News Focus
- Lionel Messi scores three goals to match Miroslav Klose’s World Cup record of 16 strikes
- The Inter Miami star makes history as the first male footballer to play in six World Cup tournaments
- Argentina secure a comfortable opening win against Algeria at Kansas City Stadium
- The 37-year-old reaches 200 caps for his national side during the impressive display
Argentina launched their World Cup defence in spectacular fashion on Tuesday night, with Lionel Messi producing a masterful hat-trick to guide his side past Algeria. The 37-year-old captain wrote his name deeper into football history by equalling Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s highest-ever goalscorer.
The Inter Miami midfielder needed just 17 minutes to open his account at Kansas City Stadium. Rodrigo De Paul supplied the ball from distance, allowing Messi to turn and fire a powerful drive past Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane. The strike marked the beginning of a special evening for the South American giants.
Messi doubled his tally on the hour mark when he reacted quickest to a rebound from Alexis Mac Allister’s long-range effort. The Liverpool midfielder’s shot had been parried by Zidane, but Messi was perfectly positioned to slot home the loose ball.
The Argentine legend completed his treble with 14 minutes remaining, weaving through defenders before beating Zidane with a precise finish. The achievement came just hours after France’s Kylian Mbappé had overtaken Messi in the scoring charts, though the Argentine swiftly reclaimed his share of the record.
The match also marked a milestone appearance for Messi, who became the first male player to feature in six different World Cup editions. He celebrated his 200th international cap in front of nearly 70,000 passionate supporters who transformed the venue into a sea of blue and white.
Algeria, ranked 28th in the world and returning to the finals after a 12-year absence, struggled to contain their opponents. The Desert Foxes had two goals correctly ruled out for offside during the first period, but rarely threatened Argentina’s solid defence. Vladimir Petković’s side must now defeat Jordan in their next fixture to keep their hopes alive.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni will welcome the three points, particularly after his side suffered a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in their 2022 opener. The reigning champions now prepare to face Austria in Arlington, Texas, with Messi expected to chase the outright scoring record.