Lionel Messi made history in his sixth World Cup appearance by achieving his first hat-trick at a FIFA tournament, propelling Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Algeria. This match marked Messi’s milestone as he equaled Miroslav Klose for the most goals scored in World Cup history, reaching a total of 16 goals. Although he initially thought he had scored in the eighth minute, his effort was disallowed for offside.

Messi’s first goal came just after the hour mark, tapping in a rebound from a shot by Alexis Mac Allister. His second goal, deemed splendid, arrived in the 76th minute when he executed a low shot from outside the box that overwhelmed Algeria’s goalkeeper, Luca Zidane.

In the lead-up to this match, Argentina’s performance was under scrutiny since they had lost their opening game in Qatar 2022 against Saudi Arabia. With Messi’s pivotal contributions and after a decade of international competition since starting his career in 2005, the iconic Argentinian number 10 showcased his enduring talent despite a minor hamstring injury during his time with Inter Miami.

As Messi departed the field to a standing ovation shortly after scoring, his record-setting showcase eclipsed performances from stars like Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, who also had notable games on the same day. The victory boosts Argentina’s ambition of defending their World Cup title, with their next match scheduled against Austria.

The overall performance from Algeria, recent champions of the Africa Cup of Nations, was lackluster, failing to capitalize on an early opportunity that was also ruled offside. Messi’s achievement and Argentina’s strong start underline the team’s aspirations as they compete in this prestigious tournament.