After many months of angst and drama surrounding many of the FIFA World Cup’s logistics and costs, soccer’s superstars are putting on a scintillating show on the pitch, helping to divert attention away from those off-field issues.
In a span of roughly 10 hours on Monday, three of the sport’s very best players each furthered their own legendary status, pushed their respective teams into the round of 32, and gave the World Cup another dose of mainstream sizzle. Among the key exploits during a wild day of competition:
Argentina’s Lionel Messi scored twice in a 2–0 afternoon win over Austria in Dallas, giving him 18 World Cup goals in his legendary career, most of any player ever. The victory also moved Argentina to the round of 32, and represented yet another chapter in Messi’s storybook career that is still going even as he nears his 39th birthday.
France’s Kylian Mbappé tallied two goals of his own in a rain-delayed 3–0 early evening win over Iraq in Philadelphia. The goals pushed Mbappé, the 2022 Golden Boot winner, into a tie for second all-time in World Cup history with 16 goals, and advanced a compelling real-time race with Messi. France, the 2018 World Cup winner and a finalist in 2022, has advanced to the knockout stage and continues its dominance in the tournament.
