India, June 23 -- The 2026 World Cup has exploded into life, and the biggest names in football have wasted no time in making their presence felt. Lionel Messi has already found the net five times, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland have four goals each, while Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal have also started the tournament in sensational fashion. The expanded 48-team World Cup has delivered everything fans hoped for, but one familiar storyline from Qatar has returned - the never-ending battle between Messi and Mbappe.

The last World Cup gave football one of its greatest finales, with Mbappe scoring a hat-trick, Messi scoring twice, and Argentina eventually lifting the trophy after a historic final. It felt like the rivalry had reached its peak...