Lionel Messi changed the nature of individual competition in the 2026 World Cup with just one match. His opening hat-trick wasn’t just a perfect start for Argentina. It was an early warning that the race for the Golden Boot and Best Player award would be fierce. The world’s focus has shifted. Fans are no longer just watching team results. They are tracking how tournament stars respond to the target Messi set early on. Messi leads the race with seven goals. His performance has ignited an exceptional battle among four other global superstars. Mbappe, Haaland, Dembele and Vinicius Jr are all in…