Messi: The ultimate scorer

Argentine star delivers double, raises World Cup’s haul to 18

LOS ANGELES — Lionel Messi became the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer on Monday to fire Argentina into the last 32 as France overcame weather chaos before advancing to the knockout rounds alongside Norway.

Messi’s record-breaking display was the centerpiece of another gripping day of World Cup action where the star names once again shone the brightest.

Kylian Mbappe scored two goals in France’s weather-disrupted 3-0 win over Iraq, while Norway striker Erling Haaland took his tournament tally to four goals with two more in the Norwegians’ 3-2 defeat of Senegal.

Messi, who had tied Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 goals with a brilliant hat-trick against Algeria last week, bagged the 17th and 18th goals of his World Cup career in a 2-0 win over Austria in Texas.

The eight-time Ballon D’Or winner, who turns 39 on Wednesday, had blown a chance to break the record after eight minutes when he dragged a penalty wide of the post in the Group J match.

But the Argentina skipper made no mistake seven minutes before halftime, coolly placing his finish beyond the dive of Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.

He then completed his double in the fifth minute of stoppage time to take his tally for the tournament to five goals.

Argentina are now guaranteed top spot in Group J after Algeria came from behind to defeat Jordan 2-1 in Monday’s late game in Santa Clara, California.

France meanwhile were made to wait before booking their place in the last 32 with a storm-hit win over Iraq in Philadelphia that took just under four hours to complete.

Kylian Mbappe, making his 100th appearance for France, had fired France into a 1-0 lead with a vicious long-range effort after 14 minutes that ripped past Iraq goalkeeper Ahmed Basil.

On play resumption after a severe thunderstorm, Mbappe grabbed his second of the match – and 16th career World Cup goal – before Ousmane Dembele added France’s third in the 66th minute.

With Messi and Mbappe getting among the goals once more, Norway striker Haaland was in no mood to be left out, helping himself to a double with a rampaging performance in a 3-2 defeat of Senegal in East Rutherford.