World Cup statement-setters: ranking who actually looks the part after round one
Mbappe is rewriting France's record books, Messi is chasing history, and Germany look frightening. After the opening round of group games, here is who has truly announced themselves.
The opening round of a World Cup is a strange thing to read. Some teams cruise and tell you nothing; others scrap to a draw and reveal everything. But after the first set of group games across the United States, Canada and Mexico, a few sides and a few players have done more than merely win. They have made a statement. Here is our ranking of who has genuinely announced themselves, and who still has questions to answer.
1. Germany look frightening
No team made a louder first impression than Germany. Their demolition of Curacao was as emphatic as anything in the opening round, Kai Havertz helping himself to a brace as Julian Nagelsmann's side ran riot. There is a ruthlessness about this German team that has been missing at recent tournaments, and on this evidence they have the look of genuine contenders rather than hopeful pretenders. When a side scores at will and barely breaks sweat doing it, the rest of the field takes notice.
2. Mbappe and a France side rewriting history
France did not just win their opener against a spirited Senegal, they watched their talisman make history. Kylian Mbappe scored twice to become his country's all-time leading scorer, overtaking Olivier Giroud, and in doing so closed in on Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup goal record. For a player still in his prime, the milestones are stacking up at a frightening rate.
What should worry the rest is how routine it all looked. France have the talent to win this tournament, and in Mbappe they have a man capable of deciding any match on his own. A 3-1 win to start, a record broken, and a superstar already in full flow: it is an ominous combination.
3. Messi, still chasing the impossible
And then there is Lionel Messi. The reigning champions' captain marked the opening round with a hat-trick that drew him level with Klose on the all-time World Cup scoring chart, a staggering feat at this stage of his career. Whatever you make of Argentina's overall performance, the simple fact that Messi is still operating at this level, still bending tournaments to his will, remains the story that transcends any single result.
You can rank teams all you like, but in a World Cup you ignore Messi at your peril. As long as he is on the pitch and finding the net, Argentina carry a threat no opponent can fully plan for.
The hosts make their mark
Beyond the superstars, the host nations gave their fans plenty to shout about. Mexico ground out a win to become the first team into the knockout stages, helped by a calamitous goalkeeping error, while Canada produced the most eye-catching result of the lot, thrashing a nine-man Qatar side as Jonathan David ran riot. Home advantage is real, and on this showing the co-hosts intend to make the most of it.
The verdict
One round in, the picture is forming but far from settled. Germany look the most complete team, France have the best player on current form, and Argentina have the one man capable of rendering all analysis pointless. The contenders are emerging, the dark horses are stirring, and the superstars are delivering. If the opening round is any guide, this is a World Cup building towards something special. Track every standing and result as it shifts in our World Cup coverage.