Lionel Messi Smashed the World Cup Scoring Record, and Kylian Mbappe Re-Wrote France's History Books!
Alright, Seattle! You gotta grab a pint and pull up a chair because what went down in the World Cup on Monday, June 22, was absolutely INSANE. Lionel Messi didn't just score for Argentina, he absolutely SMASHED the World Cup record with his 17th goal, then added another to make it five for the 2026 tournament! And if that wasn't enough, 2022 Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe went out and cemented his legend, becoming France's all-time leading goal scorer. The action on the pitch is already delivering legendary moments, and we're just getting started.
Messi Is Running It Back Like a Boss
Seriously, who said Messi was slowing down? After leading Argentina to that 2022 World Cup win, the man decided he'd run it back, and holy smokes, it's paying off. On Monday, Argentina defeated Austria 2-0, and our guy Messi broke the World Cup record for goals, hitting his 17th, then he went ahead and dropped another for his fifth goal of this 2026 tournament. Remember when he kicked off this whole thing with a hat trick in Argentina's 3-0 demolition of Algeria? He was the ONLY player in the first round of group play to snag a hat trick! Austria put up a fight, beating Jordan 3-1 earlier, so you know they aren't pushovers. But it's beyond clear Messi is still the dude, still a force in front of the net, making defenders look silly.
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Mbappe and Haaland Are Just Built Different
Next up on Monday's stacked schedule, we saw Kylian Mbappe's France squad take on Iraq at 5 p.m. Remember when France was stuck at a 0-0 score at halftime against Senegal? Not ideal, right? But then the French attack, led by Mbappe, woke up in the second half. He bagged the first goal, and then after Senegal made it 2-1, Mbappe slammed home a long laser for his second tally of the game! That second goal? It made him the all-time leader in goals for France. You think Iraq, who gave up four goals to Norway last week, is looking forward to facing him? No chance. Speaking of that Norway game, Erling Haaland absolutely showed out. He hammered in two goals in Norway's 4-1 win over Iraq. We're talking a header and another one where he just forced the goalie's hand. Haaland and Norway clash with Senegal at 8 p.m. later tonight, so buckle up!
What a Monday, am I right? We’ve got Jordan facing Algeria at 11 p.m. to wrap up the action, and if you're into it, the anytime goalscorer props for Mbappe, Haaland, and Messi have been gold. These guys are showing us why they're the best on the planet, shattering records and making history every time they step on the field. This World Cup is already delivering unforgettable moments, and you absolutely do not want to miss what's next!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.