Lionel Messi made history on Monday with his 17th and 18th World Cup goals, vaulting past the all-time record. Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland each bagged a brace, keeping the Golden Boot race tight. That leaves two of the sport’s biggest names — Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo — staring at a growing gap. Day 13 of the 2026 World Cup gives them their chance to catch up.
Here’s what you need to know about Tuesday’s slate, including the big questions hanging over Portugal, England, and Croatia.
Portugal vs. Uzbekistan — 1 p.m. ET (FOX, Telemundo)
The math is simple for Portugal: anything less than three points against Uzbekistan puts them in real trouble. After a frustrating 1-1 draw with DR Congo in the opener, manager Roberto Martinez has to decide if Cristiano Ronaldo gets another start. Ronaldo looked disconnected from the attack, holding the ball too long and forcing shots that weren’t there. His impact off the bench in the second half was minimal, too.
Martinez has a decision to make. Give Ronaldo another chance to find rhythm against a weaker opponent, or bench the most famous player in the tournament and risk the fallout. Uzbekistan is the kind of team Portugal should beat comfortably, but this group stage is already getting tight. If Ronaldo starts and the attack still looks clunky, the questions get louder.
England vs. Ghana — 4 p.m. ET (FOX, Telemundo)
England opened with a 4-2 win over Croatia that was both impressive and concerning. The attack looked devastating: Noni Madueke, Anthony Gordon, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, and Morgan Rogers all caused problems. Harry Kane didn’t even need to score for England to look dangerous, which says a lot about the depth Gareth Southgate has.
But the defense gave up two goals, and the goalkeeping was shaky. Against Ghana, the Three Lions have a chance to prove the defensive issues were just one-off problems. If they can dominate a team that will sit back and counter, it builds a case that this England squad can outscore anyone. If Ghana pushes them and the defense looks exposed again, the questions will follow into the knockout rounds.
Panama vs. Croatia — 7 p.m. ET (FOX, Telemundo)
Croatia looked old and slow against England. Luka Modric, at 40 years old, gave away an early penalty and struggled to impose himself. Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric, and Mateo Kovacic didn’t offer much more. The younger players like Martin Baturina and Josko Gvardiol showed flashes, but the balance isn’t there yet.
Manager Zlatko Dalic has to figure out how to blend the old guard with the next generation while still getting results. Panama might be the right opponent to do that against. But if Croatia drops points here, their World Cup could be over before the knockout stage even starts. That would be a tough end for a generation that reached the semifinals in 2022 and the final in 2018.
Colombia vs. DR Congo — 10 p.m. ET (FS1, Telemundo)
Colombia looks like a team that could make some noise. DR Congo, after holding Portugal to a draw, knows it can compete. This is a tricky matchup for both sides — the kind of game that could decide who advances from Group G.
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