Jordan were eliminated after another comeback defeat in Group J, joining Turkiye and Haiti among the teams already out, while Senegal and Iraq were left with only a narrow third-place route in Group I.
In Group J, Messi scored twice as Argentina beat Austria 2-0 in Arlington, Texas, sending the defending champions through with six points from two matches.
The Argentina captain missed an early penalty but made amends in the 38th minute, moving past Germany’s Miroslav Klose on the all-time World Cup scoring list. He struck again deep into second-half stoppage time to take his tournament tally to 18 goals.
Austria, who beat Jordan in their opener, stayed on three points and will face Algeria in their final group match.
In Group I, France beat Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia after the match was held up for nearly two hours because of heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning risks.
The interruption was one of the most unusual weather-related stoppages at a World Cup since the 1974 West Germany-Poland match, when heavy rain delayed kickoff and left the pitch in Frankfurt waterlogged.
Iraq failed to deal with the ball cleanly in the second half, and Mbappe punished the mistake for his second goal of the match. Ousmane Dembele then added a third to complete a comfortable win after an uncomfortable interruption.
The result sent France through with six points from two matches, while Iraq stayed on zero points and were pushed to the brink of elimination.
Norway joined France on six points after edging Senegal 3-2 in another Group I match.
Senegal, however, refused to fade. Ismaila Sarr pulled one back in the 53rd minute and scored again in second-half stoppage time to make it 3-2. Senegal kept pushing until the final whistle and nearly equalized from a late corner, but Sarr’s header went over the bar.
The win sent Norway into the knockout stage after only two matches in their first World Cup appearance in 28 years. Norway and France will now meet in the final round to decide top spot in Group I.
Senegal, still without a point, must beat Iraq in their final group match to keep even a slim chance of advancing as one of the best third-placed teams. Iraq are not mathematically out because they face Senegal next, but their heavy goal-difference deficit leaves them needing a high-scoring win and help elsewhere.
Group J ended with another painful collapse for Jordan, who lost 2-1 to Algeria in Santa Clara after taking the lead for the second match in a row.
But Algeria turned the game around after halftime. Nadhir Benbouali equalized with a header in the 69th minute, before Amine Gouiri completed the comeback from close range in the 82nd minute.
The win kept Algeria alive after their opening defeat to Argentina and moved them to three points.
Jordan, who also scored first against Austria before losing 3-1, again failed to protect an early lead and were eliminated from knockout-stage contention in their debut World Cup.
Jordan are now locked into bottom place in Group J even if they beat Argentina in their final match. Argentina have already advanced, while Austria and Algeria will meet in a direct fight for position behind the defending champions.
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