World Cup 2026: Ranking the Nine Goals by Haaland, Kane, Mbappé, and Messi

World Cup 2026: Ranking the Nine Goals by Haaland, Kane, Mbappé, and Messi

Over two days, four of soccer’s brightest stars—Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, and Lionel Messi—combined to score nine goals during their teams' opening matches at the 2026 World Cup.

Each goal played a part in securing three points for their respective countries. Here's a look at how these goals stack up:

1. Harry Kane, 12th minute vs. CroatiaKane’s penalty was unique because his initial attempt was saved by Croatia’s goalkeeper Dominik Livaković. However, a rule infringement gave Kane a second chance, which he converted confidently in England’s 4-2 victory.
2. Erling Haaland, 43rd minute vs. IraqHaaland capitalized on a careless back pass from Iraq’s defense, intercepting the ball before keeper Jalal Hassan could react, adding his second goal of the match.
3. Lionel Messi, 60th minute vs. AlgeriaAfter a shot by teammate Alexis Mac Allister, Messi anticipated the rebound faster than any defender and tapped it in, showing sharp awareness inside the box.
4. Harry Kane, 42nd minute vs. CroatiaKane matched Gary Lineker’s record of ten World Cup goals for England with a powerful header from a corner delivered by Declan Rice. He ranks third among active players in World Cup scoring.
5. Erling Haaland, 29th minute vs. IraqHaaland’s first World Cup goal since Norway's return featured a classic move: a timed run to the far post and a slide to finish a cross into an open net, pushing Norway ahead 2-0.
6. Lionel Messi, 76th minute vs. AlgeriaMessi slowed his pace to find space and fired a shot that weaved through four defenders before beating goalkeeper Luca Zidane, completing his first-ever World Cup hat trick.
7. Kylian Mbappé, 66th minute vs. SenegalMbappé’s excellent run into the penalty area was followed by a precise one-touch finish toward the far post, maintaining his momentum seamlessly.
8. Lionel Messi, 17th minute vs. AlgeriaA brilliant assist from Rodrigo de Paul split the defense, allowing Messi to control the ball and unleash a shot into the top right corner, setting the tone early.
9. Kylian Mbappé, 90+6 minutes vs. SenegalMbappé’s late strike might be the tournament’s highlight so far. With Senegal pressing for an equalizer, he unleashed a stunning shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, sealing a dramatic victory for France.