Day 13 Briefing: Messi takes the record, Mbappé keeps pace, Haaland saves Norway

Messi and Mbappé turned Monday into a record chase. Argentina are safely into the knockouts after a 2-0 win over Austria, France are through after a storm-delayed 3-0 win over Iraq, and Norway survived a late Senegal push because Erling Haaland answered twice. One caveat for this briefing: Jordan-Algeria is a 03:00 UTC kickoff, so it belongs in the fixture board rather than the completed-results ledger.

Messi missed a ninth-minute penalty, then still found a way to turn the match into his night. Thiago Almada let Facundo Medina's pass run through, Messi finished left-footed in the 38th minute, and the 90+5' goal gave Argentina the 2-0 margin that matters for Group J. FIFA lists him on 18 World Cup goals, two clear of Klose's former record of 16. 1

The other number matters too: Argentina are on 6 points after two matches and have already qualified. Austria remain on 3, while Jordan and Algeria still have to play their second match at 03:00 UTC. 4

France's win was clean on the scoreboard and messy in the middle. Mbappé scored in the 14th minute, halftime brought a thunderstorm delay of just over two hours in Philadelphia, and France controlled the restart: Mbappé tapped in after an Iraq defensive error before Dembélé finished the third. 5

France now sit on 6 points with a +5 goal difference. Norway are also on 6 after Haaland's brace against Senegal, so the France-Norway finale is about the group order, not survival. Senegal and Iraq are both 0-0-2; their final match is now a pride-and-math problem rather than a clean path to the top two. 3

Cristian Romero is the new Argentina concern. The centre-back was forced off against Austria after a knee problem, and The Independent reported that the issue came after Marcel Sabitzer stamped on his foot before Romero started holding the knee. 8

Germany have a confirmed tournament-ending absence: Nico Schlotterbeck is out after tearing a ligament in his left ankle in the 2-1 win over Ivory Coast. 8 Iraq also lost striker Aymen Hussein in the 26th minute against France with an apparent injury, which matters because he had scored in Iraq's opener. 5

England's watch list is still crowded before Ghana. Declan Rice left the Croatia match with lower-back/upper-hamstring discomfort, Bukayo Saka is being managed after a long-term Achilles issue, and Harry Kane's cramp is not expected to threaten his involvement. 8

The all-time race is live again. Messi has the record at 18, but Mbappé is already at 16 and is still in his prime. This is no longer only a historical comparison; they are trading goals inside the same tournament. 2

France-Norway is now the match Group I deserves. France have the cleaner goal difference. Norway have Haaland. The group winner could avoid an uglier Round of 32 draw, so neither side has much incentive to coast. 3

England-Ghana is the early Group L separator. England's attack looked heavy against Croatia, but the injury-management questions around Rice, Saka and Rashford are real. Ghana can turn one disciplined 1-0 win over Panama into a much bigger statement if they survive the first hour in Foxborough. 7