Messi Watch: Three at seven

Haaland has turned Messi's Golden Boot chase into a three-way race before Argentina even kick another ball. Norway's 2-1 win over Brazil put Erling Haaland on seven tournament goals, level with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, while Mbappe still sits in front on FIFA's first tiebreaker: assists. 1 2

FIFA's match report credits Haaland with Norway's 79th- and 90th-minute goals against Brazil, with Neymar's 90+10 penalty only trimming the score to 2-1. The same report says Haaland now has seven goals in four World Cup matches and that Norway have reached the quarter-finals for the first time. 1

That matters for Messi because Saturday's picture was simpler: Mbappe had joined him on seven, but Haaland was still chasing. Now Messi, Mbappe and Haaland are all on seven; FIFA says Mbappe leads the Golden Boot standings because he has two assists, and FIFA's criteria use assists first, then fewer minutes played if goals and assists are still level. 2

FIFA's 5 July preview frames Egypt as more than Mohamed Salah plus ten. Former Egypt assistant Tito Garcia Sanjuan told FIFA the side is built on competitiveness, tactical flexibility and a strong domestic core; FIFA also notes that 17 of Egypt's 26 squad members play in the Egyptian Premier League. 4

That is the immediate football question for Messi: can Argentina turn possession and set pieces into cleaner chances than they managed against Cabo Verde? Egypt have already survived a knockout shootout against Australia, and the preview makes clear they are comfortable making the game uncomfortable. 3 4

Today's Messi brief is about pressure, not panic. Argentina have not played since the Cabo Verde escape, but the race around Messi moved: Haaland's brace against Brazil means three elite scorers are now level on seven, and Mbappe's assists still give him the official edge. Messi's next answer is scheduled for 00:00 Wednesday in Asia/Shanghai against Egypt.