Two of the greatest forwards in world football will go head-to-head at Boston Stadium on Friday, as France and Kylian Mbappe take on Norway and Erling Haaland.
⚽ Latest news from day 15 | Haaland v Mbappé in data⚽ Third-place table | Player guide | Bracketology | Mail usSo yesterday’s results saw five more teams qualify for the knockout stage and you can catch up on all of the action across the reports:Here is that piece for you now: Continue reading...
Two of the best forwards in the game face each other in the World Cup on Friday. Their most dramatic contrast is in international football• Golden Boot: World Cup 2026 top goalscorers• All-time World Cup goalscorersNorway v France is arguably the most talent-loaded fixture in the World Cup group stage. Transfermarkt’s combined estimated market value of the two squads is higher than for any of the other 71 matches in this phase of the tournament. Yet the vast majority of the attention at Boston Stadium will be focused on just two men: Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé, who are already in the leading pack to win the World Cup Golden Boot for top goalscorers, both scoring twice in each of their first two games.They are very different types of forward. The Norwegian is the ultimate penalty box player, capable of finding space in the most dangerous areas where none appears to exist. His French counterpart is far more comfortable dribbling from wide areas, completing as many take-ons in two games as the Manchester City man does all season. Despite their contrasting styles, they have delivered near-identical output in Europe’s big five leagues since Haaland made his debut for Borussia Dortmund in January 2020. Continue reading...
The irony of the superstar-heavy narrative is the way it embellishes rather than diminishes importance of the collective“Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-equalling sixth World Cup got off to a disappointing start,” began the Reuters match report of Portugal’s 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of the Congo last week. And yes, OK: everyone knows how this game works and why everyone plays it. On one hand, perhaps the greatest sporting day in the history of the world’s 15th most populous country. On the other, 41-year-old man does not score. It’s no contest, really. Get those sweet keywords front and left. Harvest that delicious search traffic. Perhaps you even noticed how I just did exactly the same thing.And yet something does feel qualitatively different this summer: a tectonic shift driven partly by events on the pitch and partly at the behest of the industry itself. This is a World Cup swimming in star names, and never have those star names been so unapologetically, unquestioningly invoked. France do not beat Iraq; instead Kylian Mbappé throws down the gauntlet to Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and the rest. According to Google, Miroslav Klose’s goals record has been searched more at this tournament than in the year he set it. At times the group phase has felt like an inconvenient distraction from the real business of the Golden Boot race. (Can Lionel Messi lift the one trophy he hasn’t won yet?) Continue reading...
Norway will provide a tougher test for two-time world champions – and they are going to need it before knockoutsFrance will take on Norway in Boston on Friday for the right to top Group I, but one man thinks it’s already done. “Honestly I don’t care that much”, Erling Haaland told Fox in the United States. “They’re probably going to win against us. They’re probably going to win the whole tournament.”Haaland may have been playing mind games, and you will not hear Didier Deschamps making any such argument. But the French head coach certainly took satisfaction from his team’s storm-hit but ultimately straightforward victory over Iraq. Featuring another Kylian Mbappé brace and two more assists for Michael Olise, this match’s notable success was Ousmane Dembélé’s arrival at the party, scoring his first tournament goal at the 20th attempt. Continue reading...
Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!In 10 of the past 12 World Cups, six goals has been the standard to bag yourself the Golden Boot. Usually a goal per game will suffice. In fact, on two occasions (in 2006 and 2010) a mere five strikes has been enough. Yet a quick glance at the current 2026 Geopolitics World Cup Golden Boot standings after most teams have played two games sees Lionel Messi top of the tree with five goals already from his two outings, having broken Miroslav Klose’s all-time tournament scoring record in the process. The Argentinian’s latest two goals came in a 2-0 victory over Austria in which neither Argentina nor Messi did anything of note other than score – aside from the great man shanking an early penalty miles wide, which is becoming quite the common occurrence for Messi. Think how many World Cup goals he would have if he could beat a goalkeeper from 12 yards (answer: 21, three more than he has). Lurking just behind are the pretenders to Messi’s golden throne, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé, who between them are tearing up Group I with four goals apiece. Both the Norwegian and French frontmen have been donated at least one goal by careless Iraqi and Senegalese defenders so far, but have looked razor-sharp up top and will soon meet in a tasty decider to see who tops the group. Both, you suspect, will have designs on ensuring Messi does not hold the World Cup scoring record for long, with Mbappé already level with Klose, two behind the Argentinian. Haaland, in his debut World Cup, is already one goal behind legends like Raul, Romario and Roger Milla, who only managed five across their careers. The Fifa suits must be loving the fact all the big sexy names are firing on their global stage. It’s as if Big Gianni himself wrote the script, beaming in the knowledge that goals are a universally beloved currency, a useful tool in helping brush all the unpleasantness under the carpet. Even aside from the aforementioned trio, Harry Kane has bagged a double in his only game, Vinícius Júnior has two for the tournament so far and two of the host nations have superstar strikers (of sorts) in the shape of USA USA USA figurehead Folarin Balogun and Canadian ace Jonathan David. There is a significant striking name missing from this list, a longtime rival of Messi’s, but Football Daily is struggling to remember who that might be. Gah. Consider that this unique GWC will give top strikers an extra game in which to fill their scoring boots and maybe Just Fontaine’s record of 13 goals in a single World Cup, which has stood since 1958, might come under threat. It is possible, likely even, we will get a player in double figures for the first time since Gerd Müller hit 10 in Mexico 1970. What seems certain is this is a golden boot race for the ages, contested by the best players on the planet. For all the cynicism and moral fatigue surrounding this GWC, that is something most lovers of football can get on board with. More goals please, guys.ITV’s Sam Matterface on Egypt scoring against New Zealand: ‘They’ll be celebrating that goal all the way from Cairo to Giza!’ Coming soon (hopefully): England celebrate a goal all the way from London to Heathrow airport” – Keith Razey.May I also wade into English v Spanish GWC viewing debate (Football Daily letters passim). I’m Team Telemundo, owing to existing subscriptions and a well-founded antipathy towards Fox Corp. While I can’t understand a thing, I was delighted to see journeyman striker Roque Santa Cruz acting as a pundit the other night. It also got me intrigued to know equivalent figures in each language’s coverage: I’d love to know from our Spanish-speaking friends if there are Telemundo Roy Keanes, Mark Chapmans, Kelly Cates, Ian Wrights, Andy Townsends or (shudder) Robbie Savages out there. ¡Te deseo lo mejor! “ – Martin Clifford.As a Spurs fan I am keener than ever for the GWC to be over and the new season of the Premier League to commence. However, if you call up the table for the 2026-27 season, it is listed in alphabetical order and by this sorting method, Tottenham already sit bottom. I never thought that I would find a reason to regret West Ham being relegated” – Greg Wynn.I fear James Vortkamp-Tong’s missive (yesterday’s Football Daily letters) is a familiar spin on an email seen here many moons ago. Possibly about Watford. However, like Dad’s Army repeats, it is admittedly more amusing than newer material. Can’t beat the classics” – Andrew Taylor. Continue reading...
⚽ All the latest news from day 13 of the tournament⚽ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Mail usThe Guardian’s Pablo Iglesias Maurer dives into everything Messi with boots on the ground as history was made at Dallas Stadium (aka Jerry World) last night.The great one on his exploits: “It feels special, but like I’ve always said it does. Like I’ve said other times, I enjoy playing, having a good time on the pitch. I wasn’t necessarily having one on the penalty, but with luck we were able to work through that situation, take the advantage and leave with three points.” Continue reading...
Erling Haaland scores twice as Norway book their place in the last 32 of the World Cup with a 3-2 victory over Senegal in New Jersey.
⚽️ Kick-off time: 8pm local/1pm AEST/4am BST/11pm EDT⚽️ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Mail MartinThere’s a quarter of an hour left in Norway v Senegal in New Jersey. Erling Haaland making things very difficult for Senegal. You can follow the match live with Jeff Reuter:While acknowledging that the moment was “special”, Messi didn’t let himself get too excited.Like I’ve said other times, I enjoy playing, having a good time on the pitch. Continue reading...
Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!The GWC has barely had time to unpack its suitcase and already the goals are flying in like overenthusiastic airline baggage. Stadiums are full, scoreboards are busy and, most importantly, football’s three marquee attractions decided that now would be a good time to remind everyone why they dominate highlight reels, sponsorship campaigns and social media algorithms.First we have Football Daily on the weekend, and now we have Tuuka Tomperi stating in yesterday’s letters: ‘Football Daily is the best newsletter in the world, by far!’ The first I can pass off as GWC Fever, but the second is inexplicable and means I will be visiting my general practitioner as soon as the group stage is over” – Alex Bull.Before kick-off on Sunday I was pessimistic about having to slog through three Curaçao matches in the GWC. But, after seeing them torn apart by Germany, 7-1, I can safely say that it’s just like watching Brazil. 2014-era Brazil, but still” – R Reisman.You could argue that Vozinha is actually better than Pat Jennings (yesterday’s Football Daily). Vozinha’s given first name is Josimar, after the Brazilian defender who was a star of Mexico ‘86. That Josimar not only played in the game against Northern Ireland (and Jennings) that you referenced, he scored the second Brazilian goal, with a shot from way out on the right touchline if I remember correctly. Surely that’s conclusive proof that a Josimar is better than a Jennings?” – Richard O’Hagan.The late music legend Cesaria Évora had a voice that reached the ends of the earth. She was from the same town in Cape Verde as the goalkeeper Vozinha, whose nickname is Portuguese for ‘little voice’. That little voice produced a massive roar heard around the world” – Peter Oh.I wanted to add my Roy Hattersley recollection (yesterday’s Football Daily letters). His column was my favourite part of the Guardian, bar none. The man wrote exquisitely, so I was delighted to bump into him at Priestfield before a Gillingham v Sheffield Wednesday game about 25 years ago. He was polite and charming for our brief chat and responded with ‘I hope not’ when I bid him adieu, having said ‘may the better team win’. Wednesday duly lost to my beloved Gills. RIP Roy” – Martin Griffiths.This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions. Continue reading...
Our Ask Me Anything team explain why the player's Norway shirt displays the name Erling Braut Haaland.
Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Ben Fisher, Lars Sivertsen and Philippe Auclair as Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi all hit their stride in style Continue reading...
Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland both enjoyed a fine start to the World Cup - but on a day packed with superstars, Lionel Messi still took top billing.
⚽ World Cup qualifying updates, 7.45pm GMT kick-offs ⚽ Live scores | England v Serbia – live | Email Luke This was Ed’s take on Group I. Norway are now six points clear of Italy … Norway lead Italy by three points and no one else can finish in the top two. A win for Norway at home to Estonia on Thursday would in effect secure qualification before they travel to San Siro on Sunday because the astonishing 29 goals plundered by Erling Haaland and co from six matches have given the team a frankly ridiculous goal difference of +26, 16 ahead of Italy. Gennaro Gattuso’s side need maximum points from their games, which start in Moldova on Thursday, and a Norway slip against Estonia to avoid the playoff for which they appear destined as they try to qualify for a first World Cup since 2014. Continue reading...
