Argentina Dominates Algeria in FIFA World Cup 2026 Opener with Messi's Hat-Trick

Argentina's Impressive Start in World Cup 2026

Argentina kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey with a resounding 3-0 victory over Algeria. Lionel Messi shone brightly, achieving his first hat-trick in his sixth World Cup appearance, earning widespread acclaim for his outstanding performance. However, there was a tense moment during the match when it seemed Messi might receive a red card. This incident sparked a heated debate on social media regarding his continued presence on the field.

Shortly after scoring his opening goal in the 17th minute, Messi executed a controversial challenge on Algeria's Aissa Mandi. Video replays indicated that he made a studs-up tackle, nearly making contact with Mandi's ankle. Surprisingly, the referee did not call a foul, and Messi avoided any penalties, including a yellow card, despite the tackle typically warranting a red card.

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Messi Matches Klose's World Cup Goal Record

With his hat-trick, Messi raised his total World Cup goals to 16, matching the record set by German icon Miloslav Klose for the most goals in World Cup history. At 38 years and 357 days, Messi also became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in the tournament, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo's previous record of 33 years and 130 days. Messi will have the opportunity to break Klose's record in Argentina's next match against Austria on Monday, July 22, at 10:30 PM IST.