Messi and Mbappé light up World Cup with record-breaking goals

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé are once again stealing the spotlight at the World Cup, producing a series of record-breaking performances that have captivated football fans around the world.

Messi has scored five goals in Argentina's first two matches, becoming the tournament's all-time leading scorer with 18 World Cup goals. Mbappé, meanwhile, has netted four times for France, bringing his World Cup tally to 16 and moving into a tie for second place on the all-time list.

"Leo always scores," Mbappé said. "He'll always score. If I want to look at what Leo's doing, I'll have to do even more."

The two superstars are not the only prolific scorers at the tournament. Norway striker Erling Haaland has already scored four goals in his country's first two World Cup matches, while Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo added two goals against Uzbekistan on Tuesday to take his career World Cup total to 10.

Still, Messi and Mbappé have emerged as the standout performers, continuing a rivalry that captured global attention during the dramatic 2022 World Cup final in Qatar. In that match, Messi scored twice and Mbappé completed a hat trick before Argentina eventually prevailed in a penalty shootout.

Both Argentina and France have already secured places in the knockout stage and remain among the leading contenders for the title.

Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, continues to defy expectations in a tournament often dominated by younger players.

Since turning 35, the Argentina captain has scored 12 World Cup goals. The former Barcelona star, now playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, continues to display the vision, technique and stamina that have defined his career.

His second goal in Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria highlighted those qualities. After Julián Álvarez's shot was blocked, Messi chased the rebound and slid the ball through two defenders to seal the victory.

"We knew that he is on a level of his own, and Lionel Messi showed us today that he's one of the best, and he is the best," Austria coach Ralf Rangnick said.

Mbappé, at 27, is in the prime of his career and appears well-positioned to challenge Messi's records for years to come.

The French forward burst onto the international stage at age 19, helping France win the 2018 World Cup in Russia. His goal in the final against Croatia made him only the second teenager after Pelé to score in a World Cup final.

Mbappé scored four goals at that tournament and has continued his remarkable run ever since. Now playing for Real Madrid, he combines explosive pace with powerful finishing using both feet.

After winning the Golden Boot with eight goals at the 2022 World Cup, Mbappé has now reached 16 career World Cup goals, matching Germany's Miroslav Klose and moving one ahead of Brazilian great Ronaldo.

His scoring rate is even more remarkable. Mbappé's 16 goals have come in just 16 World Cup appearances since 2018, while Messi's 18 goals have been scored across 28 matches in six tournaments dating back to 2006.

"I've always scored goals in the World Cup, so it's not something I'm thinking about or that I'm worried about," Mbappé said.

Norway's Haaland is also making a strong impression in his first World Cup appearance.

The 25-year-old Manchester City striker, standing 6-foot-5, has scored twice in each of Norway's opening two victories and could emerge as a serious contender for the tournament's Golden Boot if Norway advances deep into the competition.

Norway will face France on Friday in a match that will decide the group winner, with both teams already qualified for the knockout rounds.

"We're through (to the next round), which is incredible," Haaland said. "So I couldn't care too much about that game now. They (France) are probably going to win against us, they're probably going to win the whole tournament."

Norway coach Stale Solbakken believes Haaland gives his side a chance to compete with the tournament's biggest teams.

"He is the best striker," Solbakken said. "He's not playing for France or Argentina. He scores for Norway."

Mbappé, however, had a different answer when asked who the world's best player is.

"It's clear," Mbappé said. "(Messi) is the best in the world."