Three of football’s biggest superstars lit up the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, before Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating night a day later as the spotlight shifted.
Kylian Mbappé stole the headlines first, scoring twice against Senegal to become France’s all-time leading goalscorer in international football. His pace and precision once again underlined his status as one of the tournament’s standout performers.
Later that day, Erling Haaland made a dream World Cup debut, netting a brace in Norway’s victory over Iraq. His physical dominance and ruthless finishing immediately translated onto football’s biggest stage.
The following match saw Lionel Messi deliver yet another iconic performance, scoring a hat-trick for Argentina against Algeria. The treble moved him level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the joint-leading goalscorer in World Cup finals history, further cementing his legacy in the competition.
On Wednesday, however, attention turned to Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who was unable to match the exploits of his rivals. Portugal laboured to a 1-1 draw against DR Congo, with Ronaldo struggling to make a decisive impact.
The 39-year-old had the chance to make history by becoming the first player to score in six different World Cups, but instead endured a difficult evening, extending a run of nine matches at major tournaments without a goal.
As frustration grew, Ronaldo spurned a late opportunity for a winner when his run into the box blocked a cut-back intended for Bruno Fernandes, who was better positioned to score.
Speaking on Fox Sports, former France striker Thierry Henry criticised the decision-making, suggesting the moment reflected a wider issue.
“If he goes into the six-yard box, the defender would have had to follow him and it would have been a tap-in for Fernandes,” Henry said. “Because he wants to score, he goes into the path of the pass. That’s my thing — the team needs to score, not you.”
