Lionel Messi opens up World Cup for Argentina with hat trick
Something you do, I can do higher.
Simply hours after France star Kylian Mbappé jumped Lionel Messi for the third-most targets scored in World Cup historical past at 13, the Argentine answered again — thrice.
Messi opened up his first recreation on the 2026 World Cup with a hat trick in a superb efficiency in Kansas Metropolis.
Within the seventeenth minute, a move from the again line discovered Messi in stride, and he lower by way of the protection. Messi took his likelihood simply outdoors the 18-yard field, and the ball floated simply above Algeria keeper Luca Zidane’s mitts, giving Argentina a 1-0 lead.
However he wasn’t finished but.
Within the sixtieth minute, after Alexis Mac Allister was denied, the rebound was cashed in by Messi, rising Argentina’s result in 2-0.
He discovered the again of the online once more 16 minutes later to finish his first-ever World Cup hat trick. He was subbed out within the eightieth minute earlier than he may rating once more.
Messi has now tied Miroslav Klose’s document of 16 targets scored all-time on the World Cup.
Each Messi and Mbappe — who scored twice Tuesday — have ample time on this World Cup to set new data, as each Argentina and France are favorites to advance to the knockout stage. For the primary time, the World Cup incorporates a round-of-32 stage, giving gamers an additional recreation to tally a purpose.
The 2026 World Cup is the 38-year-old Messi’s sixth and probably final of his illustrious profession. Messi was a key participant in bringing the World Cup again to Argentina in 2022 for the primary time since 1986.
The alternative could be mentioned for the 27-year-old Mbappé, who has solely appeared in 16 World Cup matches, scoring 14 targets within the course of. Mbappé helped his staff rally from a disappointing half on Tuesday afternoon by scoring two targets within the second half. These targets, plus one from Bradley Barcola, gave France a convincing 3-1 win over Senegal.
Mbappé and France are lined as much as play Iraq, whereas Argentina and Messi will face Austria subsequent, with each video games approaching Monday.
