Lionel Messi boosted his claim to be Mr World Cup with a hat-trick in Argentina's successful start to the defence of their title, but France star Kylian Mbappé is fighting for the crown himself.
Messi had looked set to leave the World Cup behind when he lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2002.
However, his rejuvenation at Inter Miami has allowed him to compete in a record-equalling sixth tournament in North America aged 38 and he wasted no time in equalling Germany forward Miroslav Klose's record of 16 World Cup goals.
Two of his goals in the 3-0 win over Algeria were top drawer and even the tap-in for the other off a rebound showed a footballing instinct few can match.
"It’s an honour to be alongside Klose and all those other players. I’m proud to be competing against them all, but the statistics don’t mean much to me," said Messi.
"I’ve loved playing football since I was a little boy, and when I’m on form I give it my all."
The Argentina captain, now the oldest men's World Cup hat-trick scorer, also matched arch-poacher Klose with a record 17 victories in the competition.
He also netted his first and latest World Cup goals exactly 20 years apart.
'Make my mark'
Messi was watched in the stands in Kansas City by Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes, yet it is another sporting icon he has to focus on if he wants to emerge as the World Cup's greatest goal scorer.
Kylian Mbappé struggled in the opening half of France's 3-1 win over Senegal. His first touch was off and he cut a frustrated figure. That all changed after the break in New Jersey with two fine finishes of his own to move onto 14 World Cup goals.
His double meant he surpassed Oliver Giroud as France's record scorer on 58 goals aged just 27.
"I play to make my mark on my country's history, to ensure my team reaches the final and wins the World Cup. The rest will simply be part of who I am and my career," the France captain said.
The fact that Messi and Mbappé are so far ahead of the other modern great, record international scorer Cristiano Ronaldo (eight), in the overall World Cup scoring charts underlines how they have dominated the tournament over recent editions.
Mbappé, only the second man to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final when losing to Argentina four years' ago, is bidding for a third straight final having helped France to glory in 2018.
But the battle for the Golden Boot at the 2026 tournament might have another contender.
World Cup debutant Erling Haaland also netted a brace in Norway's 4-1 opening win over Iraq.
"My first goal was nice, the second even nicer so it's fantastic and I'm proud of everyone that we could get off to a good start," he said.
Haaland has top scored in the English Premier League for Manchester City in three of his four seasons. His attempts to rival Messi and Mbappé at this edition might rest on how far Norway can go in their first appearance since 1998.
