Messi breaks the all-time World Cup goal record as France and Norway join the knockouts
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Lionel Messi became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, striking twice in Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria to move to 18 goals and pull two clear of Miroslav Klose. According to ESPN, Messi — who had drawn level with Klose via his hat-trick against Algeria on June 16 — scored in the 38th minute and again late on in Dallas, extending his scoring run to six consecutive World Cup matches and sending Argentina through.
France booked their place in the last 32 with a 3-0 win over Iraq in which Kylian Mbappé scored twice on his 100th cap and Ousmane Dembélé also netted. The match was halted for around two hours by storms, the tournament's first weather suspension, before Les Bleus completed the job.
Norway reached the knockout stage for the first time in decades by beating Senegal 3-2, Erling Haaland scoring both of his goals to become his country's all-time leading World Cup scorer. Ismaila Sarr struck twice for Senegal, the second in stoppage time, but the comeback fell short.
Algeria came from behind to beat World Cup debutants Jordan 2-1, a late Amine Gouiri goal completing the turnaround and eliminating Jordan, per ESPN.
Transfer and squad notes
The France–Iraq stoppage, lasting roughly two hours at half-time because of lightning in the area, was the first weather-forced suspension of the tournament, according to CBS Sports — a logistical marker for organisers as the summer schedule runs through storm-prone venues.
On-field form continued to feed the transfer market, with fichajes.net reporting Atlético Madrid's interest in Monaco striker Folarin Balogun, who has impressed for the United States; the link remains reported rather than advanced.
What it means for the league
Matchday three delivered the tournament's defining individual moment in Messi's record, while Mbappé and Haaland underlined the star power carrying Europe's contenders into the knockouts. France, Norway and Argentina are through, debutants Jordan are out, and the expanded field is steadily narrowing. With several groups still to conclude, the closing fixtures will finalise the seedings and the shape of the round of 32.