Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland dazzle as World Cup Golden Boot race hots up
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Day 12 of World Cup 2026 was all about the attackers as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland all scored twice and showed once again why they are the very best in the business.
The goals simply flowed as France, Argentina and Norway enjoyed fine wins and mean the race for the Golden Boot is already hotting up. Messi leads the way with five but Mbappe and Haaland are just one behind with four after two games played.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Lionel Messi Show Part 2
Messi followed up his hat-trick in Argentina’s opener against Algeria with another two strikes to down Austria and maintain the defending champions’ 100% start to the tournament.
Yet Messi did show once again that he is human after all. Argentina were awarded a penalty when Lautaro Martinez was fouled early in the first half, giving Messi the perfect chance to open the scoring. However, the 38-year-old fluffed the chance with a poor kick that flew well wide.
Yet it always felt like just a matter of time before Messi scored and he duly obliged towards the end of the first half, guiding home a trademark finish from just inside the penalty area to beat Miroslav Klose’s record and become the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Austria offered very little in response and it was left to Messi to finish the game off deep into stoppage time. The Inter Miami star started the move off with a glorious pass and was then on hand to slam home a finish after seeing an initial shot blocked.
The win sends Argentina safely into the knockout stage of World Cup 2026 ahead of a final group game against Jordan on Saturday night.
AdvertisementAdvertisementMbappe hot on Messi’s heels after France double
Mbappe took to the pitch for the 100th time for France on Monday and needed less than 14 minutes to get on the scoresheet against Iraq. The Real Madrid superstar left fly with a fierce left-footed strike from just outside the area that flew past Ahmed Basil in the Iraq goal to make it 1-0.
Even a two-hour weather delay due to lightning strikes in the area couldn’t prevent the Frenchman closing in on Messi at the top of the all-time World Cup standings.
Mbappe benefited from some poor play from Iraq when goalkeeper Basil failed to control a short goal-kick taken by defender Zaid Tahseen. Ousmane Dembele was quick to pounce and simple rolled the ball to Mbappe to slot home from close range for his 16th World Cup goal, now just two behind Messi.
France then finished off Iraq thanks to Dembele’s first ever World Cup strike. The Ballon d’Or winner was presented with the chance from a cute outside-of-the-boot pass from Michael Olise and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner.
Haaland inspires Norway again
Erling Haaland followed up Messi and Mbappe’s goalscoring exploits by scoring a double of his own as Norway beat Senegal 3-2 in a thriller in New Jersey.
Full-back Marcus Pederson opened the scoring after a poor mistake from Kalidou Koulibaly to net his first international goal.
Haaland then doubled Norway’s lead after the break following good work from Martin Odegaard. The Arsenal midfielder drove forward on the counter, slipped in Haaland and watched the striker power home a confident finish for 2-0.
Ismaila Sarr pulled one back for Senegal to give his side some hope but Norway quickly restored their two-goal lead when Haaland volleyed home from inside the box.
Sarr struck again deep into stoppage time but it was a case of too little, too late for Senegal.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAlgeria end Jordan’s World Cup dreams
World Cup debutants Jordan were eliminated from the World Cup on Monday after slipping to a 2-1 defeat to Algeria in San Francisco.
The underdogs took a shock lead when Nizar Al Rashdan converted with the outside of his right foot from inside the penalty area.
Algeria hit back in the second half when Nadhir Benbouali headed home Riyad Mahrez’s corner but then had to wait until late on to win it. Another corner caused problems in the Jordan defence, allowing Amine Gouiri to knock the ball home from close range.
Plenty of goals but which was your favorite? Have your say in our poll, as we cover every goal, goof and everything in between throughout the World Cup
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
