2026 World Cup: a spectacular start to the competition and a thrilling race for the Golden Shoe
By OnzeActu · · 3 min read
The first series of group matches for the 2026 World Cup delivers its share of surprises and notable performances. Lionel Messi stands out with a hat-trick for Argentina and leads the race for the Golden Shoe ahead of a chasing pack made up of Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland. England hit hard against Croatia, while Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo, struggled to convince. The intensity observed from these first meetings promises an exceptional edition.
The 2026 World Cup, taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico, has officially kicked off its first round of the group stage. The 48 selections have already played their first match, and the competition is starting under the best auspices.
England opened the proceedings by winning spectacularly against Croatia (4-2), thus confirming its status as a credible contender for the title. For its part, Portugal could not do better than a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo, despite the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, whose performance disappointed and raised questions about his role in a Portuguese team with multiple offensive assets.
The day before, Lionel Messi once again showed the extent of his talent by scoring a hat-trick in Argentina's victory against Algeria (3-0). At 38, the Argentine genius temporarily takes the lead in the Golden Shoe rankings, a trophy that is still missing from his immense list of achievements.
The fight for this title of top scorer promises to be fierce this year. Behind Messi (3 goals), Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, both previously winners, and Erling Haaland have two goals each. Also note the remarkable performance of Folarin Balogun, scorer for the United States against Paraguay. This first day suggests that it will be necessary to score much more than the usual six or seven goals to win the Golden Shoe this year, as the offensive festival seems committed.
Image
Just Fontaine still holds the absolute record with 13 goals during the 1958 edition, but the current dynamic could allow the 2026 winner to approach or even exceed the ten-goal mark, a rare feat in the recent history of the tournament.
Further down the table, Ghana snatches a late equalizer against Panama (1-1), while Uzbekistan, the first Central Asian nation to participate, shows great promise despite its defeat against Colombia (1-3).
This World Cup is already full of news stories: Ivorian striker Elye Wahi is present on the pitch despite his recent arrest, no charges having yet been brought.
Thursday, it's time for the hosts of the competition: Canada will try to achieve its first victory against Qatar, while Mexico and South Korea will compete for first place in Group A in a confrontation that promises to be electric. The Czech Republic will face South Africa, both hoping to position themselves ideally for qualification.
This 2026 World Cup therefore promises to be indecisive and full of twists and turns, both on and off the pitch, with a fight for the Golden Shoe which will delight all football fans.