World Cup: Messi makes history, Norway run riot
With Matchday One nearly finished in the World Cup, Ligue 1 McDonald's checks in on its stars across Algeria-Argentina and Norway-Iraq.
Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Given the wealth of talent at Algeria's disposal, this Group J game in Kansas City looked to be a tricky encounter, with the likes of Olympique de Marseille's Amine Gouiri and Riyad Mahrez giving Les Fennecs a surfeit of attacking options. However, the Argentines, who started with Gouiri's Marseille teammate Facundo Medina in the eleven, controlled the match from start to finish in an impressive start to the tournament.
Gouiri was joined in the Algeria lineup by Hicham Boudaoui (OGC Nice) and the LOSC duo of Aissa Mandi and Nabil Bentaleb, and though they were able to control possession for the most part, the potent Argentina attack made the most of its chances. Indeed, Messi had the ball in the net with less than five minutes gone, netting after a superb bit of skill by Lautaro Martínez, but the offside flag came up. Ten minutes later, there was no doubt, though, as Messi ran on to Rodrigo de Paul's through pass to lash the ball into the net from 25 meters.
He would strike again on the hour, pouncing after Algeria 'keeper Luca Zidane spilled the ball, and once more with fourteen minutes to play, finding the bottom corner from the edge of the area. Algeria had offered little threat throughout the match -- Emi Martínez didn't have a save to make, and the Argentine win was thoroughly deserved, earning a place in history for Messi, who joins Miroslav Klose as the all-time top scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals.
World Cup’s top scorer ever. Leo Messi. 🐐🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/Wit06lWjO9
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) June 17, 2026
Norway 4-1 Iraq
The evening's first match was played in Boston, as Norway faced Iraq in Group I. A Norway side which saw former Ligue 1 players Patrick Berg (RC Lens) and Leo Østigard (Stade Rennais) come off the bench also were on one side of a heavy result, with Erling Haaland scoring twice in the first half. Østigard would score with fifteen minutes to play, and the final margin came as a result of an own goal in added time. Norway will next face Senegal next Monday in New York, while Iraq will take on France in Philadelphia.
Read more:
>> World Cup: France ease past Senegal with confident display
