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Lionel Messi scored a hat trick in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria on Tuesday, tying the all-time World Cup goalscoring record. The goals came in the defending champions' opening match of the 2026 tournament.
Lionel Messi scored his first World Cup hat trick as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in the opening match of their title defense at the 2026 World Cup.
Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a strike from outside the penalty area. He added a second goal in the 60th minute and completed the hat trick in the 76th minute. The goals drew him level with Germany's Miroslav Klose on 16 career World Cup goals. An early goal by Messi was ruled offside.
Messi became the oldest player to score a hat trick at a World Cup. He also marked his 200th international appearance. Argentina is seeking to become the first team to retain the World Cup title since Brazil in 1962. The match was held at Kansas City Stadium in Missouri.
“Honestly, completely unrelated to the sport, I went through some difficult, complicated days," said Messi. " Messi said afterward that the emotion he showed was unrelated to his performance on the pitch. He tied the record without attaching personal significance to it. "It's an honour to be there because of what it means to be there next to Klose," Messi said. "It doesn't mean anything to me.”
bbc.co.ukAustria defeated Jordan 3-1 in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Levi's Stadium in San Francisco. Marko Arnautovic scored a late penalty to seal the win after Austria led at halftime.
Nbc NewsLionel Messi scored early to give Argentina a 1-0 lead in its World Cup opener. The goal marked Messi's fifth consecutive World Cup with a goal, tying a record.
Al JazeeraFour group-stage matches kick off on Wednesday as Portugal faces the Democratic Republic of the Congo, England plays Croatia, Ghana meets Panama, and Colombia takes on Uzbekistan. Pre-match simulations give Portugal, England, and Colombia the edge in their respective fixtures.