Potiguar Mossoró · Alagoano · Midfielder · #0 · Brazil · 25 yrs
Lionel Messi’s magnificent hat-trick against Algeria at the 2026 World Cup caught the attention of Norway superstar Erling Haaland. Lionel Messi put on a masterclass, netting a sensational hat-trick to power Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Algeria at Kansas City Stadium for the 2026 World Cup debut, and his elite performance drew an instant reaction from Norwegian striker Erling Haaland. “Messi is a madman,” the Manchester City forward posted on his Snapchat account, adding a crown emoji in a nod to the Argentine captain’s magical night. Haaland’s viral reaction wasn’t the only high-profile praise the captain’s masterclass pulled in. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni was completely awestruck by Messi’s performance on the pitch, pointing out that it is the exact same level of magic he has been putting on display for the last 20 years. With his spectacular hat-trick, Messi shattered Cristiano Ronaldo’s record as the oldest player in World Cup history to score a hat-trick. While the Portuguese icon set the previous milestone at 33 years old during a thrilling 3-3 draw against Spain at Russia 2018, the Argentine maestro raised the bar by achieving the feat at 38 years old. Messi’s legendary performance also rewrote the history books, as the Argentine star matched Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals. 🚨📲 Erling Haaland on Snapchat: “Messi is a madman”. 👑 pic.twitter.com/NyKUB1vIw6— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 17, 2026 Messi breaks World Cup ‘curse’ for Argentina Argentina’s opening-day triumph carries a profound historical significance, exorcising a notorious ghost from the country’s soccer folklore. Following both of their previous World Cup titles (1978 and 1986), La Albiceleste had infamously stumbled into their subsequent title defenses. After winning the World Cup, they lost their opening match both times (to Belgium in 1982 and Cameroon in 1990). By taking care of business in Kansas City, Messi spearheaded a deeply therapeutic victory that shatters that historic jinx once and for all.
Argentina rose to the occasion, and so did Lionel Messi, who in his 200th cap took another step towards solidifying his place as the greatest footballer in the history of the sport, scoring three splendid goals and tying Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the all-time goal scoring mark in World Cup play (16), the performance coming just hours after France’s Kylian Mbappé leapfrogged him, with 14. The Inter Miami midfielder also became the first male player to appear at six World Cups, a record that feels certain to be equalled by Cristiano Ronaldo when Portugal begin play. Messi had been recovering from a muscle injury in recent weeks but any doubt surrounding the Argentinian captain’s status was quickly wiped away when he was named to Lionel Scaloni’s starting XI, and those doubts were ancient history once the match began.
Lionel Messi found the back of the net for Argentina against Algeria, establishing a standalone record by scoring against 11 different nations in World Cup history. Lionel Messi struck a magnificent opener against Algeria in Argentina’s Group J debut at the 2026 World Cup to give his side a first-half lead—and in doing so, he claimed an incredible milestone by scoring against an 11th distinct opponent in tournament history. Heading into this edition of the World Cup, the legendary talisman shared the record at 10 unique victims alongside Jürgen Klinsmann, Ronaldo Nazário, and Miroslav Klose. However, Messi officially shattered the deadlock and the history books at Kansas City Stadium in Argentina’s game against Algeria, rewriting the record all for himself. Over his iconic international career, the Argentine captain has now struck World Cup goals against Serbia, Mexico, Nigeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Croatia, Australia, the Netherlands, France, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria. MESSI SCORES ARGENTINA’S FIRST GOAL OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP! 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/JyNwqGCaFU— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 17, 2026 Messi achieves more records with goal vs Algeria In addition to his unique 11-team scoring milestone, Messi unlocked a flurry of other historical achievements the second his match-opener hit the back of the net against Algeria. By rifling home a vintage strike from distance, Leo matched Brazilian icon Roberto Rivellino for the most World Cup goals scored from outside the box with both legends now sitting on five. The Argentine maestro also cemented his place in the tournament’s ultimate pantheon of longevity. He has now joined eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players in World Cup history to score at least one goal across five different editions of the tournament. Ronaldo, however, will have an immediate opportunity later in this tournament to stretch that mark and become the standalone king of six distinct scoring editions, as Portugal has to debut yet in North America. Furthermore, the 39-year-old superstar completely shattered the absolute record for the longest span between a player’s first and last World Cup goals. Exactly 20 years to the day—June 16, 2006—a teenage Messi scored his first-ever tournament goal against Serbia. Two decades later on June 16, 2026, his scoring timeline remains completely unrivaled on the world stage.
His team and opponents laud him, but Wednesday’s game with the DRC is a test of his powers at a sixth World CupInside the home of Houston’s world-famous rodeo, Cristiano Ronaldo enters the last-chance saloon. His sixth World Cup will, with no little thanks to Fifa’s munificence, begin on Wednesday against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and one of international football’s longest-running soap operas begins winding towards its denouement. Portugal have rarely looked better equipped to grant him the crowning achievement of his career and the question, as ever, concerns who is carrying whom.One assumption seems reasonable: Ronaldo could wield a huge influence over the trophy’s ultimate destination. It remains to be seen whether that is channelled positively. Portugal can field arguably the best first-choice midfield in this summer’s competition, an experienced defence and an admirable array of wide forwards. At the heart of their attack stands, depending on your perspective, either a free-scoring icon primed to fire them all the way or a 41-year-old passenger whose presence sucks an otherwise fluent team into an inescapable void. Continue reading...
With his brace against Iraq, Erling Haaland has now matched Lionel Messi's World Cup single-game feat but fell short of Cristiano Ronaldo's mark Erling Haaland has fully embraced his role as the talisman for Norway as the nation makes its triumphant return to the World Cup after a 28-year hiatus. With a stellar brace in his tournament debut against Iraq, the Manchester City superstar instantly equaled Lionel Messi’s career-high for goals in a single World Cup match, though he fell just short of matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s personal benchmark. Norway opened the scoring in the 29th minute when David Moller Wolfe delivered an absolute dime of a cross, allowing Haaland to drift into space and bury his first career World Cup goal. Then, in the 43rd minute, Haaland’s relentless high press forced a calamitous mistake; after intercepting a sloppy backpass from Zaid Tahseen, he intercepted a desperate clearing attempt from goalkeeper Jalal Hassan to easily secure his first-half brace. By netting twice against Iraq, Haaland drew level with Messi’s single-game World Cup scoring ceiling. Despite logging 26 career appearances on the world stage for Argentina and sitting as one of the tournament’s most prolific icons with 13 total goals, the legendary playmaker has surprisingly never surpassed two goals in a single World Cup fixture. Across his five tournament appearances, Messi has hit that two-goal limit exactly twice. His first World Cup brace came during a breathless 3-2 group-stage victory over Nigeria in 2014, while his second arrived on the grandest stage of all in the 2022 final against France, where he converted an early penalty before adding a crucial extra-time strike. Erling Haaland #9 of Norway. Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup goal mark While Cristiano Ronaldo holds the crown as the most prolific goalscorer in soccer history with 970 career tallies, his World Cup production stands at a relatively modest eight goals in 22 appearances. Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped the Portuguese icon from carving out his own unique piece of tournament history. Ronaldo’s personal single-game high stands at three, courtesy of a legendary hat trick against rivals Spain in a thrilling 3-3 group-stage draw in 2018. With that iconic performance, Ronaldo etched his name into the record books as the oldest player to ever score a World Cup hat trick, doing so at 33 years and 130 days old.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo changed football and could finally cap off their legendary careers by meeting in Kansas City, writes Miguel Delaney. But age has caught up with them, meaning this would be a World Cup clash with a difference
While Colombia focuses on its next challenge, Germany forward Deniz Undav has unexpectedly entered the spotlight after a stunning performance that altered a long-standing piece of World Cup history. The 2026 World Cup has already produced one of its most remarkable individual stories, and it comes at a moment when James Rodriguez is preparing for a huge showdown against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal. While Colombia focuses on its next challenge, Germany forward Deniz Undav has unexpectedly entered the spotlight after a stunning performance that altered a long-standing piece of World Cup history. Undav’s impact has quickly become one of the tournament’s most talked-about moments. The German international came off the bench and delivered a display that immediately drew comparisons with one of the greatest substitute appearances ever seen at a World Cup, a benchmark previously associated with James Rodriguez for more than a decade. Germany began its World Cup campaign decisively, defeating Curacao 7-1 in Houston. While the scoreline itself underlined Germany’s attacking strength, the performance that captured attention came from a player who was not even in the starting lineup. Introduced in the 64th minute, Undav transformed the contest almost instantly. The striker scored once and supplied two assists, helping Germany finish the match in dominant style and showcasing why many believe he deserves a bigger role as the tournament progresses. His contribution was so significant that discussions immediately began about whether the DFB-Team coach Julian Nagelsmann should consider promoting him into the starting XI. The record James Rodriguez held since 2014 The significance of Undav’s achievement becomes even clearer when viewed through a historical lens. For years, James Rodriguez’s memorable substitute appearance against Japan at the 2014 World Cup stood alone in the record books. During that match, the Colombian star delivered one of the most effective cameos in tournament history, producing a goal and two assists after coming off the bench. Now, Undav has joined that exclusive company. 1 & 2 – Nach James Rodriguez 2014 gegen Japan ist Deniz Undav der zweite Spieler seit det. Datenerfassung (1966), der als Joker in einem WM-Spiel ein Tor erzielte und zwei vorbereitete.Empfehlung. pic.twitter.com/vKJWHY6yEA— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) June 14, 2026 According to statistical records dating back to 1966, only two players have managed to score one goal and provide two assists as a substitute in a World Cup match: James Rodriguez in 2014 and Deniz Undav in 2026. That is the record that James Rodriguez has now seen matched before Colombia’s crucial encounter with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. What does it mean ahead of Colombia vs Portugal? For James Rodriguez, the timing of Undav’s achievement is intriguing. As Colombia prepares to face Portugal in one of the most anticipated fixtures of the tournament, attention will naturally focus on the battle between Rodriguez’s creativity and Cristiano Ronaldo’s pursuit of another World Cup milestone. Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and James Rodriguez (right) Yet while Rodriguez remains one of the most celebrated players in Colombian soccer history, Undav’s performance has ensured that a record long associated exclusively with the Colombian captain now belongs to a much smaller shared club. That does little to diminish Rodriguez’s legacy. His performances at the 2014 World Cup remain among the tournament’s defining stories, and his influence continues to shape Colombia’s hopes in 2026. Still, Undav’s extraordinary night in Houston has guaranteed his place in World Cup history.
Portugal have never reached the final and their best performance was in 1966 but this squad can go all the wayBy Opta AnalystWhen it comes to Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo dominates the conversation. There is so much focus on the 41-year-old, who is appearing at his sixth World Cup, that you would be forgiven for not appreciating the talents of his teammates. But they are serious contenders to win their first World Cup. The Opta supercomputer gives only Spain (16.0%), France (12.9%), England (10.8%) and Argentina (10.0%) a greater chance of winning the tournament than Portugal (7.1%).This will be their ninth World Cup and seventh in a row, dating back to the 2002 tournament, which was their first appearance since 1986. You have to go back to 1966 for their best finish. Led by Eusébio they went all the way to the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual winners England, before securing a third-place finish by beating the Soviet Union. Continue reading...
Packed streets of Amman and Tashkent will be lively with Asia’s debutants determined they are not just here to make up the numbersBefore eagerly awaited meetings with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo comes slightly less glamorous but hugely important first ever World Cup games for Asia’s debutants. Jordan take on Austria on Wednesday before meeting Algeria and Argentina, while Uzbekistan kick off against Colombia, then Portugal and DR Congo.Jordan v Austria has been used as an example of a game that will challenge Fifa’s dynamic pricing system but regardless of how full the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium is, the cafes in Amman’s Prince Muhammad Street and all around the country will be packed. They were a year ago, as fans watched Portugal beat Spain in the Uefa Nations League final, three days after the World Cup spot had been secured with the city still buzzing with the thought of Al-Nashama (The Chivalrous Ones) taking on the superstars of the world and … here they are. Continue reading...
In a night that also brought comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo, the American captain produced another memorable performance on soccer’s biggest stage. The 2026 World Cup could hardly have started better for the United States, and Christian Pulisic was at the center of everything as the USMNT cruised to a 4-1 victory over Paraguay. In a night that also brought comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo, the American forward produced another memorable performance on soccer’s biggest stage. With the spotlight firmly on the host national team, Pulisic helped drive one of the most impressive World Cup displays in U.S. history. His influence stretched beyond the scoreline, as he reached a remarkable milestone that few would have predicted when his international career began. The United States entered the tournament carrying high expectations, and Mauricio Pochettino’s side wasted little time delivering. Paraguay struggled to cope with the intensity and attacking movement of the host national team. An early own goal set the tone before Folarin Balogun took center stage with two goals, helping the Americans establish complete control before halftime. Pulisic played a decisive role throughout the opening 45 minutes. His movement and creativity consistently opened spaces in Paraguay’s defense, while his assist for Balogun’s first goal showcased the vision that has made him the face of American soccer. By halftime, the United States already held a commanding advantage and looked every bit like a team capable of making a deep run in the competition. The record that puts Pulisic ahead of Ronaldo While the result itself was impressive, another achievement quickly became one of the biggest talking points of the night. As confirmed by StatMuse on X (formerly Twitter), Pulisic’s assist against Paraguay was the third World Cup assist of his career. That moved him ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s total of two World Cup assists despite having played only five matches in the tournament. The numbers are striking. Pulisic reached three World Cup assists in just five appearances and approximately 360 minutes of action. Ronaldo recorded two assists across 22 World Cup appearances and 1,860 minutes. World Cup assists:3 — Christian Pulisic2 — Cristiano Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/sTqHRDVbk6— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) June 13, 2026 That means the American star surpassed the Portuguese icon’s assist total in 17 fewer World Cup matches. Of course, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner still enjoys a significant advantage in other categories. The Portugal star has scored eight World Cup goals and remains one of the greatest players in soccer history. Nevertheless, Pulisic’s achievement highlights just how productive he has been whenever he has stepped onto the World Cup stage. Christian Pulisic #10 and Weston McKennie #8 of the United States celebrate a goal. Climbing the USMNT history books The Paraguay match also strengthened Pulisic’s standing among the greatest players in United States soccer history. After reaching three goal contributions during the 2022 World Cup campaign, his latest assist brought his total World Cup goal involvements to four. That figure draws him level with USMNT legend Clint Dempsey and leaves him just one goal contribution behind Landon Donovan’s national record at the World Cup. For a player still in his twenties, it represents another significant milestone in an already decorated international career.
