Messi and Mbappe Announce Themselves as Argentina and France Lead the Way
Day six of the 2026 World Cup belonged to the game's biggest names. Lionel Messi scored his first ever hat-trick at a World Cup, at 38 years old, as Argentina beat Algeria, while Kylian Mbappe struck twice - including a long-range effort that made him France's all-time top scorer - in a 3-1 win over Senegal. Both Qatar 2022 finalists served notice that they remain the teams to beat, leaving the rest of the field with a clear and immediate benchmark to measure themselves against.
It was a stark contrast to the day before, when draws were the defining theme. Tuesday produced no stalemates, with Norway and Austria also recording opening victories. For those tracking the tournament's competitive landscape - whether following it through a traditional broadcaster, a streaming platform, or a bookmaker floorball-style aggregator that now covers every major sport under one roof - the pecking order became slightly clearer, even as England, Croatia and others still await their turn.
The day's most arresting image was Messi, six World Cups deep into a career that has redefined what individual greatness looks like in football, rolling back the years against Algeria. Could Luca Zidane - the son of Zinedine, now between the sticks for the Algerian national side - have dealt better with two of the three goals? Probably. But that is a minor caveat against what was a genuinely historic individual performance. Argentina's broader concern remains the age profile of their squad in what is the longest World Cup ever staged, but on the evidence of this, Messi's powers remain stubbornly intact.
France Silence the Doubters - For Now
There had been quiet but persistent questions about whether this France side, so often brilliant in fragments and frustrating in equal measure, could produce a complete performance against genuinely quality opposition. Senegal, who beat Morocco to win the Africa Cup of Nations in January, were precisely that kind of test. France passed it. Mbappe was quiet in the first half, denied what looked a reasonable penalty, but his second goal - a fierce, dipping effort from distance - was the kind of strike that makes opposition defences lose sleep. Bradley Barcola's goal from the bench underlined a depth that Spain and Brazil, the tournament's other glamour sides, conspicuously lacked in their openers. France move to the top of our power rankings as a result.
England on the Brink - Croatia the First Examination
With every other top-ten ranked nation now having played, England go into Wednesday's opener against Croatia as the final major team to show their hand. Thomas Tuchel has overseen an environment rich enough to leave Phil Foden and Cole Palmer at home. Harry Kane arrived in outstanding club form, and Ollie Watkins has been prolific. The squad has been disrupted marginally by Tino Livramento's calf injury - he has been replaced by Trevoh Chalobah - but that affects rotation options rather than the first XI. Croatia, meanwhile, are boosted by the fitness of Luka Modric and Josko Gvardiol, and their tournament pedigree demands respect. England will be acutely aware of what this fixture looked like four years ago in Russia.
Power Rankings: How the Table Stands After Day Six
- 1. France (FIFA: 3) - Convincing, deep, and Mbappe is now the all-time top scorer. The benchmark is set.
- 2. Argentina (FIFA: 1) - Messi's hat-trick is the story, but squad age remains the caveat in a 48-team, extended format.
- 3. England (FIFA: 4) - Yet to play. Tuchel's squad depth is envied; delivery on the pitch is what counts from here.
- 4. Germany (FIFA: 10) - 7-1 over Curacao told us little defensively, but the attacking variety is real.
- 5. Spain (FIFA: 2) - A 0-0 draw with Cape Verde for the Euro 2024 champions is alarming. Pre-tournament favourites with immediate work to do.
- 6. Brazil (FIFA: 6) - Ancelotti's half-time changes against Morocco suggested work in progress. Vinicius Jr. was the positive to take.
- 7. Netherlands (FIFA: 8) - Depth issues exposed when substitutions came, and a late equaliser conceded against Japan.
- 8. Portugal (FIFA: 5) - The midfield may be the tournament's best. Ronaldo's suspension reprieve adds intrigue. Messi's hat-trick will have sharpened his focus considerably.
- 9. Morocco (FIFA: 7) - Drew with Brazil and looked every inch a heavyweight. Eighteen-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi was outstanding in midfield.
- 10. Colombia (FIFA: 14) - James Rodriguez leads them into what may be his farewell World Cup, with Luis Diaz capable of being one of the tournament's defining players.
Senegal's defeat to France was no disgrace, and their AFCON winners' confidence remains intact. Egypt, meanwhile, drew with Belgium and will target a historic first World Cup win against New Zealand. The United States' 4-1 demolition of Paraguay and Mexico's emotionally charged home win over South Africa have added texture to what is shaping up as the most expansive and unpredictable World Cup in the competition's history. The next forty-eight hours, with England finally entering the arena, will tell us a great deal more.
