World Cup 2026 Week 3 Recap: Germany Out, Messi & Mbappe Break Records

The first-ever Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup has come and gone, and it delivered everything the new format promised - a four-time champion sent packing, two penalty shootout heartbreakers, stoppage-time drama on repeat, and the two greatest scorers of this generation passing the all-time record between them like a hot potato.

Let's get right into all the action, as well as into who's been ruling the roost in Roshtein's World Cup event.

The Shocker: Paraguay Send Germany Home!

If Ecuador beating Germany last week was a jolt, this was an earthquake. Paraguay held Germany to a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes in Boston, then won the shootout 4-3 to knock the four-time champions out at the first knockout hurdle. Julio Enciso headed Paraguay in front before Kai Havertz levelled, and Germany thought they'd won it in extra time - only for VAR to chalk off Jonathan Tah's header for a soft foul on keeper Orlando Gill.

Gill then turned hero in the shootout, saving from Havertz and Nick Woltemade before Tah blazed over. It was the first penalty shootout Germany have ever lost at a World Cup, and only the second knockout win in Paraguay's history. After Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, that's now three straight World Cup disasters for the Germans - and the soul-searching in the federation has already begun.

The Records: Messi 19, Mbappe 18

The all-time scoring race turned into a weekly soap opera. First, Lionel Messi came off the bench in Argentina's 3-1 win over Jordan to make it 19 World Cup goals, stretching his record haul as the champions cruised through the group with a perfect nine points.

Then Kylian Mbappe answered. His brace in France's 3-0 dismantling of Sweden took him to 18 World Cup goals, one behind Messi, and made him the outright record holder for knockout-stage goals with 10, moving clear of Brazilian legends Leonidas and Ronaldo. The two are also level on six goals each in the Golden Boot race. Didier Deschamps quietly set a record of his own that night too - his 18th World Cup win as a manager, more than anyone in history, in what will be his final tournament in charge.

And one more for the books: Cristiano Ronaldo finally scored his first-ever World Cup knockout goal, converting a penalty at 41 years old in Portugal's dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Croatia, sealed by a Goncalo Ramos header four minutes into stoppage time.

READ MORE:
Week 2 Of The FIFA World Cup - A Rundown
Everything From The FIFA World Cup - Week 1

Stoppage-Time Madness Everywhere

This round simply refused to end on schedule. Canada won the first Round of 32 match in World Cup history, beating South Africa 1-0 through a 92nd-minute Stephen Eustaquio strike for their first-ever knockout victory. Brazil trailed Japan before Casemiro levelled and Gabriel Martinelli won it in the 95th minute. Harry Kane's second-half brace dragged England past a spirited DR Congo 2-1, and Belgium broke Senegal's hearts with a hotly disputed penalty deep in extra time, Youri Tielemans converting in the 125th minute for a 3-2 win.

Morocco, meanwhile, did what Morocco do - beating the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw to reach the last 16 for the third World Cup running.

The Hosts Are Rolling

All three co-hosts made it through. The USA beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 for their first knockout win since 2002, though it came at a cost - goalscorer Folarin Balogun saw red and will miss the Belgium clash. Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 at the Azteca for their first knockout victory since 1986, with 17-year-old Gilberto Mora becoming the second-youngest player ever to start a World Cup knockout match, behind only Pele.

Elsewhere, Spain thumped Austria 3-0 behind a Mikel Oyarzabal double for their first knockout win in 16 years, Erling Haaland's late winner saw Norway edge Ivory Coast 2-1, and Switzerland saw off Algeria 2-0.

Who's Facing Who In The Round Of 16?

The last 16 kicks off Saturday, July 4, and there are some absolute blockbusters in here:

Canada vs Morocco - July 4, Houston
Paraguay vs France - July 4, Philadelphia (a rematch of the famous 1998 golden-goal tie)
Brazil vs Norway - July 5, New Jersey (Vinicius Junior vs Haaland, need we say more)
Mexico vs England - July 5, Mexico City
Portugal vs Spain - July 6, Dallas (the tie of the round, an all-Iberian classic)
USA vs Belgium - July 6, Seattle
Winner of Argentina/Cabo Verde vs winner of Australia/Egypt - July 7, Atlanta
Switzerland vs winner of Colombia/Ghana - July 7, Vancouver

The final three Round of 32 games wrap up tonight, with Argentina heavy favourites against Cabo Verde in Miami. From here on out, every match is a potential classic!

Roshtein World Cup Event Standings & Stats

To finish off, let's see who's at the top of the Roshtein leaderboards in the FIFA World Cup 2026 event, as well as how many of you have been taking part.

Like last week, here is the top 3: