Soccer’s Biggest Stars Steal The Show In Latest World Cup Action

Monday’s World Cup matches featured the biggest names in the sport scoring multiple goals each for their second consecutive group stage games.

Argentina, France, and Norway all took the field Monday in hopes of clinching their spot in the round of 32. Their superstars did all the work in pushing their countries to victory, creating an exciting race for the Golden Boot, the award given to the leading goal scorer in the tournament.

Argentina started the action off with a 2-0 win over Austria, and Argentine star Lionel Messi made history by scoring his 17th career World Cup goal, tying the all-time record. The goal came in the 38th minute after he missed a penalty kick earlier in the first half.

Messi added to the all-time total when Argentina made the best of a chance late in the second half, resulting in Messi putting the ball into the back of the net following chaos in front of the goal. His second goal also pushed him past Brazilian female star Marta Vieira da Silva, who held the record for World Cup goals for the women at 17.

MESSI WITH THE BRACE TO PASS MARTA FOR THE MOST-EVER GOALS, MAN OR WOMAN, IN A FIFA WORLD CUP ???????? pic.twitter.com/Ww5Wz9FnHk

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 22, 2026

France took on Iraq in the second game of Monday’s action, as it looked to build off its dominant opening-game victory over Senegal. Just 14 minutes into the game, France’s Kylian Mbappé picked up where he left off, scoring from 26 yards out. 

This game also featured the first weather delay, as lightning and wind in the area delayed the second half by an hour after France took a 1-0 lead into the break when the rain started to pour in.

When play finally resumed, France and Mbappé did not seem fazed by the long wait. After a miscommunication and a massive mistake by Iraq, Mbappé scored his 16th career World Cup goal and fourth this tournament. Another goal from fellow star Ousmane Dembélé secured the win for France.

A MASSIVE mistake at the back for Iraq and Mbappé capitalizes ????????

France lead 2-0! pic.twitter.com/8sf1hwd6mD

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 23, 2026

The goal ties former all-time leader Germany’s Miroslav Klose, whom Messi passed just a few hours prior. Mbappé and Messi are battling for that top goal scorer spot in tournament history, but Norway’s Erling Haaland is right with them in the race for this year’s Golden Boot.

The Norwegians took down Senegal’s national team 3-2. Marcus Holmgren Pedersen started things off for Norway, scoring just two minutes before the first half ended to take the 1-0 lead.

Haaland came to play in the second half, scoring both of his goals within 10 minutes of each other at the 48th and 58th minutes.

ERLING HAALAND BAGS A BRACE TO MAKE IT 3-1 NORWAY! ????????

Truly unreal goalscoring prowess from the Norwegian striker pic.twitter.com/WEWtTWdmtr

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 23, 2026

Despite two goals on the other side from Ismaïla Sarr, Senegal lost its second straight group stage match, putting its hopes of advancing on life support.

After the domination from the stars, Algeria and Jordan took the pitch in the final game of the day in a back-and-forth affair. Jordan took a surprising lead after Nizar Al-Rashdan scored in the 36th minute. Algeria finally responded late in the second half, thanks to Nadhir Benbouali netting one in during the 69th minute, and Amine Gouiri scoring the game-winning goal for Algeria in the 82nd minute.

This loss eliminates Jordan from advancing to the knockout stage, but keeps Algeria alive as it is now tied with Austria in second place in Group J.

Groups L and K take the field later today with Colombia and England looking to continue their winning ways against the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ghana. Portugal will look to rebound against Uzbekistan, and Croatia seeks its first win of this year’s tournament against Panama.