On the fifth day of the World Cup, the attention turned to underdogs and surprise performers. In Atlanta, Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper, Josimar “Vozinha” Dias, became a sensation. He blocked the European champions, Spain, leading to a surge of 10 million new followers on social media in just 24 hours.
In another match, New Zealand’s Elijah Just made headlines near Hollywood by scoring twice in a thrilling encounter against Iran. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia held Uruguay to a draw in Florida, with the venue prominently displaying bright blue and white colors.
By Tuesday, the focus had shifted to the superstars. Across the United States, three of the world’s finest players showcased their talents, captivating audiences. Here is an evaluation of their performances that night.
Bronze Star: Kylian Mbappé (France)
Kylian Mbappé, regarded by many as potentially the greatest World Cup player in history, pursued his third consecutive appearance in a World Cup Final. On Tuesday, despite scoring two remarkable goals against Senegal, he secured the third spot. Michael Olise also stood out, not with goals but with his exceptional distribution and orchestration of France’s attack.
Although Mbappé had a slow start, his strong connection with Olise in the second half was a testament to France’s explosive potential in the competition.
Silver Star: Erling Haaland (Norway)
Erling Haaland scored his second goal of the day by capitalizing on a mistake by Iraq’s goalie, who hesitated as Haaland charged for a loose ball. Haaland’s knack for finding the net, no matter where the ball lands, is unmatched. Norway may have defensive challenges, but Haaland’s prowess ensures they remain threats in this tournament.
Despite Norway’s need for defensive improvements, Haaland and his teammates are prepared to score abundantly before concluding their World Cup journey.
Gold Star: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Lionel Messi took center stage at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Despite observing the impressive performances of both Mbappé and Haaland earlier, Messi emerged as the standout. His hat trick not only outshone his contemporaries but demonstrated that even at 38, Messi retains his superiority.
With this feat, Messi matched Germany’s Miroslav Klose with 16 World Cup goals. He now stands on the precipice of breaking this record, with opportunities in the next games against Austria or Jordan.
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