Ronaldo joins the World Cup goal party as stars shine
· Yahoo Sports
Cristiano Ronaldo has joined the scoring party as football's superstars have had a flying start into the World Cup and much more is expected to come.
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Ronaldo's brace in Portugal's 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan on Tuesday made him the first player to score at six World Cup tournaments.
The goals came the day after Argentina captain Lionel Messi became all-time top scorer with 18 goals. He is 2026 tournament top scorer as well with five from two matches, having scored all of his team's goals, a hat-trick against Algeria and brace against Austria.
Not to be outdone, France skipper Kylian Mbappé and Norway star Erling Haaland brought their tournament tally to four with a brace each in the hours after Messi's achievement.
England captain Harry Kane failed to score on Tuesday against Ghana but already has two goals, just as Brazil's Vinicius Junior.
Messi and Ronaldo defy age
Especially the 41-year-old Ronaldo and Messi, who celebrated his 39th birthday on Wednesday, continue to delight as they have defied any critics that they may be past their prime playing in their sixth World Cup.
Messi was worshipped by team-mates and fans on Monday as he bettered the former scoring record of 16 goals from German Miroslav Klose.
He has a maximum six more games to further raise the record, and if he also finds the net against Jordan on Saturday he would be the first player to score in seven straight World Cup games, having scored in all four knock-out games en route to the 2022 title.
Ronaldo rebounded from a lacklustre first game against Congo with his performance and he showed joy and relief when he netted early against Uzbekistan, mobbed by team-mates and half of the stadium chanting Siuuu when he performed his famous celebration.
Playing for the team
"I am enjoying this moment and seeing how far we can go together," Messi said.
Ronaldo, who appeared to have said "I'm back" post-match into a TV camera, also insisted that "records are always nice, but my goal is always to help the national team achieve its objectives."
Messi chases back-to-back titles and Mbappé a second one. Ronaldo and Portugal are yet to lift the trophy, Kane wants to end England's 60-year wait for a second title, Vinicius Junior could also crown his career with Brazil's first since 2002 while Haaland is just enjoying the moment.
Lionel Scolani highlighted the importance of Messi and his goals, which could also apply to the others.
"When Leo switches on, everyone does. And I think that’s a strength also of the team. Even today when the team were suffering without having the ball, he was working – you could see his commitment,” Scolani said.
The Mbappé threat
Ronaldo is no threat for the all-time goals record because he has only 10 but Mbappé is on Messi's heels.
Mbappé raised his tally to 16 on Monday and being 12 years younger now than Messi he has age and further tournaments on his side if it doesn't work out this time.
First however, the Real Madrid man on Friday faces what could be a fascinating duel with Manchester City marksman Haaland who is making the most of his maiden participation for Norway with his four goals.
Kane and Vini Jr
Kane was meanwhile top scorer in 2018 when England reached the semi-finals and like the 2022 winner Mbappé could become the first player to win the Golden Boot top scorer award a second time.
The England captain won the past season's Golden Shoe award for top scorer in Europe thanks to 36 Bayern Munich Bundesliga goals, beating Haaland and Mbappé.
Mbappé's Real team-mate Vinicius Junior has also started well with a goal in both games and he carries the main hopes of record winners Brazil who won the last World Cup in the United States in 1994.
Potentially easier opponents in the expanded tournament are seen as one reason why the stars have done so well, with gaps between matches also longer which gives them more time to recover.
Not everything has worked out for them, though: Ronaldo was quiet against Congo, Messi failed to convert a penalty against Austria and Kane missed a late sitter against Ghana.
David and Undav also shine
And apart from the superstars others have also made goal headlines over the first two matchdays.
Canada's Jonathan David scored a hat-trick against Qatar and Germany have super-sub Deniz Undav, who scored a stoppage time winner against Ivory Coast and has three goals and two assists from just 56 minutes plus stoppage times over two games.
"To see Deniz up there with all the top stars. Let's who becomes World Cup top scorer: Ronaldo, Messi or Undav. Or Mbappé," Undav's Germany and VfB Stuttgart team-mate Jamie Leweling said on Tuesday.