The original “Legends Lay” was unforgettable.
In fact, it was so epic that I had friends who don’t even like the sport reaching out to ask if I saw what happened.
Somehow, I managed to convince those same friends that it was worth throwing a little coffee money on variations of that original “Legends Lay” on Matchday 2.
I’m proud to announce this morning that those same friends are now hardcore soccer fans.
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland arrived on soccer’s biggest stage on the same day on Matchday 1 when they combined for eight goals.
All three superstars scored the first goal in their matches, with Mbappe and Haaland scoring twice, before Messi trumped them both with a hat-trick.
A parlay with each of Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland to score the first goal in their respective matches paid +4328 at FanDuel.
A parlay with all three to register two or more goals paid +8623 at FanDuel.
With that list of legends set to resume their tournaments on Monday, the stage was set for them to run it back.
A select group of soccer handicappers scoffed at the idea that a repeat performance was even possible.
Some of us decided it was worth the gamble.
Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland scored two goals each.
If you read Monday’s Morning Coffee column, then you knew that Messi to score the first goal was +300, and Messi to score two or more goals was +460 at FanDuel.
Messi scored twice in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria to break the record for the most goals in tournament history with 18.
He’s scored Argentina’s last six tournament goals dating back to the 2022 final.
Mbappe to score the first goal was +210 and to score two or more goals was +175 at FanDuel.
Mbappe answered Messi’s brace with one of his own in France’s 3-0 win over Iraq, becoming the fourth man in tournament history to score two or more goals in three consecutive appearances.
After combining to score the first goal and two or more goals in their first five matches, the streak ended when Haaland scored the second and third goals in Norway’s 3-2 win over Senegal.
Haaland became the sixth man ever to score multiple goals in each of his first two tournament appearances.
A parlay with Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland anytime goal paid +598.
A parlay with Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland to score two or more goals paid a whopping +12380 at FanDuel.
For perspective, a $10 bet paid $1238.
Those “Legends Lays” are a sportsbook’s nightmare.
It’s a generational run that might never happen again.
Turning the page this morning, Mbappe remains the favourite to lead the tournament in goals at +150, followed closely by Messi at +165 and Haaland at +500.
Now the stage is set for another superstar to take his turn in the spotlight once again.
Harry Kane is +650 as the fourth choice to lead the tournament in goals.
On Matchday 1, Kane followed up the epic run by Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland with a brace of his own in England’s 4-2 win over Croatia.
What does he have in store for an encore performance?
Let’s set the stage for Tuesday’s tournament action in this Morning Coffee column for Tuesday June 23rd, 2026.
Kane Set To Chase Messi, Mbappe, Haaland For Top Tournament Goal Scorer
Here’s the uncomfortable truth about soccer’s biggest stage that veteran handicappers failed to acknowledge when they ridiculed the public for betting on the game’s biggest superstars to deliver: this tournament is unlike any other event in sports.
This isn’t the Premier League or the Bundesliga.
This is the biggest tournament in sports, and it only happens once every four years.
That changes everything about the motivation, focus, and drive to perform when the opportunity arrives.
For superstars like Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland, this is a chance to live out their dreams, representing their countries on soccer’s biggest stage, with a shot to redefine their legacies forever.
An expanded tournament field has created an even bigger gap in quality and created a unique environment for the world’s best to shine, and the betting public didn’t need spreadsheets or models to figure that out.
Does that mean that Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland will all score two or more goals again on Matchday 3?
Maybe not, but anybody who cashed parlays at +8623 and +12380 will at least consider running it back with that superstar trio a third time at +30321.
Meanwhile, a parlay with Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland anytime goal scorer on Matchday 3 pays +773 at FanDuel.
As for today’s action, the spotlight is on Kane.
England is a -600 moneyline favourite for today’s match versus Ghana.
Unsurprisingly, Kane has accounted for 50 per cent of the bets in the anytime goal market at FanDuel.
Kane scored two of England’s four goals in their opening win over Croatia, while Ghana has lost five of its last seven matches, including a 5-1 loss to Austria.
For my FanDuel Best Bet, I’ll lock in Kane to score and England -1.5 at -113 odds.
I’ll also parlay Croatia and Portugal to win at -146.
Finally, give me Luis Diaz to score or assist at -105 for Colombia versus DR Congo as well as both teams to score in that game at +120.
Diaz has been outstanding for Colombia and has a golden opportunity to extend that run as the most popular anytime goal scorer bet in this match.
DR Congo has scored in the first 90 minutes in 18 of their last 21 international matches.
While they are a big underdog in this match, I can see them score at least one goal.
Hopefully, we can sweep the board with these best bets.
Regardless, it will be hard to top an unforgettable Monday.
Have a great day, everyone!
