The Lead

Messi Ties the All-Time World Cup Goals Record

Lionel Messi walked off the Arrowhead Stadium turf to a standing ovation Tuesday night having done something no player has done in 23 World Cups: scored a hat trick in his opening match while simultaneously tying the all-time record for World Cup goals. With the hat trick — his first-ever on the World Cup stage — his World Cup goals total reached 16, matching the tournament record set by Germany's Miroslav Klose. He also became the first player to ever appear in six men's World Cups.

The structural implication goes beyond biography. France's Kylian Mbappé scored a brace in his opener, moving to 14 career World Cup goals — putting the two on a collision course for the record this summer. Messi is now one goal away from becoming the outright all-time leading scorer, and he was taken off at the 80th minute, meaning Argentina's coaching staff will manage his minutes carefully heading into the June 22 rematch with Austria.

The Rest of the Slate

Stanley Cup

The Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup champions, having defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6. Former Maple Leaf Mitch Marner, in his first season with Vegas, led all playoff performers with 29 points — the most productive Finals run of his career, and still not enough.

Blue Jays

The Blue Jays took a 6-1 lead into the ninth inning at Fenway Park Tuesday, with three home runs on seven hits against Boston. Toronto entered the series at 34-38 having dropped two straight, so arresting that slide in the opener of a three-game set matters for a team still within reach of the AL East conversation.

Toronto Tempo

The Indiana Fever defeated the Tempo 113-91 at home Tuesday, with Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham leading Indiana to their fourth straight win. A 22-point road loss to a Fever team on a winning streak signals a depth gap — the Tempo's next home date is June 25.

The Number

Lionel Messi's career World Cup goals, now tied for the all-time record with Miroslav Klose He reached 16 at age 38 — Klose set the record at 36 — which means the conversation tonight isn't whether Messi breaks it, but whether Mbappé can catch him first.

What's On Tonight

            4:00 PM ET · England vs Croatia · TSN
45 PM ET · Blue Jays at Red Sox · Sportsnet
00 PM ET · Ghana vs Panama (at BMO Field, Toronto) · TSN
00 PM ET · Uzbekistan vs Colombia · TSN
          

Top Dog — Betting Angle

The pick: Blue Jays money line tonight at Boston — a lineup that posted three home runs on Tuesday doesn't cool off overnight against a Red Sox staff ranked fifth in the AL East by ERA. Odds: approximately -115.

“Messi now shares a record with a man who retired in 2014 — and he has two group stage games left to make it his alone”