Messi hat-trick fires Argentina to winning World Cup start
The legendary forward found the net in the 17th, 60th and 76th minutes to seal a comfortable victory in Kansas City.
KATHMANDU: Captain Lionel Messi produced a historic hat-trick as defending champions Argentina kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria in Group J on Wednesday.
Playing in his sixth World Cup, Messi delivered a masterclass, scoring all three goals to secure Argentina’s opening win of the tournament.
The legendary forward found the net in the 17th, 60th and 76th minutes to seal a comfortable victory in Kansas City.
The hat-trick marked the first World Cup hat-trick of Messi’s illustrious career and added another milestone to his remarkable legacy.
With the three goals, Messi’s World Cup tally climbed to 16, equalling the all-time tournament scoring record held by former German striker Miroslav Klose.
Messi now has the opportunity to surpass the record and become the outright leading scorer in World Cup history.
The victory earned Argentina three points and lifted the defending champions to the top of the Group J standings as they began their title defence in impressive fashion.
