Lionel Messi wrote another extraordinary chapter in football history with a hat-trick against Algeria in Group J, equalling Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup goalscoring record of 16 goals. The match — played at Kansas City Stadium — was a masterclass from the Argentine captain as the defending champions began their title defence in emphatic style.
The Goals
Messi’s first came on 17 minutes — a sumptuous opener picking out the top-right corner from the edge of the box after latching onto Rodrigo De Paul’s pinpoint pass. His second followed on 60 minutes, pouncing on a rebound after the goalkeeper could not hold Mac Allister’s powerful strike, finishing coolly with his right foot. The hat-trick was completed on 76 minutes with a trademark curling finish from the edge of the area — placing the ball into the far corner with impossible precision. 3-0, and the crowd rose to applaud one of the greatest performances in World Cup history.
Historical Significance
Messi started the match three goals behind Klose’s record of 16. Within 76 minutes he was level. The achievement came 20 years to the day after Messi’s World Cup debut as a substitute against Serbia and Montenegro at Germany 2006. It was also his 200th senior international appearance for Argentina — numbers that belong in the realm of the extraordinary.
What This Means for Argentina
The defending champions look formidable. Messi surrounded by De Paul, Mac Allister, Almada, and a world-class supporting cast makes Argentina the team every other contender will be hoping to avoid. They then went on to beat Austria 2-0 in Matchday 2, with Messi breaking the all-time record entirely.
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