Messi opened the scoring with a superb strike before adding a second goal to give Argentina greater control of the contest at Kansas City Stadium.
LIONEL Messi enjoyed a dream start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina’s opening Group J match against Algeria, moving closer to breaking the tournament’s all-time goals record.
The Argentine captain wasted little time in making his mark, responding emphatically after Kylian Mbappé had recently overtaken him as the highest-scoring active player in World Cup history.
Messi opened the scoring with a superb strike before adding a second goal to give Argentina greater control of the contest at Kansas City Stadium.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner appears to have carried his form from the 2022 World Cup into the current tournament.
The match against Algeria, who entered the tournament ranked 27th in the FIFA world rankings, also marked a personal milestone for Messi as he made his 200th appearance for Argentina.
The 38-year-old showed little sign of slowing down and looked as sharp as ever during the landmark outing.
His three-goal display was also the first World Cup hat-trick of his career, adding another achievement to an already illustrious international career with La Albiceleste.
