Key events
The Guardian’s Pablo Iglesias Maurer dives into everything Messi with boots on the ground as history was made at Dallas Stadium (aka Jerry World) last night.
The great one on his exploits: “It feels special, but like I’ve always said it does. Like I’ve said other times, I enjoy playing, having a good time on the pitch. I wasn’t necessarily having one on the penalty, but with luck we were able to work through that situation, take the advantage and leave with three points.”
And Argentina head coach and fellow Lionel … Scaloni: “I have no words to talk about Leo, it makes us all a bit tired. I’m so happy with his performance. He scored again. The team suffered and at times we created difficulties today. When Leo becomes active everyone activates.
“When the team was having a tough time without possession of the ball he worked, he managed to steal the ball, you could see his level of commitment and there is a reason for that. He has commitment, this is what he generates.”
There is only one place to start. Lionel Messi. Still completely unstoppable at 38 years old and one imagines still completely unstoppable at 39 years old when he celebrates his birthday tomorrow. What a treat to strike out alone at the top of the all-time World Cup scoring table before your big day.
“He’s the best,” said teammate Julián Alvarez after Argentina’s talisman ran rings around Austria with both goals in their 2-0 win in Group J. Hard to argue really.
Preamble
Hi and hello football fans! Hm, turns out these guys Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland aren’t a flash in the pan after all. Each of them put in another iconic shift yesterday to lift Argentina, France and Norway into the last 32 after two games. Messi is now the leading all-time World Cup goalscorer with 18 while he also leads the tournament’s Golden Boot chart with five and Mbappé and Haaland sit right behind on four. Entirely believable, Jeff!
Now what’s going on today then. Hmmm. Ooh a classic will he, won’t he when Portugal take on Uzbekistan later. Then a midnight special between Panama and Croatia. And the return of DR Congo in the late game when they take on Colombia.
Wait, what’s this? Eng-ger-land v Ghana at 9pm BST. Thomas Tuchel’s charges are back in action in Group L. Oh my gaawwwd!
Welcome to World Cup 2026 – day 13!
