Messi's hat-trick ties Klose's all-time record and makes him World Cup Golden Boot favourite

Lionel Messi produced the defining moment of the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s opening days on Tuesday, scoring a hat-trick to match Miroslav Klose’s all-time men’s record of 16 World Cup goals and establish himself as the frontrunner for the Golden Boot at the age of 38.

The Argentina captain’s treble also made him the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo. It was Messi’s first hat-trick in a World Cup across a career that now spans six tournaments.

Mbappé and Haaland ensured Tuesday lived up to its billing as a landmark evening for the tournament. The France captain scored twice — at the 66th minute and deep into stoppage time — in a 3-1 victory over Senegal, becoming France’s all-time leading scorer with 58 international goals. The brace puts Mbappé in position to become the first player ever to win consecutive World Cup Golden Boots, having claimed the award at Qatar 2022 with eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final.

Erling Haaland, meanwhile, marked his World Cup debut with two goals as Norway beat their opponents 4-1 — the country’s first appearance at the tournament since 1998. The Manchester City striker’s performance announced him as a credible contender for the award after entering the competition as a longer-odds option.

The three forwards combined for seven goals across Tuesday’s fixtures, dramatically reshaping the Golden Boot picture before the group stage has even concluded its first round of matches. Among the other contenders, Harry Kane, Kai Havertz, and Folarin Balogun also feature in the updated standings as the competition intensifies heading into Wednesday’s closing group-stage openers.