World Cup 2026: Three big stars — Messi, Mbappé, Haaland — are creating miracles beyond imagination
The 2026 World Cup has seen Messi, Mbappé and Haaland shine, each leading their team with incredible performances, creating an unforgettable tournament.
When you hear about the Eiffel Tower as a child, you'll see images of it on TV and in movies, but until you stand in front of it, you don't truly understand its enormity and impressiveness. And when you stand before it, even though you've seen it many times before, you realize that it's even better than you imagined. If you know anything about football, you've heard about the greatness of Argentina under Leo Messi, the talent of France under Kylian Mbappé, and the relentless power of Norway with Erling Haaland. But until you see those countries, and those stars, in action, you won't be able to fully understand their awesomeness. America is currently experiencing the full performance of Messi, Mbappé and Haaland, and it's as impressive as we've heard. How fortunate we are to witness the glory of this generation right before our eyes. In terms of appeal, Monday must rank as one of the most dazzling days in World Cup history. Three of the world's greatest players, each producing stunning goalscoring moments, led their nation into the knockout stages. And what's more impressive is: This is the second time they've performed this feat in this World Cup. In the first match of the day, Messi scored both goals to help Argentina win 2-0 against Austria, and he is now the top scorer in World Cup history. Yes, this is partly due to his tenacity, but only iconic players don't score all five of their country's goals so far in a World Cup, and only iconic players can't do what Messi did: (Yes, American audiences have seen a version of Messi play for Inter Miami in the last few seasons. But with all due respect to Messi's teammates and opponents in MLS, it's like seeing the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas. You know there's a better version somewhere.) The man Messi beat in the 2022 final, Mbappé, also scored two goals in France's 3-0 win over Iraq, and he's only two goals behind Messi in the all-time World Cup scoring charts. Sometimes you score goals with attacking brilliance, and sometimes you score goals because the defense makes a serious mistake. They all count equally: And then there's Haaland, the "cyborg" from Norway who's been scorching Group I. He's already four goals into this World Cup after scoring twice against Senegal on Monday, including a shot that nearly blew up the net. We were in the midst of a World Cup that could stand among the greatest World Cups of all time. Messi (37), Mbappé (27) and Haaland (25) have all been or are on the path to immortality, and in years to come, we will look back on this World Cup as a moment when the past and the future shared the field. Messi is almost certainly playing in his last World Cup, and his place at the top is beyond doubt. But if Mbappé and Haaland continue to play as long as Messi, they will continue to tear apart defenses and the spirit of their opponents until the 2038 World Cup. What each learns here will stay with them for decades to come. (Oh, and if all that isn't enough for you: Spain's Lamine Yamal is still lurking out there, waiting to make his mark. Will that happen this year?) The pressures on each player remain immense. Their upcoming matches in America over the next four weeks will play a key role in shaping each man's legacy. Soon, starting with the match between France and Norway on Friday, these giants will start facing each other. And an already excellent World Cup will shine even brighter.
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