Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Argentina opened their World Cup campaign with a 3-0 victory over Algeria, moving level with the highest goalscoring total in the tournament’s history. The Inter Miami star became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick and reached another milestone on his 200th international appearance. His three goals took him to 16 World Cup goals, drawing level with Miroslav Klose.
The eight time Ballon d’Or winner looked determined from the opening minutes. An early effort was ruled out for offside, but he quickly responded with a strike from outside the penalty area to put Argentina ahead. After the break, he doubled the lead by reacting first to a saved effort before completing the first World Cup hat-trick of his career with a low finish from the edge of the box.
Argentina’s win gave the defending champions a comfortable start in the group, adding another major record to Messi’s international career. His World Cup goals have now been scored across five tournaments. Messi first found the net at Germany 2006 before going scoreless in South Africa four years later.
He played a central role in Argentina’s run to the 2014 final in Brazil, scoring four goals during the tournament. Another goal came in Russia before his defining World Cup campaign arrived in Qatar in 2022. Messi scored seven times in Qatar as Argentina lifted the trophy and secured a third World Cup title.
Before this match, former Germany striker Miroslav Klose held the World Cup scoring record with 16 goals. Klose surpassed Brazilian great Ronaldo during Germany’s victorious 2014 campaign, breaking the record in a now infamous 7-1 semi-final win over hosts Brazil in Belo Horizonte.
France forward Kylian Mbappé has also continued his climb up the rankings. His two goals against Senegal in France’s opening match moved him level with Germany legend Gerd ‘Der Bomber’ Müller.
Where does this performance rank among Lionel Messi’s greatest World Cup moments as Argentina begin another campaign? Read more international football and major sporting stories at EyeOnLondon.
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