What a two days it has been for some of soccer’s biggest stars. Norway’s Erling Haaland, England’s Harry Kane, France’s Kylian Mbappé and Argentina’s Lionel Messi combined for nine goals in less than 48 hours in their teams’ 2026 World Cup openers.
Here’s how those nine goals ranked as they each powered their teams to three points.
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9. Harry Kane, 12th minute vs. Croatia
Kane’s first goal in England’s 4-2 win gets this spot automatically because it was the only goal from the spot. Kane’s goal came after Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković saved Kane’s initial penalty kick attempt, but Kane was awarded a re-kick after it was determined that Livaković jumped forward before Kane had kicked the ball.
Kane made the most of his second chance.
8. Erling Haaland, 43rd minute vs. Iraq
Haaland had his second goal of the game served up to him on a platter by Iraq’s defense. As Haaland pressed, a lazy back pass allowed him to catch the ball before it reached Iraqi keeper Jalal Hassan.
7. Lionel Messi, 60th minute vs. Algeria
Messi was more than just in the right place at the right time after Alexis Mac Allister’s shot. He saw the rebound coming before any of the Algerian defenders around hm did and that’s why he was easily the first to the ball.
6. Harry Kane, 42nd minute vs. Croatia
Kane tied Gary Lineker’s record of 10 World Cup goals for England with this powerful header off a corner kick by Declan Rice. Kane is the third-leading goal scorer at World Cups among active players and one of just 16 men ever to score at least 10 goals at the World Cup.
5. Erling Haaland, 29th minute vs. Iraq
Haaland’s first World Cup goal in Norway’s first World Cup game since 1998 was very Haaland-like. He made a great run to the back post and slid to kick in a cross into a wide-open net to give Norway a 2-0 lead.
4. Lionel Messi, 76th minute vs. Algeria
Messi not only slowed down to create himself space for the shot for his first-ever World Cup hat trick, but he put his shot through four defenders before it got past Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane.
3. Kylian Mbappé, 66th minute vs. Senegal
Not only did Mbappé make a fantastic run into the Senegal penalty box, he was able to get his hips open in time to one-touch the ball towards the far post while also continuing his run.
2. Lionel Messi, 17th minute vs. Argentina
Don’t overlook the role that Rodrigo de Paul’s pass played in Messi’s goal. It was an incisive rocket through the Algerian defense and Messi’s great first touch allowed him to turn and break free before firing the ball into the top right corner.
1. Kylian Mbappé, 90+6 minutes, vs. Senegal
Mbappé’s second goal might be the finest of the tournament. Just minutes after Senegal pulled within a goal and had hopes of stealing a 2-2 draw with the 2018 World Cup champions, Mbappé created a goal out of nowhere with an incredible strike that Edouard Mendy had no hope of reaching.
