The 2026 World Cup has already delivered a stunning showcase of attacking talent, with four of the sport’s greatest strikers all making emphatic opening statements.
Kylian Mbappe got proceedings underway in spectacular fashion, scoring twice as France defeated Senegal 3-1 in their opening group game.
Erling Haaland then matched that feat just hours later, netting twice as Norway swept past Iraq 4-1 in a commanding performance.
Lionel Messi went one better, producing a hat-trick as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 to confirm the Inter Miami attacker remains at the very top of the game.
Harry Kane completed a remarkable week for elite strikers, scoring twice himself as England beat Croatia 4-2 in an entertaining clash.
Former Everton and Wales defender Ashley Williams has been speaking to BBC Sport about the tactical challenges of defending against each of these world-class players.
On Messi, who turned 39 on Wednesday and whose treble drew him level with Miroslav Klose as the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer on 16 goals, Williams stressed the need for a collective approach.
“It’s more of a team effort,” Williams said. “I always felt being a defender that you are hoping for a bit of luck.”
Williams explained that trying to force Messi onto his weaker foot offers very limited reward for defenders, given the Argentine’s exceptional technical ability in any position.
“He seems to take control in possession, no matter where you try to push him out to,” Williams said. “He’s got the low centre of gravity, great balance, his touch is exceptional, so he can manipulate the ball and get you into a place you don’t want.”
Williams has personal experience of containing Mbappe, having marked the PSG forward for 84 minutes during an international friendly in Paris back in November 2017.
The former Wales international described Mbappe as a completely different proposition to Messi, with pace and directness being the defining qualities that defenders must match.
“When you’re playing against a striker that is normally 100 miles an hour, you stay in that rhythm as well,” Williams said. “You’re defending at that pace, whereas Messi will slow you down and then speed you up.”
Williams also cautioned that France’s wider attacking threats, including Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele, must not be neglected when planning to contain Mbappe specifically.
“If you focus all your attention on Mbappe, some of the others will hurt you,” Williams said. “As a collective unit, you need to be working together on the same page.”
Haaland, who is the most clinical of the four with 57 goals in just 51 caps, presents an entirely different defensive challenge according to Williams.
“He’s the opposite of Mbappe and Messi,” Williams said. “He’ll beat you without the ball, which makes it even more dangerous.”
The key to limiting the Leeds-born striker, Williams argues, lies in cutting off the supply lines before the ball even reaches the Norway forward.
“You’ve got to stop the balls in behind first and foremost,” Williams said. “Stop the supply going into him.”
On Kane, Williams noted that the England captain’s game has evolved considerably since he faced him during his playing days, when Kane scored five goals against Williams’ Swansea and Everton sides.
“His shooting is arguably the best out of all these players,” Williams said, identifying that as the primary threat defenders must prevent Kane from exploiting.
Kane’s willingness to drop deep and operate near the halfway line creates additional complications, with runners like Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon able to exploit the space left in behind.
“It’s very difficult to play against a team that are going both ways,” Williams said. “From an England point of view I think that’s probably their biggest weapon.”
