Lionel Messi etched his name further into World Cup folklore as Argentina defeated Algeria, with the 38-year-old scoring his first hat-trick at the tournament. The three goals moved him level with Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals, a record he is likely to surpass in the coming weeks.
Haaland Praises Messi
Erling Haaland was among those left astonished by Messi's performance, taking to Snapchat to declare: "Messi is a madman" alongside a crown emoji.
Scotland Supporter Tragedy
Sad news emerged overnight as Scotland fan Donny Strathie passed away in Boston at the age of 76. He had a ticket for the Tartan Army's upcoming match against Morocco, and his family has requested a tribute during that game.
Tuchel's Anthem Admission
England manager Thomas Tuchel held a press conference where he stated he is "not there yet" regarding singing the English national anthem.
Haaland and Mbappe in Goalscoring Form
Earlier, Haaland appeared to steal the spotlight from Kylian Mbappe with a brace against Iraq. Mbappe had scored twice in France's 3-1 win over Senegal, joining Folarin Balogun, Kai Havertz, and Elijah Just as joint-top scorers. Just netted his goals for New Zealand against Iran.
Iran Visa Issue Resolved
Iran faced a potential visa problem as winger Mehdi Torab was initially only permitted to enter the United States for their game against New Zealand. However, the issue was quickly resolved, and the 31-year-old, an unused substitute, will be available for the remaining group matches.
