Lionel Messi delivered a hat trick Tuesday night, powering Argentina to a 3-0 win over Algeria and tying the all-time men's World Cup scoring record. The reigning champions, playing in front of thousands of fans at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, opened their title defense with a commanding performance.
Messi's first goal came on a rocket from distance; he later cleaned up a rebound to complete his first career World Cup hat trick. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has now scored eight goals in his last five World Cup appearances, moving level with Germany's Miroslav Klose with 16 career tournament goals. Argentina dominated possession and created numerous chances throughout the match.
The victory gives Argentina an early boost in Group A, where they are pursuing back-to-back World Cup titles after defeating France in the 2022 final. The defending champions have sent a clear message to the rest of the field with their attacking firepower and defensive solidity against a tough Algerian side.
Argentina will look to build on this momentum when they face their next group-stage opponent. Algeria, meanwhile, must regroup quickly to keep their knockout-round hopes alive. Elsewhere at the tournament, France also impressed with a 3-1 win over Senegal, as Kylian Mbappé scored twice.
Skip Bayless called Messi "even bigger than Taylor Swift" following the historic performance, while analysts debated whether Messi's record-tying display cements Argentina as the team to beat. "I think the preparation was perfect for everyone," said Portugal's Ruben Dias, who will miss his team's opener due to injury, reflecting the broader tournament's early drama.