Mbappe breaks France scoring record as VAR controversy and Messi hat-trick headline World Cup day six

Kylian Mbappe ended France’s Group I opener against Senegal with two goals in New Jersey to become his country’s all-time record goalscorer, but the match will be remembered as much for a contentious VAR decision that denied him a first-half penalty and sparked widespread debate among officials and pundits alike.

For 66 minutes Mbappe struggled, his first touch sloppy and his appeals for a spot-kick waved away after Iranian-Australian referee Alireza Faghani reviewed the incident on his pitchside monitor. Senegal’s Sadio Mane had slid in as Mbappe entered the box, and while French players and coaching staff began celebrating what they assumed would be a penalty award, Faghani instead ruled: “The attacker initiated the contact.” The BBC’s resident official Darren Cann was among those who questioned the call, citing the views of several referees.

Mbappe then came alive in the final quarter, scoring two stunners to seal the win for Didier Deschamps’ side. Senegal’s performance, despite the defeat, was impressive enough to heap pressure on Norway in the group’s later fixture against Iraq — pressure Erling Haaland duly relieved with a brace on his World Cup debut.

Lionel Messi provided the tournament’s most eye-catching individual display as Argentina opened their title defence against Algeria in what was the first competitive meeting between the two nations. The match began in chaotic fashion, with two goals disallowed inside the opening ten minutes, before Messi took control: a stunning opener, a second-half tap-in, and a delightful third gave him three goals for the day and gave Argentina a commanding start to their bid for back-to-back World Cup titles.

Off the pitch, Thomas Partey will miss Ghana’s Group L match against Panama in Toronto on Wednesday after a Canadian court dismissed his appeal against being denied entry to the country. The 33-year-old had been refused a visa by the Canadian government last week, prompting his legal team to launch a last-minute challenge at the Federal Court in Ottawa. Judge Roger Lafreniere dismissed the case, ruling that Partey had sought extraordinary relief that would have required Canada to set aside its own immigration decision.