Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in his 200th match, becoming the first player to appear in six World Cups and equalling Miroslav Klose's record of 16 World Cup goals.

Erling Haaland struck his first World Cup goals as Norway beat Iraq 4-1 on Tuesday in their first game at a major tournament in 26 years.

Days before his World Cup debut, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and several of his Norway teammates took a chance to relax at game five of the NHL Stanley Cup Final on Thursday.

28 years on from their last appearance on the global stage, Norway are back at the FIFA World Cup after a perfect qualification campaign that saw them win all eight of their matches.

Erling Haaland won a third Premier League Golden Boot in four seasons at Manchester City on Sunday despite not featuring in Pep Guardiola's farewell at the Etihad.

Form and fitness concerns are hanging over some of football's biggest names just three weeks before the World Cup kicks off.

Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard headline Norway's World Cup squad, which was announced in a video by the country's King Harald V on Thursday.

Manchester City completed its ominous, late-season rise to the top of the Premier League by beating Burnley 1-0 thanks to Erling Haaland's early goal on Wednesday, ending Arsenal's 200-day stay in first place.

Manchester City are breathing down Arsenal's necks after Erling Haaland's strike beat the Gunners 2-1 on Sunday to land a potentially decisive blow in the Premier League title race.

Man City vs Arsenal, Premier League: Manchester City closed the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal to just 3 points with a 2-1 victory.