KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Lionel Messi scored all three goals Tuesday as Argentina opened its World Cup title defense with a 3-0 win over Algeria, drawing the 38-year-old level with the men’s World Cup scoring record.
The hat trick was Messi’s first at a World Cup and lifted him to 16 career goals across six tournaments, matching the record Germany’s Miroslav Klose set over four.
Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium for the World Cup, felt like a home ground for Argentina. Fans filled the stands and sang “Muchachos,” the anthem from the 2022 run, long before kickoff.
Algeria brought loud support of its own, with fans waving flags throughout. The North Africans pressed at times but could not finish their chances.
Both teams had goals ruled out for offside in the opening 10 minutes. Officials flagged Messi in the fifth minute and Algeria’s Fares Chaibi in the 10th.
Messi broke through in the 17th minute. He dropped deep to collect the ball, slipped a pass and kept moving, then took the return and curled a left-footed shot from outside the box past goalkeeper Luca Zidane.
The goal settled Argentina, which controlled possession and tempo with Messi drifting inside from the right.
Algeria held more of the ball but struggled in the final third. Argentina out-attempted the Algerians 10-7 over the match.
Argentina doubled the lead just past the hour. Alexis Mac Allister shot from distance, Zidane parried, and Messi reached the rebound first and finished with his right foot.
At 2-0, the result moved out of reach. Argentina slowed the game and made Algeria chase.
Messi completed the hat trick in the 76th minute. Argentina broke quickly, Messi fed Nicolas Gonzalez wide and ran onto the return at the top of the box, then placed a low left-footed shot into the far corner.
Much of the crowd rose to its feet. Messi left the field minutes later to a long ovation.
What’s Next
Argentina won the 2022 World Cup, beating France on penalties, and opens this tournament atop Group J.
Argentina plays Austria on June 22 in Arlington, Texas. Algeria faces Jordan on June 21 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
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