Messi Nets 3 World Cup Goals as Mbappé Adds 2 in Early Scoring Surge

Q: With Messi and Mbappé both starting strong, are we witnessing the beginning of another legendary Golden Boot race?

Yes. Less than a week into the 2026 World Cup, Messi and Mbappé have already given this tournament the look of a serious Golden Boot duel. Messi’s start is extraordinary even by his standards. His hat trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria put him atop the early scoring chart and took his World Cup total to 16, drawing him level with Miroslav Klose as the all-time men’s record holder. At 38, he also became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat trick, adding another layer to what is being framed as his final World Cup run. Mbappé’s case is just as strong. He scored twice for France against Senegal, continuing the form that won him the 2022 Golden Boot with eight goals. At 27, he is in his prime, plays for one of the tournament favorites, and is chasing a rare feat: becoming the first player to win the Golden Boot in consecutive World Cups. What makes this feel potentially legendary is not just the goal totals, but the context. Argentina and France are both heavily favored to go deep, which usually determines the Golden Boot race because top scorers need more matches. The expanded 48-team, 104-match format may also create more scoring opportunities than in past tournaments. It is still very early, and others such as Erling Haaland are also in the mix. But with Messi producing history and Mbappé combining youth, pedigree and volume scoring, the ingredients are clearly there for another memorable race.

Q: At 38, Messi is breaking records. Is this 'last dance' becoming his most dominant World Cup performance ever?

Yes — on the evidence so far, this is becoming Messi’s most dominant World Cup. The clearest reason is output. In Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria, the 38-year-old produced his first World Cup hat trick, taking his tournament total to 16 goals and drawing level with Miroslav Klose for the men’s all-time record. He also became the oldest player in men’s World Cup history to score a hat trick, while extending his record for most World Cup appearances to 27 and becoming the first man to play in six editions. What makes this feel different from his previous World Cups is the combination of volume, efficiency and control. Messi has often been brilliant at the tournament — especially in 2014 and 2022 — but this start has been unusually emphatic. He is not just influencing matches; he is deciding them directly and piling up historic milestones at the same time. Argentina’s system is also clearly built around him, allowing him to conserve energy and strike decisively. It is still early, so any judgment should be provisional. His best previous World Cup in terms of overall legacy remains 2022 because Argentina won the title and he delivered throughout the knockout rounds. But if “dominant” means individual command, scoring force and record-breaking impact, this 2026 run has a strong case already. At 38, Messi is not merely extending his career — he is redefining what a final World Cup can look like.

3 articles · Updated · NPR · Jun 17

Three goals from Lionel Messi powered Argentina to victory and lifted him to the top of the World Cup scoring chart less than a week into the tournament.
Two more from Kylian Mbappé on the same day underscored an unusually prolific start, with elite forwards driving the tournament's early attacking pace.
Less than a week old, this year's World Cup is already producing a standout goal spree, with Messi's hat trick setting the latest benchmark.