What happened: Lionel Messi delivered a historic performance in Argentina's 2026 World Cup opener, scoring three goals in a 3-0 victory over Algeria. The match, held at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, saw the 38-year-old maestro find the net in the 17th, 60th, and 76th minutes.
Why it matters: With this hat-trick, Messi has reached 16 career World Cup goals, equalling the all-time record held by Miroslav Klose. The victory secures three points for Argentina in Group A and marks the first World Cup hat-trick of Messi's storied career.
By the numbers: 16: Total World Cup goals for Messi, tying the all-time record. | 200: Career international caps for Messi as of today. | 1: First career World Cup hat-trick for the Argentina forward.
What to watch: Argentina will look to build on this momentum in their next Group A fixture, while Messi remains one goal away from sole possession of the all-time tournament scoring record.