Messi's Hat Trick Stunned The World Cup and Every Contender Is On Notice
Holy cow, the World Cup is already delivering wild action! Lionel Messi, man, dropped an absolute masterclass, notching his FIRST World Cup hat trick! Argentina's title defense just got electric. The GOAT is dialed in, and his brilliance is paramount to their hopes of winning back-to-back World Cups. Monday is shaping up to be incredible!
Messi's Magic Sets the Stage for Argentina's Run
Messi absolutely lit up the pitch, scoring two second-half goals in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria to kick off their group play. Those goals came in different ways, showcasing why he's still one of the most valuable players. Argentina rolls into their next match against Austria on Monday, June 22, at 1 p.m. ET from Arlington, Texas. Argentina is favored at -190, but don't sleep on Austria. They grabbed a 3-1 win over Jordan, and would be stoked with a draw. Four points likely push them into the Round of 32. Jordan tied it up in the 50th minute, but Austria took the lead on an own goal 26 minutes later. Wild stuff!
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Golden Boot Race Heats Up as Knockout Spots Loom
Kylian Mbappé is definitely eyeing those Golden Boot standings. He scored twice against Senegal, his second goal sealing that game after the lead got cut to one. France looks like a machine, especially with Michael Olise sparking their second-half push after moving to the middle. He started on the wing, and it's no coincidence the 2018 World Cup champions were much better once he shifted. France takes on Iraq at 5 p.m. ET from Philadelphia, with France at -1200! Iraq gave up four goals to Norway in their opener, and Aymen Hussein's goal in the 39th minute was their only shot on target against Norway. That's just not going to cut it against France, who has arguably the best attackers.
Then we get to the most important, and best, matchup of the day: Norway vs. Senegal, Monday at 8 p.m. ET from East Rutherford, New Jersey. Erling Haaland already has two goals against Iraq, giving Norway a huge step towards the knockout rounds. Senegal is one of Africa's top teams, a real threat to win a game or two after the group stage. But the Lions of Teranga absolutely need points Monday night to have any shot at moving on. Three points against Iraq in their final group stage game might not be enough. Norway's attack is powerful. Does Senegal play for a point, or go for all three? Six points would secure second place due to the head-to-head tiebreaker. This is going to be a nail-biter!
Jordan battles Algeria in the late game, 11 p.m. ET out in Santa Clara. A point won't do much for either team, especially Jordan with Argentina waiting. Jordan lost to Austria by two, but the go-ahead goal was an own goal, and the second came from a penalty kick late in added time. They have positives to build on, but they'll need more to survive. Every match matters, folks, and the drama is just getting started!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.