Lionel Messi proved that he’s nonetheless among the many biggest gamers on the planet with a surprising efficiency in his first look on the 2026 World Cup.
On his 2 hundredth worldwide look, in what is unquestionably his last World Cup, the Argentina captain produced a hat-trick of breathtaking high quality to destroy Algeria and draw degree with Miroslav Klose because the all-time main scorer in World Cup historical past.
Algeria, again on the World Cup for the primary time since 2014, gave nearly as good a first-half account as they might handle.
However in the long run, the category of Messi and the relentless equipment of Lionel Scaloni’s defending champions proved an excessive amount of.
Offside drama offers solution to Messi magic
The opening phases provided drama from each ends earlier than a ball had crossed both goalline. On six minutes, Lautaro Martinez swivelled to volley a go into Messi’s path and the captain tucked a end into the close to submit – just for the linesman’s flag to chop the celebrations lifeless, with an offside within the build-up.
Two minutes later, Algeria had their very own purpose chalked off, Chaibi ending neatly solely to be caught marginally offside after a beautiful weighted go from Maza by the strains.
It was Messi, inevitably, who broke the impasse. On 17 minutes, De Paul cut up the Algerian defensive position with a wonderfully threaded by ball, and Messi wanted solely a contact to set himself earlier than whipping a venomous left-footed strike into the far nook.
Although goalkeeper Luca Zidane bought a hand to it, the sheer energy of the shot carried it into the online.
Argentina spent the rest of the half controlling possession, working 107 passes within the opposition’s half in comparison with Algeria’s 41.
Scaloni’s facet had been by no means going to permit the Fennecs the area to breathe. The half-time whistle got here with the champions one purpose to the great and the outcome already feeling inevitable.
Messi makes historical past – twice
The second half lasted barely quarter-hour earlier than Messi rendered the competition over. Mac Allister’s highly effective long-range strike was parried by Zidane however spilled right into a harmful space, with Aissa Mandi failing to carry the offside lure.
Messi stepped as much as slide a composed end into the underside nook. Two objectives on his 2 hundredth cap, and his fifteenth World Cup strike – transferring him previous Kylian Mbappe’s report set simply hours earlier in New Jersey.
The hat-trick arrived with 14 minutes left, and it was a becoming solution to full the treble. Substitute Nicolas Gonzalez drove into the Algerian half and lower a go again to the captain, who managed, shifted onto his left foot, and curled a medical end into the again of the online.
It was Messi’s first World Cup hat-trick and his sixteenth World Cup purpose, drawing him degree with Klose on the summit of soccer’s most celebrated scoring checklist.
Scaloni instantly withdrew his captain to a standing ovation. Each soul inside Kansas Metropolis Stadium was on their ft, making manner for Nico Paz, who got here on to see out the remaining ten minutes.
A press release made by Argentina
Algeria weren’t disgraced. Riyad Mahrez got here on with half an hour remaining to make his World Cup return as captain, and the previous Manchester Metropolis and Leicester winger tried to offer his facet some impetus, curling a free-kick simply over the wall late on and linking neatly along with his midfielders.
However Algeria couldn’t discover a manner by an Emiliano Martinez who was barely troubled all night.
For Argentina, the title defence is underway with most factors and minimal fuss. For Messi, the report that has haunted him since 2014 is now inside touching distance.
He wants only one extra purpose to face alone as the best World Cup scorer within the historical past of the sport.
