FIFA WC 2026: Messi equals Klose with hat-trick as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0
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Kansas City: Lionel Messi marked his record-equalling sixth World Cup appearance with a hat-trick as Argentina eased to a 3-0 victory over Algeria in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J opener at Kansas City Stadium on Wednesday.
Messi’s treble took him level with Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals and capped his 200th senior international appearance. The 38-year-old opened the scoring after collecting the ball about 30 yards out, gliding past a defender and curling a clinical finish beyond goalkeeper Luca Zidane.
Algeria briefly threatened early on, with Fares Chaibi and Messi both seeing efforts ruled out for offside in a lively start. Argentina grew into the game, with Alexis Mac Allister seeing a header sail over and Emiliano Martínez comfortably claiming a deflected effort from Anis Hadj Moussa.
After the break, Messi was again central to Argentina’s best moments. Mac Allister’s powerful shot forced a save that Messi pounced on to score his second, and the captain completed his hat-trick with a trademark curling strike from the edge of the area.
Messi, who also holds Argentina’s records for most caps and most international goals, now equals Klose’s World Cup scoring record and can claim it outright when Argentina face Austria on June 22. Algeria meet Jordan next in Group J.
(Inputs from IANS)