Great stars of world football, Lionel Messi, aged 38, and Kylian Mbappé, aged 27, are preparing for a crucial journey that could redefine milestones in the history of World Cups. Attention turns to the Argentine’s consolidated talent and the Frenchman’s meteoric rise on American fields.
On this penultimate date of the second group stage of the 2026 World Cup, the dispute goes beyond points for classification. Both stars are seeking the coveted position of top scorer of all time in the most prestigious tournament on the planet.
With a spectacular performance in the opening match, where he scored three times in the 3-0 victory over Algeria, Messi has already equaled Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 goals. The German striker established this mark between the 2002 and 2014 editions, remaining the isolated leader until the start of the competition in North America this year.
From 2 pm (Brasília time), when Argentina takes the field against Austria, the Argentine number 10’s objective will be ambitious: to surpass the former Germany striker and conquer the position of top scorer for himself.
However, in addition to the challenges posed by rival defenses and goalkeepers, Messi faces a well-known rivalry. Four hours after the Argentine game, Kylian Mbappé, wearing France’s number 10 shirt, will have his own clash against Iraq.
Despite participating in the World Cup for the third time in his career — a number significantly fewer than the Argentine star’s six appearances —, Mbappé has already scored 14 goals in the competition. He found the net twice in the 3-1 win over Senegal the previous week. If he manages to score two more goals, he will reach the current record holders; A hat-trick, in turn, would put him ahead of them, highlighting the impressive speed with which the young Frenchman is approaching the top of the historic goalscorers.
Early guarantee of a place in the knockout stage
With victories recorded in the first round, both the Argentine and French teams have the opportunity to guarantee their qualification for the next phase of the World Cup this Monday.
For Messi and his colleagues, a simple victory against Austria will be enough to secure a place in the knockout stages. If this result is combined with a draw or a win for Algeria over Jordan, first place in Group J will also be guaranteed.
Unlike the South Americans, the French team cannot yet secure the leadership of their group. However, adding three more points against Iraq will guarantee one of the Group I places in the next stage of the competition.
Details of the biggest edition of the 2026 World Cup ever held
This edition of the 2026 World Cup stands out as the grandest ever organized, marked by the absence of Italy and prolonged uncertainty over the participation of Iran, which started the championship amid conflicts with the United States. For the first time in history, the games are distributed across three host countries: Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Furthermore, the tournament breaks multiple records, including the number of participating teams, which jumped to 48 (in contrast to 32 in the last seven editions), more than 1,200 registered players and a total of 104 matches played.
To accommodate the expanded format, a new knockout round was introduced, preceding the round of 16. Thus, 32 teams will advance from the group stage to the decisive playoffs.
The grand final of the World Cup is scheduled for July 19th, taking place at the MetLife Stadium, located in New Jersey, in the United States.