FIFA World Cup: Lionel Messi equals world record

 

FIFA World Cup: Lionel Messi equals world record

 

Argentina captain Lionel Messi scored a brilliant hat-trick to lead his team to a memorable victory over Algeria and set another major record in World Cup history.

Defending champions Argentina got off to a flying start in their group stage defence by beating Algeria in their opening match.

Messi, who made his 200th international appearance, scored his first World Cup hat-trick.

The feat took his World Cup goals tally to 16, tying him with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose as the tournament's joint-highest scorer.

Messi gave Argentina the lead with a beautiful strike in the 17th minute. He capitalised on a mistake by Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane in the second half before completing his hat-trick with a powerful strike in the 76th minute.

The 38-year-old Messi also achieved another historic milestone in the competition, becoming the first player to appear in six different World Cup editions.

He has also participated in the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups.