2026 World Cup First Round: Messi Shines, Ronaldo Struggles as Surprise Draws Shake Tournament

The 2026 FIFA World Cup's expanded 48-team format delivered an action-packed opening round, with all teams completing their first group-stage matches. The tournament has already seen standout performances, unexpected defensive displays from underdog nations, and cautionary tales for aging superstars as the second round of group matches begins on Thursday.

Lionel Messi emerged as the tournament's early hero, answering pre-tournament questions about his fitness and relevance at age 39 by scoring a sensational hat trick against Algeria. The performance moved him into a tie for the most men's World Cup goals ever, silencing doubts about whether he could still perform at the highest level. Similarly, the U.S. men's national team made a statement with a dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay, achieving both of its primary tournament objectives—securing a deep knockout-stage run and capturing American attention through emphatic play. The emphatic win energized the team's quest to grow soccer's profile in the United States.

Underdog nations provided the tournament's biggest surprises in the opening round, all coming in the form of draws rather than defeats. New Zealand drew with Iran, while Cape Verde pulled off a shock by holding mighty Spain to a draw. Saudi Arabia and Qatar also managed points despite facing heavily favored opponents, suggesting that the expanded format may offer smaller nations more competitive opportunities.

In sharp contrast to Messi's triumph, Cristiano Ronaldo's opening performance raised serious questions about his future role in the tournament. The 41-year-old Portuguese captain managed only a 1-1 draw against Congo DR, touching the ball just 25 times and failing to convert any of his three shots on target. Most notably, he inadvertently blocked what appeared to be a clear goal-scoring opportunity for teammate Bruno Fernandes, intensifying scrutiny about whether coach Roberto Martinez might bench him as his predecessor Fernando Santos did at a previous World Cup.

Several coaches and players faced harsh consequences for poor performances. Tunisia coach Sabri Lamouchi was sacked after his team's devastating 5-1 loss to Sweden, with replacement Hervé Renard taking over. Turkey captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu, who had boasted that his team would "dominate" Australia, saw his side lose 2-0 in their first World Cup match in 24 years. Despite the defeat, Çalhanoğlu insisted Turkey had dominated, highlighting the gap between possession and actual results.