Just when you thought that the World Cup 2026 wouldn't amaze you, the sixth day came in as a surprise. Group I witnessed the destruction of Senegal, featuring Kylian Mbappé, along with Haaland's ideal World Cup debut against Iraq. And, finally, the legend of the game, Lionel Andrés Messi, scored a World Cup hat-trick, making him the oldest player to do so.
The same day, Austria defeated Jordan 3-1 and now sits amongst the top two in Group J. Fans would be waiting for the Group K match featuring Portugal vs DR Congo, and expect Cristiano Ronaldo to deliver a thrilling performance to make it even more interesting. From Mbappé's dominance against Senegal to Messi's hat-trick, here's how everything happened.
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Mbappé Breaks France's Record at MetLife
Senegal was ready to take on France in MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey. They had 46% ball possession and were giving a tough-time to the French team in the first half. As the match proceeded to the second half, scores were 0-0. In the 66th minute, Mbappe scored a beautiful goal with his world-class finishing to get a 1-0 lead.
The Senegalese team tried their best, but couldn't score until stoppage time. In the 82nd minute, Bradley Barcola scored for France, extending the lead to 2-0. Statistically, the number difference between Senegal and France was not huge. They had a similar number of passes, matching pass accuracy. However, the French were more aggressive in attack.
In stoppage time, Senegalese star Ibrahim Mbaye scored for Senegal, and Senegal needed one goal to equalize. However, that one goal never came, and Mbappe scored his second goal of the day, making him surpass Olivier Giroud to become France's all-time leading goal scorer.
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Haaland Opens His World Cup Account
Iraq returned to the World Cup after 1986, and fans are already scared, realizing that they are in the same Group as France, Senegal, and Norway. The second match of Group I was played at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough - the home of the Patriots. And it was Erling Haaland's FIFA World Cup debut. Haaland scored a mesmerizing debut goal in the 29th minute, thanks to David Møller Wolfe's beautiful assist.
The game became interesting when Iraq briefly made a comeback in the 39th minute, as Aymen Hussein scored an equalizer. Within the next four minutes, Iraqi goalkeeper Jalal Hasan Hachem's judgment error helped Haaland score his second goal of the evening. After a commanding first-half lead, Norway stayed way ahead of the game.
Iraq had made a decent number of passes and had a pass accuracy of 82%, but the Norwegians didn't let them possess the ball for more than half of the game. In the 76th minute, Defender Leo Østigard added a third goal for Norway, and they were in a much more comfortable position. Just when we thought that Norway was winning by 3-1, a little touch from Kristian Thorstvedt got converted into an own goal by Aymen Hussein. The game, which looked challenging for the first 40 minutes, ended 4-1.
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Messi's Hat-Trick Silences Algeria
To anyone who thought Lionel Messi is past his prime years, needs to reconsider the definition of "prime". The 38-year-old Argentine striker is still showing the grit and passion that 18-year-olds couldn't. Messi opened Argentina's campaign not only with a victory, but a record that is hard to chase. He's now the oldest footballer to score a hat-trick in the FIFA World Cup, which was previously held by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018.
Surprisingly, Lionel Messi had never scored a World Cup hat-trick, and this record also made him the joint-highest goal scorer in FIFA World Cups with Miroslav Klose of Germany. At 38, Messi is continuingly driving the defending champions, delivering clinical performances. While Algeria is no Spain or Portugal, the peak athleticism at this age is still commendable. With this 3-0 victory, Argentina is sitting right at the top of Group J, while serving as a warning to every remaining side that it's not over yet.
Austria and Jordan Make World Cup History
The second match of Group J might look like a match between two average footballing nations, but it had a different kind of drama. Austria returned to the World Cup after 28 years, defeating debutants Jordan 3-1 in their opening game. They played their last FIFA World Cup match on June 23, 1998, against Italy in the group stage, where they lost 2-1.
While one team was making a comeback, the other was celebrating its arrival, which is why it was a historic moment for both teams. The game started on a high spirit, and within 21 minutes Austria scored their first goal, thanks to Roman Schmid's screamer. After the first half, Jordan's Ali Olwan scored an equalizer in the 50th minute, giving Jordanians hope of survival.
In the 76th minute of the game, defender Yazan-Al-Arab deflected a set-piece and converted it into an own goal, helping Austria lead 2-1. In stoppage time, Austria was offered a penalty because Saleem Obeid handled the ball. That was the winning moment for Austria veteran Marko Arnautović, converting another goal. With this victory, Austria is among the top two in Group J and would be hoping for their best performance against Argentina and Algeria.
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What’s Coming Next
Day 6 has set the bar high, and it could get even better if Cristiano Ronaldo scores against Congo in a Group K match. With a powerful midfield and attacking strength, Portugal are among the favorites to win the cup. On the other hand, Congo is playing in the FIFA World Cup after 52 years.
After how Messi, Mbappe and Haaland performed on Day 6, all eyes will be on Cristiano to show what he's known for. Whether he plays as a substitute or in the starting XI, the impact of players like Ronaldo can change a losing game into a winning opportunity. It's only the sixth day, and this World Cup already feels like one for the ages.
