Messi Stands Alone: Three Teams Reach the Last 32 on a Night of Records

The Short Version

On 22 June, three teams booked their places in the round of 32 — and one of them rewrote the record books. Lionel Messi missed an early penalty and then scored twice in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria to reach 18 World Cup goals, moving clear of Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer. In Philadelphia, France beat Iraq 3-0 either side of the first weather suspension in World Cup history, a Kylian Mbappé double taking him level with Klose’s old mark. And Norway survived a five-goal night against Senegal, Erling Haaland’s brace settling a 3-2 win that sent them through.

A record changes hands

For sixteen years, Miroslav Klose’s 16 goals stood as the World Cup’s high-water mark. On a single night in Texas, it changed hands — and was very nearly matched a second time a thousand miles away.

This was a day defined by milestones rather than drama in the table, though the table moved too: Argentina, France and Norway all secured passage to the round of 32 with a group game still to play. Two of the game’s most-watched forwards spent the evening chasing the same number. Only one took it outright.

Group J: Messi takes the record, Argentina march on

It did not begin smoothly. Messi missed an early penalty at Dallas Stadium, and a spirited Austria — marshalled by David Alaba, who threw himself in front of everything — kept Argentina at arm’s length for long stretches. Then the captain did what he has done for two decades. His first-half opener and a second strike after the break carried Argentina to a 2-0 win and took him to 18 World Cup goals, eclipsing Klose’s 16 to stand alone as the competition’s all-time leading scorer, as FIFA’s match report records.

The result, confirmed by NBC’s live coverage, sends Lionel Scaloni’s defending champions into the knockout rounds from Group J with a match in hand. There was a neat symmetry to the timing: it fell on the 40th anniversary of Diego Maradona’s wonder goal against England — another Argentine, another World Cup afternoon that ended in the history books.

Group I: Mbappé shines as a storm stops play

France’s 3-0 win over Iraq will be remembered less for the scoreline than for the two hours in the middle of it. With severe storms over Philadelphia, lightning forced officials to suspend play at half-time — the first weather delay in World Cup history — and what should have been a 15-minute interval stretched past two hours before the players returned.

Kylian Mbappé bookended the stoppage. He curled a left-footed opener past Ahmed Basil before the break, then pounced on a mix-up between the goalkeeper and his defender afterwards, with Ousmane Dembélé adding a third, as Sky Sports detailed. The brace took Mbappé to 16 World Cup goals — level with the very mark Messi had broken hours earlier. Didier Deschamps’ side are through to the last 32 with a game to spare, having seen off both Iraq and the weather.

Group I: Haaland’s double settles a five-goal night

If France’s evening was about endurance, Norway’s was about nerve. On a rainy night in New Jersey, Marcus Pedersen put Norway ahead before half-time, Haaland made it two early in the second half, and the game then opened up: Ismaïla Sarr pulled one back, Haaland restored the two-goal cushion within five minutes, and Sarr struck again in stoppage time to set up a frantic finish. Norway held on for a 3-2 win that, as Yahoo Sports reported, clinched their place in the round of 32. Haaland now has four goals in two games — a reminder that the record Messi claimed has a long line of successors forming behind it.

What it means for the tables

Both Group I and Group J have produced their two qualifiers already. In Group J, Argentina top the group on six points, with Austria, beaten for the first time, now needing results elsewhere to go through. In Group I, France and Norway both sit on six points and are through, leaving Iraq and Senegal to play for pride in the final round.

For the neutrals, the numbers tell the story of the night: 18 for Messi, 16 for Mbappé, four in two games for Haaland. FIFA’s own matchday round-up framed it simply — Argentina, France and Norway hit the high notes, and one of them did so at the very top of the all-time list.

Frequently asked questions

Which teams played on June 22, 2026? Three matches were played: Argentina beat Austria 2-0 in Group J, while France beat Iraq 3-0 and Norway beat Senegal 3-2 in Group I.

Did Lionel Messi break the World Cup scoring record? Yes. Messi scored twice against Austria to reach 18 World Cup goals, moving clear of Miroslav Klose’s 16 to become the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.

Why was France vs Iraq suspended? Severe storms and lightning over Philadelphia forced officials to suspend play at half-time for more than two hours — the first weather delay in World Cup history. France won 3-0 once play resumed.

How many World Cup goals does Kylian Mbappé have now? Mbappé scored twice against Iraq to reach 16 World Cup goals, drawing level with the record Klose had held before Messi broke it earlier the same day.

What happened in Norway vs Senegal? Norway won 3-2 in New Jersey. Marcus Pedersen and an Erling Haaland brace put Norway in control, and they held off a Senegal fightback inspired by two Ismaïla Sarr goals.

Which teams have qualified for the round of 32? Argentina, France and Norway all secured their places on June 22, each with a group game still to play.

Who scored for Argentina against Austria? Lionel Messi scored both goals in the 2-0 win, after missing an early penalty.

When is the final round of Groups I and J? The last round of group matches follows over the coming days, with the remaining qualification and seeding questions still to be settled.