Messi hat-trick and early upsets shape World Cup opening week
Al Jazeera reported Argentina's captain leads the Golden Boot race, while Spain and Portugal opened with draws against lower-ranked opponents.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
3 min read
The 2026 FIFA World Cup’s opening round of group matches has already produced record-chasing performances, early upsets and new tournament stories, according to Al Jazeera. Lionel Messi’s first World Cup hat-trick, Spain’s draw with Cape Verde and DR Congo’s result against Portugal were among the main developments from the first week.
Al Jazeera reported that Messi’s hat-trick for Argentina also matched the record for most World Cup goals. The performance put him at the front of the early Golden Boot race with three goals after the first round of group fixtures.
Records and scoring races
Kylian Mbappe also made an early mark, according to Al Jazeera, becoming France’s all-time leading scorer during its opening World Cup match. Mbappe scored twice in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal and is two goals short of matching the all-time World Cup goals total, Al Jazeera reported.
The Golden Boot race has started quickly. Al Jazeera reported that seven players sit behind Messi on two goals, including England’s Harry Kane, Norway’s Erling Haaland and Mbappe.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s tournament began more quietly. Al Jazeera said the Portugal forward drew scrutiny after a subdued display in Portugal’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo on Wednesday.
Underdogs make their point
Spain, described by Al Jazeera as a leading title contender, opened with a goalless draw against Cape Verde. Al Jazeera noted that Cape Verde, an archipelago west of Africa with a population of about half a million, sits 65 places below world No. 2 Spain in the FIFA rankings.
DR Congo also took one of the first round’s notable results by holding fifth-ranked Portugal 1-1, according to Al Jazeera. Yoane Wissa scored DR Congo’s first World Cup goal, a moment Al Jazeera said was celebrated across the country.
Curacao’s debut brought another first-week milestone despite a heavy defeat. Germany beat Curacao 7-1, but Al Jazeera reported that fans of the Caribbean island, the smallest country to play at a World Cup, still celebrated Livano Comenencia scoring on the sport’s biggest stage.
Fans and off-field scenes
The first week also produced a visible footwear trend. Al Jazeera reported that several players wore bright pink boots from brands including Nike, Adidas and Puma, with the colour described by manufacturers as “electric fuchsia.”
Supporters helped define the early tournament atmosphere in several host cities, according to Al Jazeera. Brazil fans brought green-and-yellow shirts, flags and drums to New York, while Moroccan supporters added red flares, and Scotland’s Tartan Army drank heavily in Boston pubs during the first weekend.
In Mexico, a duck became part of the tournament’s fan culture. Al Jazeera reported that Merlin, a domesticated duck wearing a miniature Mexico shirt and custom duck socks, gained attention after a viral encounter on Reforma Avenue in Mexico City following Mexico’s match against South Africa.
The tournament now moves into its next group fixtures with several major storylines already in place. According to Al Jazeera’s first-week review, Messi leads the scoring race, Mbappe is closing on another World Cup record, and several lower-ranked teams have already made stronger starts than many expected.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.