Three of football’s heavyweights punched their tickets to the World Cup 2026 knockout round over a 48-hour stretch that delivered record-breaking goals, upset scares, and a fresh reminder that this tournament is as much a crypto event as a sporting one.
Argentina, France, and Norway all secured spots in the last 32 following group-stage victories on June 22-23, joining the USA, Mexico, and Germany among the teams already through.
Messi rewrites the record books, again
Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria on June 22 was, on paper, a routine win. In practice, it was a coronation.
Lionel Messi scored both goals, lifting his career World Cup tally to 18. That number matters because it surpasses Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record of 16 goals. Klose’s record was set across four World Cup tournaments spanning 2002 to 2014. Messi has now played in five, and at 39 years old, he scored both goals in a single match to break it.
