Messi hat-trick Equals scoring record as Argentina dazzle against Algeria
The historic performance saw Messi draw level with Germany's Miroslav Klose at 16 total tournament goals, while becoming the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick—exactly 20 years to the day since his first-ever goal at the global finals.
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Marking his 200th international cap at Kansas City Stadium, the iconic captain became the first player in football history to compete at six different World Cups, delivering a masterclass ahead of his 39th birthday later this month. Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute by collecting a perfectly weighted through ball from Rodrigo De Paul, driving forward to unleash a rocket from 25 yards out into the top-right corner.
The opening goal glanced off the fingertips of Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of France great Zinedine Zidane who was watching the high-stakes match from the crowd.
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The defending champions had an early scare inside the opening five minutes when Messi had a goal chalked off for offside, followed just minutes later by Algeria's Fares Chaibi seeing his own opening effort ruled out for the same reason. Messi struck his second goal of the evening in the 60th minute, capitalizing on an error after Luca Zidane badly fumbled a low 25-yard drive from Alexis Mac Allister, leaving the ball to drop invitingly for a simple finish.
The majestic hat-trick was completed in the 76th minute when Messi found the back of the net with another blistering strike, courtesy of an accurate assist from substitute Nico Gonzalez. "Today it became clear that Leo is the most important player of all," teammate Alexis Mac Allister stated after the game, dismissing prior doubts regarding the team's reliance on their veteran talisman.
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Algerian defender Aissa Mandi praised the forward's efficiency, calling him perhaps the best player of all time and noting that he simply does not forgive errors on the pitch, despite an earlier first-half incident where Messi stepped on Mandi's calf without receiving a sanction. Argentina are aiming to become the first men's team to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962, sweeping aside pre-tournament doubts regarding their credentials and their lack of recent European opposition prior to a 3-0 friendly win over Iceland last week.
The vital opening victory helps the holders avoid previous tournament slip-ups, recalling their shock opening defeat to Saudi Arabia in 2022 and a frustrating draw with Iceland four years prior to that. Group J action will resume on Monday, with Argentina scheduled to face Austria in Arlington, Texas, while Algeria will travel to face tournament debutants Jordan in Santa Clara, California.
