Lionel Messi equalled Miroslav Klose’s all-time record for goals at World Cup tournaments when he netted for the 16th time in Argentina’s 3-0 opening win over Algeria on Tuesday. Messi, playing at a record sixth World Cup, netted a spectacular opener from distance in Kansas City, then poked home from close range before completing his first ever World Cup hat-trick. Read moreWorld Cup 2026: All the fixtures The opening game in Group J saw another masterclass from the Argentina captain, who turns 39 later this
month and was marking his 200th cap for his country. His hat-trick came 20 years to the day he made his World Cup debut in a match against Serbia and Montenegro, in which he also scored. It helped Argentina get off to a better start than the last World Cup in Qatar, when they were beaten by Saudi Arabia in their opening match. Messi nearly had two other goals against Algeria, never once looking like the mild hamstring injury that worried fans in the run-up
to the tournament was a problem. One found the back of the net but was called back because he was ever-so-slightly offside. He was a pest in defence, too, helping the Albiceleste lock down the overmatched North Africans. Algeria’s best chance came in the opening minutes, when Fares Chaibi’s would-be goal was taken away by a VAR review that showed he was also marginally offside. Messi scored moments later, and the rest of the night belonged to him and Argentina. The defending champions will continue
their pursuit of back-to-back World Cup titles in Arlington, Texas, when they play Austria on Monday and Jordan on June 27. Algeria face Jordan on Monday in Santa Clara, California, before taking on Austria in their Group J finale on June 27 back in Kansas City. (FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP, Reuters)
Lionel Messi, Miroslav Klose, Argentina, Algeria, World Cup, hat-trick, Group J, Kansas City, VAR offside, Austria, Jordan, Miroslav Klose record