Messi hat-trick fires Argentina past Algeria, equals World Cup scoring record
By Maxwell Kumoye
Lionel Messi marked his historic 200th appearance for Argentina in unforgettable fashion, scoring a hat-trick as the reigning world champions launched their FIFA World Cup title defence with a commanding victory over Algeria at Kansas City Stadium.
The 38-year-old superstar produced a masterclass to inspire Argentina to a hard-fought win in their opening Group J fixture, while also writing another chapter in football history.
Messi's treble took his World Cup finals tally to 16 goals, drawing him level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose as the competition's all-time leading scorer.
The achievement came on a landmark night when the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner also became the first player ever to feature in six World Cup tournaments.
Argentina, seeking to become only the third nation to successfully defend the World Cup crown, were forced to work hard against a spirited Algerian side. However, Messi's brilliance proved decisive.
The Argentine captain opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a trademark curling effort after receiving a pass from his Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul.
Messi bent a superb strike beyond goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of French football icon Zinedine Zidane.
The encounter burst into life from the outset, with both teams seeing goals ruled out during an action-packed opening period.
Messi also escaped punishment for a robust challenge on Algeria defender Aissa Mandi midway through the first half.
Argentina doubled their advantage on the hour mark when Messi capitalised on a costly mistake by Zidane, calmly finishing from close range to put the South Americans firmly in control.
The veteran forward completed his first-ever World Cup hat-trick in the 76th minute.
After winning possession from Nicolas Gonzalez, Messi unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the area that left the goalkeeper with no chance.
The victory was significant for Argentina beyond the scoreline. It marked the first time the three-time world champions have won their opening match at a World Cup as defending champions, having lost their first games in both 1982 and 1990.
With the emphatic win, Argentina sit in a strong position in Group J and will now turn their attention to upcoming fixtures against Austria and Jordan as they continue their quest for back-to-back world titles.
For Messi, however, the night belonged to history. On an evening of milestones and records, the Argentine legend once again demonstrated why he remains one of football's greatest-ever players.
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