18/06/2026

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THURSDAY • 18th JUNE 2026

p 28 Haaland double powers Norway

Goal machines

p 29 Mbappe sets the tone for Les Bleus

p 30 Magical night for Messi

S UPERSTARS shone in yesterday’s World Cup matches, with football greats Lionel Messi of Argentina, Norway’s Erling Haaland and Frenchman Kylian Mbappe scoring for fun. From Messi’s hattrick against Algeria, Haaland’s dou ble versus Iraq and Mbappe’s brace against Senegal, yes terday’s matches offered some succour to those backing the favourites. Messi is in the twilight of his career after moving to Major League Soccer in 2023, Haaland lost form in the middle of the Premier League season, and Mbappe suf fered a dip in the second half of his La Liga campaign. None of that applied yesterday, with all three players taking their chances to find the net. Mbappe saved France from a subpar performance with his second half strikes against Senegal, who were often the more dynamic before his first goal in the last third of the match. His second, which hurtled into the net, made him France’s all-time top scorer with 58, sur passing Olivier Giroud, as his side claimed a 3-1 win. Haaland, a dominant presence in English football who had struggled to Messi, Haaland and Mbappe give their teams perfect starts

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP » Lionel Messi celebrates scoring Argentina’s first goal

against Algeria during their Group J match at Kansas City Stadium in Missouri. – REUTERSPIC » France’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates against Senegal in their Group I match at the New York/New Jersey Stadium. – AFPPIC » Norway’s Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring against Iraq in Group I at the Boston Stadium in Massachusetts yesterday. – REUTERSPIC after scoring his team’s first goal

score in the middle of the season, showed his predatory instincts to help his team to a 4-1 victory.

But in the day’s penultimate match it was Messi who showed why he is con sidered by many to be the best player on the planet. Despite being past his peak, with his 39th birthday coming up, he scored his first World Cup hattrick in a 3-0 win. Messi is now level with World Cup record scorer Miroslav Klose on 16 goals. His first at a finals was scored on this date 20 years ago, when he was 18. – Reuters

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