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. 12

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. 34

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.