FIFA World Cup 2026: Eleven Players Have Already Delivered Multiple Goals in Single Games
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has delivered attacking fireworks early. Official FIFA channels highlighted that eleven players have already scored two goals or more in a single match during the group stage.
The graphic shows the faces lighting up the tournament so far. Some delivered hat-tricks. Others grabbed braces against tough or overmatched opponents. The common thread? Clinical finishing when it mattered most.
Lionel Messi set the tone. On June 16 he scored three times against Algeria in a 3-0 win. At 38 years and 357 days old, he became the oldest player ever to score a World Cup hat-trick. He also moved level with Miroslav Klose on 16 career World Cup goals.
You could feel the weight of history in that moment. The stadium buzzed as the third goal went in. Messi didn’t just score — he reminded everyone why he remains the benchmark.
The Full List of Multi-Goal Heroes
Here are the eleven players FIFA spotlighted for scoring two or more goals in one game:
| Player | Team | Goals | Opponent | Result | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 3 | Algeria | 3-0 | Oldest WC hat-trick scorer; ties Klose record (16 goals) |
| Jonathan David | Canada | 3 | Qatar | 6-0 | Second hat-trick of the tournament |
| Folarin Balogun | USA | 2 | Paraguay | 4-1 | First American with a World Cup brace since 1930 |
| Kai Havertz | Germany | 2 | Curaçao | 7-1 | Penalty + late chip in dominant win |
| Kylian Mbappé | France | 2 | Senegal | Win | Continued his Golden Boot push |
| Harry Kane | England | 2 | Croatia | Win | England’s reliable captain delivered again |
| Erling Haaland | Norway | 2 | Group stage | Win | Power and precision on display |
| Vinicius Junior | Brazil | 2 | Group stage | Win | Brazil’s electric attacker found rhythm |
| Yasin Ayari | Sweden | 2 | Tunisia | 5-1 | Scored on debut; muted celebration out of respect |
| Elijah Just | New Zealand | 2 | Group stage | Win | Historic moment for the All Whites |
| Johan Manzambi | Switzerland | 2 | Group stage | Win | Emerging talent announced himself |
These performances arrived in the opening round of matches. Some came against minnows. Others arrived in tighter contests. The early volume of multi-goal games signals an open tournament where stars are stepping up fast.
The Golden Boot race already looks spicy. Messi sits at the top after his three-goal haul. Balogun and Havertz sit among the early challengers. With the group stage still rolling and knockout football ahead, more names will join this list.
Eleven players have scored two goals or more in a single game so far at #FIFAWorldCup 2026 🤯 pic.twitter.com/KuW7XSivRr
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 20, 2026
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Global Time Zones & Viewing
Matches kicked off across North American time zones (ET, CT, MT, PT) plus venues in Canada and Mexico. For fans in India (IST), many games landed in late-night or early-morning slots. The FIFA+ app and major broadcasters kept everyone connected no matter the hour.
Bottom Line
Eleven players. Multiple goals in single games. Already. The 2026 World Cup has started with a bang. Messi proved age is just a number. Balogun wrote new American history. Havertz, Mbappé, Kane, Haaland and the rest showed why they belong on the biggest stage.
More drama awaits as the groups tighten and the knockout rounds loom. Keep watching — the best might still be coming.
