FIFA World Cup 2026 :Canada/Mexico/United States: Discussion Thread

[SmartCharpa]

All around the world, Messi is the talk of the town and that is totally unbeatable as he once again proved his class in a grand style. He claimed the highest goal scorer in the World Cup yesterday with a super hattrick giving Argentina a 3-0 clean win against Algeria.

After  the 2016 retirement speculations, it was though that was the last dance for the legend but that was actually a breakthrough for the World Cup winners in 2020 and a truly deserved win. Messi has carried the Argentina team like a true hero and it is really nice to see him back in the World Cup yet again because mucb would be expected from the Argentine.

After the victory against Algeria, Messi is now the top scorer in the history of the World Cup at the moment, we don’t know which player will be able to break the record before the end of the tournament. It was unbelievable for Messi to scored three goals in the opening game of the tournament, he is now the oldest player to score a hat trick in a single tournament, Ronaldo is the only player that can break this record if he is able to score three goals in a single game.

Leo Messi has won the World Cup, and he is really enjoying his last dance of the tournament. He has proved himself that he can still play at his top level. Many people think his career has finish after some injuries before the World. I believe the knockout stage will determine how far the Argentina team will go in the World Cup, because they will like to win it for the second time in a row.

[$crypto$]

Portugal started the match against Congo very strongly and scored an early goal. I thought the game would follow the same script as Germany vs Curacao, with Portugal dominating just as much. But after it became 1-0, the game slowed down. The Portuguese almost stopped attacking and just passed the ball around in midfield, trying to keep possession and playing way too cautiously. And Congo punished Portugal for that, equalizing to make it 1-1. I hope the Portuguese finally start playing in the second half, because they won't win the World Cup with this kind of performance.

This is just the beginning, I hope that in the second half Portugal will win the match easily, if they are held to a draw or lose this could be embarrassing especially since Ronaldo did not bring his team to victory will be ridiculed on social media.

But I believe in the second half there will be a different scheme of play from Portugal, the first half won unexpectedly because Congo managed to score through Wissa's header with his cross, the second half has started.

[eaLiTy]

The goal in the 17th minute was incredible, scored from outside the box and Messi once again scored his second goal in the 60th minute. The odds for Argentina before the match were crazy. I am hopefully waiting to see a hat-trick from Messi.  

You got what you wished for . He just scored a hat-trick and was subbed off right after.
Mission accomplished!

It was a beautiful moment to see him score his hat-trick and the goals were incredible.  

~
His country Argentina won the trophy in the last World Cup and it would not be surprising if he wins the trophy in this World Cup too.

It is a real possibility that Messi could repeat that feat once again and lift the World Cup.

~
Portugal is 99% certain to win the match, and they are only being given 1.28? IMO, it should have been more like 1.07 or 1.08. It seems like Portugal is being underestimated here. Should I place a bet in favor of Portugal? Odds are too attractive for them.

Portugal's victory seemed certain before the match, with João Neves scoring the first goal for Portugal and the disappointing factor was that Cristiano Ronaldo rarely received the ball, and he lacked the explosive speed he once had.

DR Congo made history by scoring an equalizer at the end of the first half. Disappointingly, the Portugal defense was pathetic and no one was marking the players, which provided DR Congo with enough space to score the equalizer easily.

I really hope Portugal cleans up their act in the second half.

[MK-74]

The first half of the match between Portugal and DR Congo ended 1–1.
Portugal have dominated the game, but they conceded an equalizer in the closing minutes of the first half.
I still think Portugal will win the match, although they are struggling to convert their chances.

The biggest match of the evening will be between England and Croatia, as two strong teams face each other.
England are the favorites, but Croatia are also a very good team and should not be underestimated.

[Ruttoshi]

That last minute equaliser was impressive.
I don't see anything wrong with Portugal (except maybe a bit of underestimating of their opponent) they still play well but Congo looked like a world class team as well in the first half.

They had to run quite a lot though as the Portuguese chose to possess the ball most of the time. Let's see if the Congolese have enough stamina left to score more or secure a draw.

That goal was a shocker to the Portuguese because they thought that they have ended the first half with a one goal lead but it ended up in a draw. Both goals were scored with a header.

The second half has just begun and Congo is still holding to the ground as they're coming out to play Portugal without fear. They need to the careful because the Portuguese are dangerous in their attack.

[Fiatless]

Despite Argentina incredible victory today, with Messi scoring a hat trick, if you look at some of the highlights from the match, especially this one https://x.com/Isaactimi2/status/2067108057683812367, can you say it was a serious foul?
Because social media is abuzz with discussion, it's certainly fueling the perception that FIFA is trying to get away with things like this involving Messi.

It was a clumsy foul that should have resulted in a straight red card. I was wondering why VAR officials didn't review it and call the attention of the centre referee. This is a clear indication that some key players, like Leonel Messi, are given preferential treatment in some tournaments.

I am so sure that if it were another player that enaged in this dangerous tackle, he would have been sanctioned.

[Rengga Jati]

Haaland started the match in the first half, and then doubled it before halftime.

Maybe in this World Cup we're going to have a very huge competition for the golden boot. Mbappe has already started the competition well, scoring two goals; Haaland with the response, and now we wait for other players. Someone's time for the children is over; that is we've watched our game and they've played and that the real football is the World Cup talking about the teams having the OG's in them We start tomorrow. Argentina go in first, it will be a good mood For Messi if he can start scoring or assisting from the very first game for Argentina,

Currently, the top scorer at the FIFA World Cup is Messi with 3 goals, followed by several other national team players with the same number of goals, including Holland and Mbappé. However, the most interesting performance is actually Messi, who was so brilliant in the first match.

By the way, Portugal is currently playing against Congo. Unfortunately, Ronaldo has yet to contribute a goal or assist. Portugal's first goal was by Joao Neves, assisted by P. Neto. Unfortunately, at the end of the first half, Congo equalized, leaving the score at 1-1 in the 55th minute.

Will Ronaldo fail to return to his brilliant form at the World Cup? It's uncertain, as this is his first match. But it will certainly be compared to Messi's 3-goal haul.

[Adbitco]

I'm still very much in support of the French team, I just don't know why but I have been a fan of them since the 2018 world cup in Russia, I supported them in last world cup and I'm still supporting them in this. For this very record, it's very easy for Mbappe to break this record without huddle, infact I think he will do it this very world cup. Mbappe will still win the world cup golden boot again just as he did in Qatar. He has 2 more group stage games to play and w goal from him will mean his equalled Klose and Messi isn't going to be a problem at all for him as he will still be available in the next world cup if it doesn't happen in this very one.

[Alex077]

Ronaldo is so competitive, you just know that he would have been annoyed seeing Messi star last night
I think he will be trying so hard to score or assist tonight, he is going to be extra motivated to show the world he’s still got it.

There is no doubt that Ronaldo's mentality is on another level. It is needless to say that the fire burning inside him after seeing Messi's hat trick last night. However against a defensive side like DR Congo, Portugal is already 1-0 ahead thanks to Neves goal. ohh while i am writing its turned into 1-1.

Portugal may take the match out but it is wrong to expect fireworks from Ronaldo in every match. Otherwise, as Nahl say, team first!

I think Ronaldo will be more thinking how to win from this game rather than pushing himself to scores more goals to maintain his record so, hopefully he won't be selfish and considers team winning is important than personal because against DR Congo, certainly Portugal has good chances to gets 3 points and as long as the players can playing as a team i think it won't be difficult for Portugal to win from this game

At the level of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, there is nothing like selfishness because they understand that the team winning the game is more important than their personal awards. Besides, if they had been selfish in their career, they wouldn't have gotten to where they are today. Ronaldo scoring tonight will only happen when he deserve to score and not out of desperation, so don't get me wrong. He is a very good forward and happens to know how to position himself to get the ball always.

This is true for legends like him. Ronaldo is already making history as the oldest starter. Although Portugal has dominated from starting of the match. I could see DR Congo is defending very deeply.

In such kind of match heavy bets should not be placed on individual player. And match could go either way.

[ASloveapg]

France really surprised everyone in the match against France yesterday. They couldn't do anything in the first half, their performance in the first half was very bad, but in the second half they suddenly became aggressive at the last minute, Kylian Mbappe suddenly started to show great performance in the last 40 minutes. With great attack, they won the match 3-1.

Congo attacked more than Portugal now, Portugal has more possession of the ball, but they couldn't attack, Portugal can't create chances. Portugal needs to be more aggressive. The match is now in the 65th minute, they have about 30 minutes left, Portugal needs to score now.

[Jaycoinz]

Despite Argentina incredible victory today, with Messi scoring a hat trick, if you look at some of the highlights from the match, especially this one https://x.com/Isaactimi2/status/2067108057683812367, can you say it was a serious foul?
Because social media is abuzz with discussion, it's certainly fueling the perception that FIFA is trying to get away with things like this involving Messi.

It was a clumsy foul that should have resulted in a straight red card. I was wondering why VAR officials didn't review it and call the attention of the centre referee. This is a clear indication that some key players, like Leonel Messi, are given preferential treatment in some tournaments.

I am so sure that if it were another player that enaged in this dangerous tackle, he would have been sanctioned.

C'mon man, don't say you don't know why because if it was another player we all know the outcome of the results but since it was Messi, I know they would pardon it. The tackle was so reckless and it's a straight Red card. It's just so crazy when you get to see the video replay of what happened and it get a whole crazier when you see that he was actually let off the charge without any card or any warning at all.

[HustleZ]

The first half of the match between Portugal and DR Congo ended 1–1.
Portugal have dominated the game, but they conceded an equalizer in the closing minutes of the first half.
I still think Portugal will win the match, although they are struggling to convert their chances.

Portugal’s whole problem that is bringing the team down is ronaldo. He has missed 2 clear chances for portugal. He isn’t having the same inpact messi had yesterday though messi was miles ahead in performance. Ronaldo’s fans are really delusional and a friend of mine said that he will score 2 goals but as we speak now its the 76 minute and ronaldo’s impact on the team is 0. If he is subbed then i see some chances of their momentum building up.

[Chilwell]

Portugal started the match against Congo very strongly and scored an early goal. I thought the game would follow the same script as Germany vs Curacao, with Portugal dominating just as much. But after it became 1-0, the game slowed down. The Portuguese almost stopped attacking and just passed the ball around in midfield, trying to keep possession and playing way too cautiously. And Congo punished Portugal for that, equalizing to make it 1-1. I hope the Portuguese finally start playing in the second half, because they won't win the World Cup with this kind of performance.

This is just the beginning, I hope that in the second half Portugal will win the match easily, if they are held to a draw or lose this could be embarrassing especially since Ronaldo did not bring his team to victory will be ridiculed on social media.

But I believe in the second half there will be a different scheme of play from Portugal, the first half won unexpectedly because Congo managed to score through Wissa's header with his cross, the second half has started.

They are in second half now and it hasn't appear that Portugal will win because Dr Congo are actually playing very well, I know a lot of people will be eager that Ronaldo should score just because his rival did the same thing to their team yesterday, i don't think they should even expect more from him at this age because he has done so well for his country.

We should not give up yet because they are still time, and the way they are going I expect to see a victory from their side, they have almost 15 minutes to go and I think that is enough to change the narration.

[Varnquister]

Argentina managed to win the match against Algeria thanks to Messi’s three goals. Messi has now tied the record for most goals scored in the World Cup. If he scores one more goal, he will go down in history as the player with the most goals in World Cup history. If we consider that Messi will score at least 3–4 more goals, the gap will continue to widen. We’re still early in the tournament, and I think Argentina has the roster to make it to the semifinals. Since they’ll play a lot of matches on their way to the semifinals, it seems likely that Messi will score at least three more goals.

[Tmoonz]

All around the world, Messi is the talk of the town and that is totally unbeatable as he once again proved his class in a grand style. He claimed the highest goal scorer in the World Cup yesterday with a super hattrick giving Argentina a 3-0 clean win against Algeria.

After  the 2016 retirement speculations, it was though that was the last dance for the legend but that was actually a breakthrough for the World Cup winners in 2020 and a truly deserved win. Messi has carried the Argentina team like a true hero and it is really nice to see him back in the World Cup yet again because mucb would be expected from the Argentine.

After the victory against Algeria, Messi is now the top scorer in the history of the World Cup at the moment, we don’t know which player will be able to break the record before the end of the tournament. It was unbelievable for Messi to scored three goals in the opening game of the tournament, he is now the oldest player to score a hat trick in a single tournament, Ronaldo is the only player that can break this record if he is able to score three goals in a single game.

Leo Messi has won the World Cup, and he is really enjoying his last dance of the tournament. He has proved himself that he can still play at his top level. Many people think his career has finish after some injuries before the World. I believe the knockout stage will determine how far the Argentina team will go in the World Cup, because they will like to win it for the second time in a row.

Smiles, why this so much hype on him, what he did was normal, yes scoring a hat-trick in a world cup is no childs play no doubt, but why you guys making it look as if no one had done it before, at least Kylian Mbappe scored this same called hat-trick against this same Messi and everywhere was not this loud, like this is his first game of the tournament and he scored a hat-trick that doesn't mean he's won it already, remember Saudi Arabian won Argentina in their first game in the 2022 FIFA world cup and that winning was actually the talk of the day to the extent the whole nation celebrated that win, but yet they didn't win the trophy with that win and that celebration, so why you guys making this look like it's one big deal.

[Black Mbaye]

Argentina managed to win the match against Algeria thanks to Messi’s three goals. Messi has now tied the record for most goals scored in the World Cup. If he scores one more goal, he will go down in history as the player with the most goals in World Cup history. If we consider that Messi will score at least 3–4 more goals, the gap will continue to widen. We’re still early in the tournament, and I think Argentina has the roster to make it to the semifinals. Since they’ll play a lot of matches on their way to the semifinals, it seems likely that Messi will score at least three more goals.

I also think Lionel Messi won't stay. He'll score even more goals and break this record. Cristiano Ronaldo isn't even in the top five in this ranking. I think Messi's clear advantage over Ronaldo lies in the World Cup. Because Messi is a World Cup winner, while Cristiano Ronaldo is missing this trophy from his collection, and his biggest dream is to win the World Cup.

[HustleZ]

Argentina managed to win the match against Algeria thanks to Messi’s three goals. Messi has now tied the record for most goals scored in the World Cup. If he scores one more goal, he will go down in history as the player with the most goals in World Cup history. If we consider that Messi will score at least 3–4 more goals, the gap will continue to widen. We’re still early in the tournament, and I think Argentina has the roster to make it to the semifinals. Since they’ll play a lot of matches on their way to the semifinals, it seems likely that Messi will score at least three more goals.

Messi is the greatest player to ever play this game and we got to witness him. He has equaled the top scorer in worldcups and he will surely surpass him in this worldcup but honestly speaking he cant hold this record for a long time because mbappe and messi have only 2 goal gap and mbappe is much younger than him but i dont think he needs any more record to prove his greatness. He was asked about this in an interview and he said he didn’t care and that this is just a statistic. If it was ronaldo or anyone elder im sure they would have bragged alot or wouldve showed ego but the GOAT doesn’t even care about these. Im considering another worldcup for Argentina. Winning again will hurt alot of people im sure though its hard but its not impossible.

[Cryptmuster]

They are in second half now and it hasn't appear that Portugal will win because Dr Congo are actually playing very well, I know a lot of people will be eager that Ronaldo should score just because his rival did the same thing to their team yesterday, i don't think they should even expect more from him at this age because he has done so well for his country.

We should not give up yet because they are still time, and the way they are going I expect to see a victory from their side, they have almost 15 minutes to go and I think that is enough to change the narration.

Portugal are controlling possession, they are completing significantly more passes than DR Congo, but the problem is that Portugal are hardly taking any shots on goal. In that case, it will be extremely difficult to win the match. There are only a few minutes left until the end of the game, and I don't see any real desire from Portugal to win. I don't see them attacking with the whole team or pushing hard to score another goal. It gives me the impression that a draw would be enough for them as well.

[JoyMarsha]

Leo Messi has won the World Cup, and he is really enjoying his last dance of the tournament. He has proved himself that he can still play at his top level. Many people think his career has finish after some injuries before the World. I believe the knockout stage will determine how far the Argentina team will go in the World Cup, because they will like to win it for the second time in a row.

If that is possible, for other formidable countries to let Argentina win the World Cup yet again, to join Italy and Brazil that have done so before. Let's see what unfolds in the matches of the World Cup, what Argentina will pull through. If they maintain a strong performance to the semifinals or the finals they get to. We will discuss it here, what awaits them

[Black Mbaye]

They are in second half now and it hasn't appear that Portugal will win because Dr Congo are actually playing very well, I know a lot of people will be eager that Ronaldo should score just because his rival did the same thing to their team yesterday, i don't think they should even expect more from him at this age because he has done so well for his country.

We should not give up yet because they are still time, and the way they are going I expect to see a victory from their side, they have almost 15 minutes to go and I think that is enough to change the narration.

Portugal are controlling possession, they are completing significantly more passes than DR Congo, but the problem is that Portugal are hardly taking any shots on goal. In that case, it will be extremely difficult to win the match. There are only a few minutes left until the end of the game, and I don't see any real desire from Portugal to win. I don't see them attacking with the whole team or pushing hard to score another goal. It gives me the impression that a draw would be enough for them as well.

I honestly didn't expect such a performance from Portugal. Individually, the players were perhaps having the best years of their careers. However, as a team, Portugal couldn't achieve success. Congo put up a good fight against them, and I think they were the team that wanted to win more in this match. It was an unexpected performance from Portugal. Especially after Messi's magnificent performance, I was hoping to see a similar performance from Cristiano Ronaldo. But that didn't happen, and I'm disappointed. I guess we need to be realistic; Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't seem ready for this tournament yet.