Messi Ties World Cup Record as Argentina Open Title Defense With Win Over Algeria

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to equal Miroslav Klose's record of 16 World Cup goals as Argentina opened the defense of their title with a 3-0 win over Algeria in Kansas City.

It was a much calmer start than four years ago. Argentina's 2022 campaign, which they went on to win, began with a shock loss to Saudi Arabia. This time there was no such scare, mostly thanks to Messi's first World Cup hat-trick.

Messi's second goal of the night put him level with Brazilian great Ronaldo on 15 World Cup goals, across what is now Messi's sixth World Cup. He then had a shot saved in a one-on-one and a penalty appeal turned down before his third goal made him joint top scorer in World Cup history alongside Klose, with 16.

At 38, Messi will get more chances to take the record outright when Argentina play Austria and Jordan in their remaining group games. The other man in the running is France's Kylian Mbappe, who has 14 goals after scoring twice against Senegal, and faces Iraq on Monday.

Messi looked to have scored inside five minutes with a calm finish into the corner, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Algeria thought they had a way back into things four minutes later, when Ibrahim Maza set up Fares Chaibi to beat goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, but VAR stepped in and ruled that out for offside too. It was the only shot on target Algeria had all night, in a flat display that saw star winger Riyad Mahrez left out of the starting lineup.

Messi did get his goal in the 17th minute, combining with Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo de Paul before driving a shot from 20 yards into the roof of the net. Algeria's Chaibi missed a good chance to level the score before the break, while Argentina's Thiago Almada also fired over.

Lautaro Martinez shot straight at Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of France great Zinedine Zidane, early in the second half. Zidane also kept out a shot from Alexis Mac Allister around the hour mark, but Messi reacted fastest to knock in the rebound for his second goal.

Messi was almost clean through again in the 66th minute after Mac Allister split the Algeria defense, but Zidane got down to stop him. Referee Szymon Marciniak also waved away a penalty appeal from Messi after he went down under a challenge from Manchester City defender Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Messi finally completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute, taking a pass from Nicolas Gonzalez and slotting a low shot into the corner. He was substituted not long after, making way for Nico Paz to a standing ovation from the Arrowhead Stadium crowd as Argentina cruised to victory in their opening match.