Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.
Published at :June 17, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Modified at :June 17, 2026 at 3:09 PM
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
Lionel Messi struck the 2026 tournament’s first hat-trick.
Some of the world’s best talents made their FIFA World Cup 2026 cameo on matchday six. They did not let anyone down. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland all had spectacular tournament starts.
Mbappe became France’s all-time top scorer with 58 goals after starting the game with a spectacular double against Senegal. As Norway celebrated its much-anticipated return to the international scene, Haaland also scored twice.
But Messi was the most impressive of them all, leading Argentina, the reigning champions, to a convincing victory over Algeria with his first FIFA World Cup hat-trick. The maestro joined Miroslav Klose at the top of the all-time scoring list with 16 goals during a record-breaking sixth FIFA World Cup finals participation.
In the day’s last game, Austria triumphed against debutants Jordan, who scored their first tournament goal, to celebrate their first World Cup comeback since France in 1998.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JUNE 16: Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Algeria at Kansas City Stadium on June 16, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images)
Rank
Player
Goals
1
Lionel Messi
3
2
Kai Havertz
2
3
Yasin Ayari
2
4
Elijah Just
2
5
Raúl Jiménez
1
6
Erling Haaland
2
7
Kylian Mbappe
2
8
Folarin Balogun
2
9
Mauricio
1
10
Giovanni Reyna
1
FIFA World Cup 2026: Top assists
Joshua Kimmich of Germany has two assists so far. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images)
Rank
Player
Assist
1
Joshua Kimmich
2
2
Alexander Isak
2
3
Ryan Gravenberch
2
4
Denis Undav
2
5
Chris Wood
2
FIFA World Cup 2026: Most clean sheets
Vozinha of Cape Verde (Courtesy: Getty)
Rank
Goalkeeper
Cleansheets
1
Emiliano Martinez
1
2
Patrick Beach
1
3
Angus Gunn
1
4
Yahia Fofana
1
5
Vozinha
1
Which player finished matchday six with the most goals?
After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.