record set at Brazil 2014. The feat puts him two goals clear of Gerd Müller and Kylian Mbappé in the all-time standings. He left the pitch to a standing ovation and was substituted with 10 minutes remaining.

Austria 3-1 Jordan | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara

Austria won their first World Cup match in 36 years but were made to work hard by tournament debutants Jordan in the final game of a historic day.

Romano Schmid opened the scoring with a fine long-range strike in the 21st minute — Austria’s first World Cup goal since 1998. Jordan responded after half-time through Ali Iyad Olwan, whose equaliser was the country’s first-ever World Cup goal.

Austria thought they had restored the lead in the 67th minute through Marko Arnautovic, but VAR disallowed the goal for a Stefan Posch handball. The breakthrough eventually came in the 76th minute when Yazan Al Arab turned the ball into his own net from a corner. Arnautovic converted a stoppage-time penalty to seal the win, becoming Austria’s oldest World Cup scorer.

Day 6 Results: France 3-1 Senegal | Norway 4-1 Iraq | Argentina 3-0 Algeria | Austria 3-1 Jordan

Group I standings: Norway 3pts (+3 GD), France 3pts (+2 GD), Iraq 0pts, Senegal 0pts

Group J standings: Argentina 3pts (+3 GD), Austria 3pts (+2 GD), Algeria 0pts, Jordan 0pts

 

Read more – Haaland Arrives: Norway Beat Iraq 4-1 in World Cup Opener


Also see – Messi: This Is His Dream — And It’s Still Running

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