Lionel Messi keeps adding to a resume that didn’t need any more bullet points. He’s now the outright top scorer in World Cup history with 18 goals. But that’s not even the craziest stat from last night.
Messi also became the first player this century to score in six consecutive World Cup matches. He’s done it against Australia, Netherlands, Croatia, France, Algeria, and Austria. Only two guys before him had pulled that off — Just Fontaine and Jairzinho, both at the 1958 tournament. That’s some company.
And here’s another one: Messi is now the second player ever to score his team’s first five goals at a single World Cup. The other guy? Oleg Salenko for Russia in 1994. Random, but true.
Meanwhile, Salah Gave Egypt Its First World Cup Win
Mohamed Salah scored to seal Egypt’s first ever victory on the biggest stage. And then he did something you don’t see every day from a global superstar. He hit the streets with his teammates to celebrate directly with Egyptian fans. No bus parade. No VIP section. Just players and supporters going absolutely nuts together.
The scenes were genuinely great. Egypt’s fans have been waiting forever for this moment, and Salah made sure he was right in the middle of it.
One Superfan You Need to Know About
Michel Kuka Mboladinga is already a legend in African football circles. He’s the guy who stands completely motionless for 90 minutes while dressed as Patrice Lumumba to support DR Congo. He just arrived in Guadalajara to back the Leopards against Colombia. That level of commitment deserves its own documentary.
Manchester United Drops a Stadium Bombshell
Man United announced Monday that they secured 10 hectares of land to build a new stadium. The capacity? 100,000 seats. That would make it the largest sports venue in the entire United Kingdom.
The club put out a statement calling it a catalyst for revitalizing the surrounding area and creating one of the most dynamic sports and entertainment destinations in the world. Big words. But United has been talking about stadium upgrades for years. This time it sounds like they actually have the land to back it up.
Today’s Match Schedule
Portugal vs. Uzbekistan — 7:00 PM ET (beIN Sports 1/M6)
England vs. Ghana — 10:00 PM ET (beIN Sports 1/M6)
Panama vs. Croatia — 1:00 AM ET (beIN Sports 1)
Colombia vs. DR Congo — 4:00 AM ET (beIN Sports 1)
That England-Ghana matchup could be a sneaky good one. And if you’re not watching Colombia vs. DR Congo, you’re missing the superfan storyline of the tournament.
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