It was a day of records, resilience, and rain as the 2026 World Cup delivered another memorable chapter. Lionel Messi wrote his name into the history books once more, while a torrential storm in Philadelphia brought chaos to France's clash with Iraq. The Guardian's Football Weekly panel dissected all the action in their latest World Cup Daily podcast.
Messi Makes History Again
The diminutive magician added yet another record to his incomparable collection, becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history. Remarkably, Argentina have scored five goals at this tournament—and Messi has netted all of them. His latest strike, which sealed the record, underlined his enduring class and importance to the defending champions. "He's quite good, isn't he?" was the tongue-in-cheek question posed by the podcast panel, but the answer is emphatically clear: Messi remains in a league of his own.
Quick Facts
Messi's World Cup Goals (2026): 5
All-Time World Cup Goal Record: Now held by Messi
Argentina Group J Position: Winners, confirmed after Algeria's victory
Rain Stops Play as France Eventually Beat Iraq
In Philadelphia, the heavens opened, forcing a huge delay during France's group encounter. When play finally resumed, Les Bleus eventually overwhelmed Iraq 3-0 in a match that "felt like it took three days to complete." Kylian Mbappé, already a World Cup winner, is now chasing down the very record Messi set earlier in the day. The French superstar's hunger for goals shows no sign of abating.
Norway Edge Senegal in Thriller, Setting Up Group Decider
Norway and Senegal served up an entertaining 3-2 contest, with the Scandinavians coming out on top. The result sets up a pivotal final group game between Norway and France, where first place could prove crucial in securing a favourable route to the final. With Mbappé leading the French line against Erling Haaland's Norway, the stage is set for a blockbuster finish to the group.
Algeria Comeback Eliminates Debutants Jordan
Elsewhere, Algeria fought back from a goal down to beat Jordan 2-1, ending the debutants' World Cup journey. Second-half goals from Nadhir Benbouali and Amine Gouiri kept Algeria's knockout hopes alive and confirmed Argentina as Group J winners. For Jordan, the loss meant an early exit, but not before Nizar Al-Rashdan's spectacular opener—a fitting moment on the biggest stage.
Key Takeaways
- Messi's Monumental Milestone: Now the undisputed all-time top scorer in World Cup history, he continues to define an era.
- Weathering the Storm: France's delayed victory kept their campaign on track, with Mbappé eyeing more records.
- Norwegian Delight: A thrilling win sets up a winner-takes-all clash with France for group supremacy.
- Algerian Resurgence: Late goals revived hopes and eliminated debutants Jordan, while sealing Argentina's path as group winners.
- Podcast Perfection: The Guardian's Football Weekly recapped it all with expert analysis and their trademark humour.