Lionel Messi "running on fumes" amid World Cup heroics

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World Cup daily news. We will bring you the latest from around the world as the FIFA World Cup 2026™ finally gets under way (All times AEST).

MESSI "RUNNING ON FUMES"

Two matches, two victories, five goals and four world records, it’s not surprising that Lionel Messi is “running on fumes” at the World Cup.

The Argentine superstar’s brace against Austria this morning saw him move one goal in front of Brazilian star Marta in the all-time World cup goalscoring list with 18 to his name and plenty more football to play this tournament.

Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday also took the records for most World Cup matches played (28), most World Cup matches won by a player (18) and most World Cup minutes played (2,489).

Missing a penalty in the 8th minite of the match also saw him become the player to have missed the most penalties at a World Cup but we don’t need to count that one.

After the match, amid the jubilation and celebration, Messi said he was feeling it.

“I'm tired, I'm running on fumes, and it's hard to think,” he said. “I'm enjoying this moment and looking forward to being with my teammates.

“It's been spectacular how it all unfolded. Today I had the penalty, which could have increased my tally or not; perhaps the others wouldn't have come, you never know. I'm happy with the team.

“To be honest, I’m really happy about the win, especially as it’s such a crucial victory, hard-fought and well-earned, but one that gives us peace of mind for what lies ahead.

“This is the World Cup; it was a very evenly matched, very intense match, and we’re happy to have picked up six points and to have already qualified.”

Argentina are looking to defend their 2022 title and will meet Jordan in their final Group match this Sunday (AEST).

FULL-TIME IN SAN FRAN

Algeria has come from a goal down to beat Jordan 2-1 in Santa Clara, San Francisco.

Nizar Al-Rashdan opened the scoring for the Jordanians in the 36th minute and were attempting to hold on in the second half.

But the dam wall finally burst and Algeria managed to find the back of the net twice through Nadhir Benbouali (69') and Amine Gouiri (82').

The win has Algeria up to third in Group J with three points, behind Austria on goal difference who they next meet on Sunday, June 28.

Meanwhile, the pointless Jordan take on the might of Lionel Messi and Argentina on the same day as they look for a consolation prize in the form of an unlikely upset.

SOMETHING'S UP WITH WORLD CUP BALL

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart has cast doubt on the legitimacy of the ball being used at the World Cup as stoppers continue to be beaten by the same style of strike.

Hart, who is working for the BBC as a pundit, has been critical of the Adidas Trionda earlier in the competition and went nuclear after the France v Iraq clash.

The issue Hart says is with the unpredictable nature of the ball’s flight on long range shots.

“I am seeing this goal way too many times at a World Cup for there not to be something up with that football," Hart said.

“It is that shoulder height, as soon as they are not using a curling technique and that ball is not moving or spinning, the goalkeepers are struggling.

“Kylian Mbappe gets it out of his feet, of course there are a few defenders in the way and that makes it difficult for (Iraq goalkeeper) Ahmed (Basil), but he has his eyes on it from this moment on.

“Watch the trajectory of the ball, it is not moving.

“It is not right in the corner – this is not me coming for the goalkeeper because I have seen this with Mendy, Zidane, Pickford – they just cannot seem to get their timing right with this World Cup football with anything above shoulder height that is not a curled effort.

“As it leaves (Mbappe’s foot) a World Cup goalkeeper can get a step in and dive, but it seems as if it is on him before he can even make contact.

“How many times at the top level do you see a goalkeeper touch it and it go in? Very rarely, because they are good enough that if they do get contact they get it wide.

“At this tournament, I am noticing goalkeepers getting a touch on it above shoulder height but not being able to keep it out. Something’s up.

“It is the brain calculation of a goalkeeper. You see it, you get set, you get your movement in and you fly after the ball. At this tournament they are getting set and flying after it but it is just not matching up with what they are doing daily.

“There is so little margin for error at this level, but I am telling you that he will expect to save that.

“Lower down they are timing it sharp, but as soon as that ball has not got spin on it, it seems to be on them before they can react and they are not making the save when they do make contact."

GOLDEN BOOT RACE
5 - Lionel Messi (ARG)
4 - Kylian Mbappe (FRA)
4 - Erling Haaland (NOR)
3 - Deniz Undav (GER)
3 - Jonathan David (CAN)

IT'S ALL OVER IN NEW YORK

A late second goal from Ismaila Sarr pulls one back for Senegal but it's not enough. They've gone down 3-2 to Norway.

Erling Haaland netted twice after sub Marcus Holmgren Pedersen's opener and Norway join France on six points.

That next Group I fixture between those two teams promises to be a beauty.

Next up is Jordan v Algeria from Santa Clara.

BRACE IS THE WORD

Haaland, not wanting to be outdone by any of his rivals, has got two to his name along with Mbappe and Messi. Astonishing record he has for his country.

That's 59 goals in 52 caps for Norway.

MBAPPE CHASING MESSI

Watch out Mr Messi, you're only two ahead now! Kylian Mbappe and Dembele capitalise on an absolute howler form the keeper, well his defender to be honest.

They totally fluffed their lines in the area, defender passing back for a goal kick, keeper missed it so enter Dembele, the lightest of touches to Mbappe and back of the net!

A gift of the most mortifying level. Back to back braces for Mbappe at this World Cup.

"On a plate for Mbappe, what a mistake,"

WORLD CUP TOP SCORERS

• 18 Lionel Messi (Argentina, 2006-2026)
• 16 Miroslav Klose (Germany, 2002-2014)
• 16 Kylian Mbappe (France, 2018-2026)
• 15 Ronaldo (Brazil, 1994-2006)
• 14 Gerd Muller (West Germany, 1970-1974)

DEMBELE HAS HIS FIRST!

Stunning goal from the Frenchman Ousmane Dembele and you've got to feel a little for the Iraqi goalkeeper. Excellent control with the first touch and it's slotted into the far post perfectly.

And that was his last contribution for the match as he is substituted. Fair play too. Protect the stars.

GERMANY STAR OUT

Germany have seen defender Nico Schlotterbeck ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup after he sustained an ankle injury late in their victory over Ivory Coast.

"We'll miss Schlotti enormously on the pitch," Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann said. "He's an outstanding defender and his ability to play out from the back is exceptional. He could have played a big role at this World Cup.

"We all tried to lift his spirits yesterday and fortunately, he's a very positive person who is already looking ahead. The fact that he's staying here with the squad for now is a lovely gesture because he also has an influence off the pitch."

MATCH TO RESTART

After a two hours delay, the players are warming up, fans have been invited to go back to their seats and we will have play resuming in Philly shortly.

So we will have the France v Iraq second half playing out at the same time as Norway v Senegal. Multi screens at the ready folks.

MATCH SUSPENDED

Lightning strikes have delayed the second half between France and Iraq in Philly. Storms have wreaked havoc in the state for the last few days and the first half weather was pretty miserable for the France and Iraq players.

Bucketing down rain and as a result of the storm the second half will be pushed back.

The resumption of the match has been extended until at least 9am AEST with further strikes and wild weather expected around the stadium.

We have now (obviously) ticked over 9am and still not football being played. there's a genuine possibility we could be looking at match abandoned.

Should that become the case, FIFA rules stipulate that the match must be completed; the points are not awarded based on the current 1-0 score, nor are th spoils shared. So there's a fixturing headache for the organisers.

If the match is resheduled, it picks up where it ended - ie at half-time and the same players must be starting as finished.

A statement released by FIFA said: "Due to the adverse weather conditions and the risk of lightning in the vicinity of the stadium, the FIFA World Cup match between France and Iraq has been suspended.

"A 30 minute break has been announced, however the situation is still being observed to determine if further delays are anticipated.

"FIFA will follow the safety protocols established by the local authorities and the match will resume as soon as it is safe to do so."

MESSI v MARADONA

For SEN's Archie Thompson there is no doubt which Argentine sits at the top of the standings and it's a case of the apprentice becoming the master.

"He is better than Maradona," he said on SEN's The Global Game. "It’s a hard call and it’s a different time. It would be tough on a player to go these days back to then.

"But Messi is incredible. Maradona was a template of what an amazing player could be. The student has become the master with Messi.

"It’s also incredible to think that because of the backlash he got from Argentina fans he was questioning things and he did retire at one stage."

Blown away by Messi's achievements across the six World Cups he has played in, Thompson added: "It’s something else to add to his legacy. He has done so much in the world of football but when a record like that comes up, you can see that even he is excited about it.

"He had a glimpse of the summit – then again Kylian Mbappe is more than capable of breaking the record again. It’s taken Messi six World Cups to get close and now at the top.

"It’ll be interesting to see how many more he can score this World Cup. He has five already. It’s just incredible. He’s just a magician. He is 39 in a couple of days and as a team they probably haven’t got out of second gear."

WORLD CUP TOP SCORERS

• 18 Lionel Messi (Argentina, 2006-2026)
• 16 Miroslav Klose (Germany, 2002-2014)
• 15 Ronaldo (Brazil, 1994-2006)
• 15 Kylian Mbappe (France, 2018-2026)
• 14 Gerd Muller (West Germany, 1970-1974)

MBAPPE SCORES!

That's one down, three to go for him to catch Messi in the all-time list. An absolutely stunning strikes from Kylian Mbappe's left foot, 20 yards out and it sails across the face of goal into the top left corner.

Stunning goal on what is the Frenchman's 100th cap. It puts him on 15 World Cup goals, level with Brazilian Ronaldo. ALLEZ!

MESSI MAKES HISTORY

Three words we seem to keep on writing about the great Argentine. He went into his side's clash with Austria level in the men's standings with Miroslav Klose and one off equalling Brazilian legend Marta's tally of 17 in the women's.

Well he scored a brace didn't he just so there was no more equalling of records but instead he now stands as the out and out all-time World Cup top scorer with 18!

He could have gone one better if it weren't for this missed penalty - Alexander Schlager doing what he could for Austria in goal.

Messi also became joined Just Fontaine (1958) and Brazil's Jairzinho (1970) as the only three players to score in six consecutive World Cup matches.

Victory secured Argentina their spot in the knock-out stage as they look to defend their title.

"To be honest, I’m really happy about the win, especially as it’s such a crucial victory, hard-fought and well-earned, but one that gives us peace of mind for what lies ahead," Messi said afterwards.

"This is the World Cup; it was a very evenly matched, very intense match, and we’re happy to have picked up six points and to have already qualified."

There was one other bit of history but it won't be quite as welcomed - Messi has now missed more penalties than any other World Cup player.

Lauded by his peers.

"He is the a class above. I don't have the words. It is a great feeling that he is Argentinian. We have to cherish him. We deserved the win today," said Lisandro Martinez.

Julian Alvarez added: "There isn't much to do say – we can all see that he (Messi) is the best in the world. I am helping the team as much as I can. We have started with our foot on the accelerator and we have to carry on like this."

TROUBLE FOR SALAH AND EGYPT

This seems strange.

Mo Salah and his Egypt teammates have been denied entry to Seattle ahead of their final group G match against Iran.

The weird bit is that they were already staying in the state of Washington, their training base is in Spokane, so why not allow them into Seattle?

In a statement released by the Egypt FA, national team boss Hossam Hassan said: “The security authorities refused the team’s request to stay in the city of Seattle as planned after the New Zealand match in the World Cup, and therefore the team’s delegation will return to the city of Spokane.

“The team had wanted to travel directly to Seattle to spare the players travel fatigue due to the numerous journeys in preparation for the Iran match on June 26, but following the security decision, the Egypt national team delegation will return to Spokane.”

Egypt secured a brilliant 3-1 win over New Zealand in Vancouver on Monday (AEST).