Stars on Fire: How Mbappé, Haaland, Messi and Kane Lit Up the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup got off to a slow start, but four of football’s biggest names soon turned up the heat. Kylian Mbappé set the benchmark with two goals against Senegal, becoming France’s all-time leading scorer and moving within reach of the World Cup scoring record. Erling Haaland matched that feat on his tournament debut, scoring twice for Norway and adding nostalgia with his father’s World Cup legacy. Lionel Messi then went one better, netting a historic hat-trick for Argentina to equal the all-time goals record. Finally, Harry Kane responded after Portugal’s big names faltered, scoring twice to equal England’s World Cup scoring mark and extend his streak across three tournaments. With the knockout stages looming, these performances remind us how a few moments of brilliance can reshape the tournament.
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