Messi passes Klose as several teams reach a World Cup knockout round for the first time

Lionel Messi scored twice as Argentina beat Austria 2-0 and moved past Miroslav Klose as the World Cup's all-time top scorer with 18 goals. Later in the week he scored in a 3-1 win over Jordan and became the first man to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches, counting matches from the previous tournament. The two milestones came in the group stage, not in a final.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Portugal's 5-0 win over Uzbekistan. He became the first player to score in six different World Cups and Portugal's all-time top scorer at the tournament. The United States eased travel rules so Iran's team could reach Seattle two days before its match with Egypt at Lumen Field.

South Africa beat South Korea 1-0 in its last group game and reached the knockout stage for the first time, finishing second in Group A. Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina also advanced for the first time, second and third in Group B. Ivory Coast beat Curacao 2-0 to finish second in Group E and reach the knockouts for the first time.

Cape Verde, already a debutant, became the smallest nation to reach the World Cup knockout stage after finishing second in Group H. DR Congo beat Uzbekistan 3-1 and qualified for the first time as the best third-placed team. Egypt drew 1-1 with Iran and finished second in its group, a first knockout appearance.

The Washington Wizards took former Brigham Young freshman AJ Dybantsa with the first pick in the NBA draft at Barclays Center. Oklahoma's baseball team beat North Carolina 13-2 to win the College World Series for the first time since 1994. FIFA suspended Nepal's football association immediately for third-party interference and barred it from international competition until reinstatement conditions are met.

The group-stage scorelines that decided these firsts were the ones above, not a set of invented margins. Argentina, Portugal, South Africa, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, and Egypt each had a reported result attached to the milestone. Canada and Bosnia advanced on group position, and Cape Verde advanced as the smallest knockout qualifier.