KANSAS CITY: Lionel Messi produced a masterclass, scoring the first World Cup hat-trick of his illustrious career as Argentina opened their campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria.
The Argentine captain found the net in the 17th, 60th and 76th minutes, leaving Algeria with no answer despite a few attacking attempts that failed to trouble the scoreboard. The victory gave Argentina a perfect start to the tournament.
With the feat, Messi became only the second Argentine player after Gabriel Batistuta to score a hat-trick in a World Cup match. The three goals also took his World Cup tally to 16, drawing him level with Miroslav Klose’s all-time tournament scoring record. Messi’s overall goal count for Argentina rose to 120.
Argentina took the lead in the 17th minute through a trademark Messi finish. Rodrigo De Paul supplied a precise pass from midfield, allowing Messi to cut inside from the right edge of the penalty area before curling a powerful left-footed shot into the top corner. Although the goal was briefly checked by VAR, it was eventually awarded, putting Argentina 1-0 ahead.
The early breakthrough allowed Argentina to dominate possession and dictate the tempo of the game. Algeria’s best opportunity of the first half arrived in the 40th minute, but goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez produced a crucial save, conceding only a corner as Argentina preserved their lead going into the break.
Argentina made tactical changes early in the second half, introducing Nahuel Molina for Gonzalo Montiel, while Julian Alvarez and Nicolas Gonzalez were later brought on in place of Martinez and Thiago Almada respectively.
Messi doubled Argentina’s advantage in the 60th minute, finishing off another flowing move to put the South Americans firmly in control. He completed his historic hat-trick in the 76th minute, sending the Argentine supporters into celebration and etching his name further into World Cup history.
Three minutes after completing the hat-trick, coach Lionel Scaloni substituted Messi to a standing ovation from the crowd. Neither side managed to score again, and Argentina comfortably saw out the contest to secure a convincing 3-0 victory.
The result not only handed Argentina three valuable points but also witnessed another landmark achievement in the extraordinary career of their captain, who continues to rewrite football’s record books.
