World Cup 2026: The Big 3 — Messi, Mbappé, Haaland — are somehow delivering more than anybody could have imagined

You hear about the Eiffel Tower from childhood, you see images of it on TV and in movies, but until you're standing before it, you can't quite understand how immense and impressive it is. And when you're standing before it, no matter how many times you've seen it before, you realize that somehow it's even more spectacular than you'd imagined. 

If you're remotely soccer-aware, you'd already heard of the majesty of a Leo Messi-led Argentina, the artistry of a Kylian Mbappé-led France, the relentlessness of an Erling Haaland-led Norway. But until you see those nations, and those stars, in action, you can't really comprehend how amazing they truly are. 

America is now getting the full Messi-Mbappé-Haaland experience, and it's every bit as astounding as we've been told. How lucky are we, to get to see generational glory play out right in front of us? 

In terms of pure wattage, Monday has to rank as one of the most radiant days in World Cup history. Three of the greatest players on Earth, each creating multiple-goal magnificence, each leading their nation forward through to the knockout stage. And here's what's even more impressive: This is the second time they've pulled off the feat during this World Cup. 

In the day's first match, Messi scored both of Argentina's goals in a 2-0 victory over Austria, and he now stands as the leading scorer in World Cup history. Yes, that's partly due to his longevity, but ceremonial players don't score all five of their country's goals to date in a World Cup, and ceremonial players can't do … whatever this was: 

(Yes, American audiences have seen a version of Messi playing for Inter Miami these last few seasons. But with all due respect to Messi's Inter teammates and MLS opponents, that's — to continue the metaphor — like seeing the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas. You know there's a much better version out there somewhere.)

The man Messi vanquished in the 2022 final, Mbappé, matched Messi with two goals of his own in France's 3-0 victory over Iraq, and sits just two goals behind Messi in all-time World Cup scoring. Sometimes you score with offensive virtuosity, and sometimes you score because the defense makes a catastrophic mistake. They all count the same:

And then there's Haaland, the Norse cyborg who's currently torching Group I. He has four goals of his own already this World Cup after scoring two against Senegal on Monday, including this shot that nearly blew out the back of the net:

We're already in the midst of a World Cup that should stand among the greatest ever. Messi (age 37), Mbappé (27) and Haaland (25) are all either immortal or well on the way there, and in years to come we'll look back on this World Cup as a moment when past and future briefly shared the pitch. 

Messi is almost certainly playing in his last World Cup, and his perch at the pinnacle is secure. But if Mbappé and Haaland go on to play as long as Messi has, they'll be breaking defenses and spirits through the 2038 World Cup. What each of them learns here will carry them forward for a decade-plus to come. 

(Oh, and if all that isn't enough for you: Spain's Lamine Yamal is still lurking out there, waiting to make a statement of his own. Will it be this year?)

The stakes for each player remain massive. Their upcoming matches in America over the next four weeks will go a long way to defining each of their legacies. Soon enough, starting with Friday's France-Norway match, these titans will start squaring off against each other. And an already brilliant World Cup will shine even brighter.