The second round of group-stage matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered high drama and a flurry of goals from the tournament's biggest stars. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland each scored twice, tightening the race for the Golden Boot and propelling their teams into the knockout rounds.
Argentina 2–0 Austria: Messi's Record Grows
In Arlington, Texas, Lionel Messi once again proved decisive for Argentina. The reigning world champions secured a 2-0 victory over Austria, guaranteeing their place in the next stage with a game to spare. Messi opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a precise strike into the bottom-left corner, atoning for an earlier missed penalty in the 8th minute.
The match remained tense until stoppage time, when Messi pounced on a rebound after his initial shot was blocked, powering the ball into the net in the 95th minute. His brace took his all-time World Cup goal tally to 18, extending the record he broke with a hat-trick in Argentina's opening match. He remains Argentina's sole scorer in the tournament so far.
France 3–0 Iraq: Mbappé Shines Despite Storm Delay
France cruised past Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia, though the match was interrupted for two hours at halftime by severe thunderstorms that forced tens of thousands of fans to evacuate the stadium. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the 15th minute after a quick one-two with Bayern Munich's Michael Olise, slotting a weak-footed shot into the top-left corner.
After the weather delay, Mbappé doubled his tally in the 54th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by Iraq's Zaid Tahseen and goalkeeper Ahmed Basil. Ousmane Dembélé, the current Ballon d'Or winner, set up the goal and later scored France's third. Mbappé now has 16 World Cup goals, just two behind Messi. The victory, combined with other results, confirmed France's progression to the knockout stage.
Norway Advance as Haaland Keeps Pace
Erling Haaland also scored twice to lead Norway to a comfortable win, ensuring their place in the round of 16. The Manchester City striker now has four goals in two matches, level with Mbappé and trailing only Messi in the Golden Boot race. Norway's performance has been one of the stories of the tournament, with the Scandinavian side showing both attacking flair and defensive solidity.
The Golden Boot competition has become a central narrative of the group stage, with Messi, Mbappé, and Haaland all delivering standout performances. Messi's 18 goals put him clear of the chasing pack, but Mbappé and Haaland are within striking distance as the knockout rounds begin.
For Austria, the defeat leaves them needing a result in their final group match to advance. The team, coached by Ralf Rangnick, showed resilience but lacked the cutting edge to trouble Argentina's defense. France's win over Iraq, meanwhile, highlighted the depth of Didier Deschamps' squad, with Dembélé and Olise providing creative support for Mbappé.
The tournament now moves into the knockout phase, where the margins will be finer and the pressure even greater. For European fans, the performances of Mbappé and Haaland offer hope that the continent's stars can challenge Messi's legacy on the biggest stage.
