Lionel Messi marked Argentina’s FIFA World Cup opener in spectacular fashion, scoring a hat-trick in a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria on Tuesday and equalling Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record.
The 38-year-old superstar struck three times in Kansas City, taking his tally to 16 World Cup goals. Messi opened the scoring with a stunning long-range effort, added a second from close range shortly after half-time, and completed his first-ever World Cup hat-trick late in the match before leaving the field to a standing ovation.
Messi Hat-Trick
The achievement came exactly 20 years after Lionel Messi made his FIFA World Cup debut against Serbia and Montenegro, a match in which he also scored. His latest treble was the 61st hat-trick of his illustrious
career and his 11th for Argentina. It also extended his scoring streak to five consecutive World Cup matches.
Messi’s first goal came after an incisive pass from his Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul. The performance underlined his enduring brilliance despite concerns over a minor hamstring issue suffered while playing for Inter Miami before the tournament. He had already eased those fears by scoring from the penalty spot in a warm-up victory over Iceland last week.
The Argentine captain’s appearance against Algeria was also the 200th of his international career. Only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa have made more appearances in men’s international football.
Messi’s hat-trick overshadowed impressive performances elsewhere on the day, with France forward Kylian Mbappe scoring twice in a 3-1 win over Senegal and Norway striker Erling Haaland netting a brace in a 4-1 victory over Iraq.
Messi Madness In US!
Argentina’s arrival in the Kansas City area has generated enormous excitement, with thousands of supporters flocking to Arrowhead Stadium wearing Messi’s iconic No. 10 shirt. Fans sang throughout the evening as their hero delivered another memorable World Cup performance, further strengthening his case as one of football’s greatest-ever players while helping the defending champions begin their campaign in emphatic fashion.
(With inputs from Agencies)
