Ranking the Top 9 Goals by Haaland, Kane, Mbappé, and Messi in World Cup 2026 Openers

World Cup 2026: Best Goals from Soccer's Leading Stars

The first two days of the 2026 World Cup brought some thrilling moments as Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, and Lionel Messi combined to score nine goals for their nations. Their performances helped secure important wins for Norway, England, France, and Argentina.

Ranking the Nine Goals

1. Mbappé’s 90+6 Minute Goal vs. SenegalJust when Senegal was closing the gap to 2-1, Mbappé stunned everyone with a last-minute strike that sealed France's victory. The shot was both precise and powerful, leaving goalkeeper Edouard Mendy no chance.
2. Messi’s 17th Minute Goal vs. AlgeriaThis goal began with a sharp pass from Rodrigo de Paul slicing through the Algerian defense. Messi’s/strong perfect first touch and quick turn allowed him to fire into the top right corner, setting the tone early.
3. Mbappé’s 66th Minute Goal vs. SenegalMbappé made a clever run into the penalty area, skillfully opening his hips to one-touch the ball toward the far post while maintaining momentum.
4. Messi’s 76th Minute Hat Trick Goal vs. AlgeriaMessi created space before unleashing a shot that pierced through four defenders and beat goalkeeper Luca Zidane for his first-ever World Cup hat trick.
5. Haaland’s 29th Minute Goal vs. IraqMarking Norway’s first World Cup goal since 1998, Haaland made a smart run to the back post and slid to finish a cross into an empty net, doubling Norway’s lead.
6. Kane’s 42nd Minute Header vs. CroatiaKane matched Gary Lineker’s record of 10 World Cup goals for England with a powerful header from a Declan Rice corner. He is now third among active players in World Cup goals.
7. Messi’s 60th Minute Rebound Goal vs. AlgeriaAfter Alexis Mac Allister’s shot, Messi anticipated the rebound better than any defender and was first to strike the ball into the net.
8. Haaland’s 43rd Minute Goal vs. IraqA defensive mistake from Iraq gifted Haaland the ball ahead of the goalkeeper, allowing him to score easily after a careless back pass.
9. Kane’s 12th Minute Penalty vs. CroatiaKane’s/strong initial penalty was saved by Dominik Livaković, but a retake was granted after the keeper moved forward early. Kane calmly converted on his second attempt.