FIFA World Cup 2026: Superstars Show Up With Multiple Goals, Ronaldo Left In The Dust?

As Kylian Mbappe and France faced the might of Senegal, it didn’t cause any trouble for the intimidating attack of France. Mbappe would score 2 goals to make the sole difference in a World Cup contest that was beginning to look concerning as Senegal’s Ibrahim Mbaye cut France’s lead in half in stoppage time. Mbappe would score minutes later, killing any hopes of a comeback for the African nation. Mbappe’s consistent and stable performances have led France to the finals in the last 2 editions of the World Cup, acting as no less than an unstoppable force on the big stage.

Norway’s Erling Haaland faced up against Iraq in their opening match. Erling would open and then give Norway back the lead with a promising first half, proving why he finds himself on equal footing with the might of Mbappe in the football world. A largely subdued half from Haaland meant that the rest of the playing 11 had to step up, eventually giving Norway the precious points. An inevitable player of extraordinary skill, the first opportunity on the biggest stage did not go to waste as Haaland scored 2 goals, but he has more to prove as the hopes of a nation rely on the stalwart striker.

Argentina faced home stadium favourites Algeria at the Kansas City stadium to mount a successful title defence. No less than proof of life, Lionel Messi would lead the champions from the front to victory. A hat trick to equal the record for most goals at the World Cup, Messi grabbed all the headlines and gave their opponents much to think about for the rest of the tournament. Questions hanging on his performances after Messi decided that the MLS was his calling, this match really proved the legacy that the legendary player has built in the past few decades.

England and Croatia made for a highly electric matchup as both giants looked to outperform the other’s attack. A strong Croatian defence kept the talented England attack at bay, but could only manage so much as England scored 4 goals behind the goal. Harry Kane would convert from the spot, on his second attempt, giving England the lead that would be equalised at minute 36. That would bring a flurry of goals for both sides as Kane put another one behind a few minutes later, which would again be equalised seconds before half-time. In the possession of a questionable defence, England would pull it back with 2 more goals in the second half, snatching 3 points from an entertaining matchup. Harry Kane’s goals give him the record for most goals scored by an English player, proving his reputation on the global stage. Pinning the high expectations of a nation on the back of a player at his peak, Kane would be doing his best to not disappoint millions.

Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo was also on show against the DR Congo, not finding his own in attacking prowess. Ending the match with no contributions in attack, Ronaldo was the victim of criticism and disapproval worldwide as Portugal drew against DR Congo due to a dismal performance. With a superior handle on the possession, Portugal failed to convert opportunities in front of the goal after an impressive start. As the Portuguese players looked up to Ronaldo for a heroic showing to give the European Coastal country a victory, he seemed to get more in the way of goal-scoring opportunities than convert them. Starting on the wrong foot for his nation, Ronaldo is one of the few superstars who couldn’t convert in the opening match. With what seems to be his last World Cup, Ronaldo would look to end his career with possession of one of the few prestigious trophies he hasn’t been able to get his hands on, the illustrious FIFA World Cup. With the whole world relying on his skills to match that of Messi, Ronaldo has a lot to do to catch up, but it is a long tournament that will give the legend more chances to prove his skills on the biggest stage.

As a one-match showing, Messi clearly leads the list with a hat trick that proves he’s on the biggest stage with the skills to back his team to another World Cup. Mbappe comes right behind for his brace under high pressure, including a stoppage-time goal that guaranteed France the victory. Haaland and Kane both hold similar value as they show a half-sided performance, scoring their brace in the first half. Albeit Kane had a tougher defence to break into, Haaland had the pressure of a first-time World Cup appearance along with a squad that looked up to him for all the goals, putting them on equal footing. Ronaldo would bring up the rear with a severe lack of contribution in the opponent’s square, failing in front of goal more than once. With expectations from across the world, he has a lot more to do to get on par with Messi, his long-time rival.

This article was written by Arnav Madhura, a student of Krea University, interning with Deccan Chronicle.