Messi and Mbappe Announce Themselves as Spain Stumble on Day of World Cup Drama

The 2026 World Cup produced one of its most vivid days yet as the tournament's two most celebrated players delivered performances to match their billing. Lionel Messi answered every lingering question about his fitness with a hat trick as Argentina opened their campaign in commanding fashion, while Kylian Mbappe scored twice to give France a 3-1 win over Senegal in Group I. On the same day that the competition's two heavyweights laid down their markers, Spain — widely expected to challenge for the title — were held to a draw by Cape Verde, a result that left Mikel Merino describing his side as 'dealing with the mourning'. Erling Haaland also scored twice for Norway against Iraq, completing a day of group-stage football that underlined the gap between the tournament's frontrunners and those caught looking flat.

Off the pitch, Thomas Partey's day ended in a Canadian court, where a judge rejected the Ghana captain's emergency appeal to enter the country. Denied entry after failing to declare rape charges against him, Partey will miss Ghana's opener against Panama with no clear path back to the squad. Separately, Real Madrid used the tournament backdrop to confirm the signing of Bernardo Silva from Manchester City, while Brazil continued to monitor Neymar, who trained alone on the sidelines as he works through a calf injury that has yet to allow him full-squad participation.