World Cup Day 6: Messi's Historic Hat Trick and a Day of Superstars

The biggest names in global soccer delivered on Day 6 of the 2026 World Cup. If you tuned in hoping for superstar moments, Tuesday did not disappoint. Messi Turns Back the Clock Lionel Messi proved he still owns the global stage. He scored a historic hat trick as Argentina handled Algeria 3-0 in Kansas City. It was a vintage performance that sent a clear message to the rest of the tournament field: the defending champions are locked in. Mbappe and Haaland Join the Party France and Norway also picked up convincing wins behind their elite goal scorers. Kylian Mbappé found the back of the net as France defeated Senegal 3-1 in New Jersey. Up in Foxborough, Erling Haaland scored to help Norway dominate Iraq 4-1. The heavy favorites took care of business and gave bettors who backed the chalk exactly what they needed. The VAR Drama in Santa Clara The most chaotic match of the day happened out west. Austria eventually beat Jordan 3-1, but the game featured a wild sequence where a messy Austria goal was overturned by a lengthy VAR review for a handball. Austria had to reset and eventually secured the win thanks to a Jordan own goal off a corner kick. The SBA Takeaway When the superstars show up, the tournament changes. Messi, Mbappé, and Haaland all scoring on the same day shifts the futures market. Bettors need to watch how these dominant teams handle squad rotation in their next matches. --- Related reading: - World Cup 2026 Kicks Off: USA vs Paraguay Preview and Opening Day Recap - World Cup Day 5 Chaos: Four Straight Draws and a Cape Verde Miracle