Lionel Messi made World Cup history as Argentina secured a place in the knockout stage, while Norway’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Senegal provided the day’s most exciting contest.
Heavyweights Argentina and France continued their strong starts to the FIFA World Cup 2026, while Norway produced one of the tournament’s most entertaining matches with a dramatic victory over Senegal in Group I action.
In Group J, Argentina secured a 2-0 victory over Austria, but the night belonged to Lionel Messi. The 38-year-old captain became the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history, surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose when he opened the scoring. Messi later added a second goal to move past Brazilian legend Marta’s overall World Cup scoring record, taking his tally to 18 World Cup goals. The Argentine star has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches. The victory also ensured Argentina’s place in the knockout stage with a game to spare.
France were equally impressive in Group I, defeating Iraq 3-0 in a dominant display. Les Bleus proved too strong for Iraq, collecting another three points and moving a step closer to the knockout rounds.
The day’s most thrilling encounter came between Norway and Senegal, with Norway emerging 3-2 winners after an end-to-end battle. Both sides created numerous chances, but Norway held their nerve in a high-scoring contest that kept fans on edge until the final whistle.
The result gives Norway a significant boost in Group I, while Senegal face increased pressure heading into their remaining group-stage fixtures.
Meanwhile, Group J’s match between Jordan and Algeria remained goalless in the opening stages, with both sides searching for a breakthrough as they looked to keep pace with Argentina at the top of the standings.
With the group stage gathering momentum, several of football’s traditional powers are beginning to assert themselves, while the tournament continues to produce competitive contests and memorable moments.
