Messi Breaks World Cup Scoring Record as Stars Shine on Day 13

Day 13 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 saw Lionel Messi etch his name further into the history books, becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in the tournament’s history. The Argentinian superstar’s latest strike brought his World Cup tally to 18 goals.

Messi’s historic moment came during Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria in Group J. The veteran forward not only scored but also provided a performance that his coach, Lionel Scaloni, described as inspiring. Scaloni praised Messi’s commitment and his ability to elevate the entire team’s performance.

“When Leo becomes active everyone activates,” Scaloni commented. “When the team was having a tough time without possession of the ball he worked, he managed to steal the ball, you could see his level of commitment and there is a reason for that. He has commitment, this is what he generates.”

Messi himself reflected on the achievement, stating, “It feels special, but like I’ve always said it does. Like I’ve said other times, I enjoy playing, having a good time on the pitch. I wasn’t necessarily having one on the penalty, but with luck we were able to work through that situation, take the advantage and leave with three points.”

Mbappé and Haaland Continue Scoring Prowess

Joining Messi in the goal-scoring highlights of the day were Kylian Mbappé of France and Erling Haaland of Norway. Both players also added to their tournament tallies, ensuring their respective nations are in strong positions heading into the latter stages of the group phase.

Mbappé and Haaland are now close behind Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, with Mbappé and Haaland both on four goals, while Messi leads the chart with five. Their consistent goal-scoring form has been crucial for their teams, with all three nations—Argentina, France, and Norway—securing spots in the last 32 after just two matches.

Today’s Fixtures

The tournament continues with a series of intriguing matchups. Portugal faces Uzbekistan in a match that has generated anticipation. Later, Panama will play Croatia, followed by DR Congo taking on Colombia.

A highly anticipated fixture sees England, managed by Thomas Tuchel’s charges, back in action in Group L as they face Ghana.

Key facts

The performances of Messi, Mbappé, and Haaland underscore the continued dominance of established stars in major international tournaments. For fans of FootballGames10, these individual achievements and team progresses provide compelling narratives and highlight the ongoing drama of the World Cup. The race for the Golden Boot and the battle for knockout stage qualification remain central points of interest.

Source: The Guardian Football, https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2026/jun/23/world-cup-2026-news-live-messi-mbappe-haaland-england-ghana-portugal-uzbekistan-panama-croatia-colombia-dr-congo