World Cup 2026: Ranking the Nine Goals by Haaland, Kane, Mbappé, and Messi

The opening days of the 2026 World Cup saw some of soccer’s biggest names find the back of the net with style. Erling Haaland from Norway, England’s Harry Kane, France’s Kylian Mbappé, and Argentina’s Lionel Messi scored a combined nine goals in less than two days as their teams secured wins.

Ranking the Goals

1. Kylian Mbappé, 90+6 minutes vs. SenegalMbappé’s late winner stunned Senegal after they had closed the gap to 2-1. His strike was a remarkable finish that left goalkeeper Edouard Mendy helpless, sealing a dramatic victory for France.
2. Lionel Messi, 17th minute vs. AlgeriaThis goal began with Rodrigo de Paul delivering a sharp pass that sliced through Algeria’s defense. Messi’s quick first touch allowed him to turn and shoot into the top right corner with precision.
3. Kylian Mbappé, 66th minute vs. SenegalMbappé made a brilliant run inside the box, managing to open his hips just enough to send a one-touch shot toward the far post while continuing his momentum.
4. Lionel Messi, 76th minute vs. AlgeriaMessi created space for his shot by slowing down and maneuvering past four defenders. His effort found the net, completing his first-ever World Cup hat trick.
5. Erling Haaland, 29th minute vs. IraqHaaland’s first World Cup goal since Norway’s return to the tournament was classic Haaland. He sprinted to the back post and slid to finish a cross into an empty net, pushing Norway ahead 2-0.
6. Harry Kane, 42nd minute vs. CroatiaKane matched Gary Lineker’s record of 10 World Cup goals for England with a powerful header from a Declan Rice corner. He ranks third among active players for World Cup goals and is one of only 16 men to score at least 10 in the tournament’s history.
7. Lionel Messi, 60th minute vs. AlgeriaAfter Alexis Mac Allister’s shot, Messi anticipated the rebound better than any Algerian defender around him, allowing him to reach the ball first and score.
8. Erling Haaland, 43rd minute vs. IraqA careless back pass by Iraq’s defense let Haaland intercept the ball before it reached keeper Jalal Hassan, setting up an easy goal for the Norwegian star.
9. Harry Kane, 12th minute vs. CroatiaKane’s penalty came after the Croatian keeper saved his initial spot-kick but was penalized for moving early. Kane calmly converted the retake, giving England an early lead in their 4-2 victory.