Lionel Messi marked his historic 200th appearance for Argentina in unforgettable fashion, scoring a sensational hat-trick as the reigning world champions opened their FIFA World Cup campaign with a commanding victory over Algeria, Softfootball reports.
The Argentine captain not only became the first male player to feature in six FIFA World Cups, but also moved level with Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals, matching the all-time scoring record in the competition. The achievement came just hours after Kylian Mbappé had temporarily moved ahead of Messi in the World Cup scoring charts with his 14th tournament goal.
Having recently recovered from a muscle injury, there had been concerns over Messi’s fitness heading into the match. Those doubts disappeared when Lionel Scaloni named him in the starting lineup, and the 39-year-old quickly showed why he remains football’s biggest star.
Messi nearly opened the scoring inside five minutes when he latched onto a through-ball and finished expertly, only for the effort to be ruled out for a marginal offside. Algeria thought they had struck moments later through Farès Chaïbi, but his finish was also chalked off for offside.
The breakthrough arrived in the 17th minute. Rodrigo De Paul found Messi around 40 yards from goal, and the Inter Miami playmaker drove forward before unleashing a powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area. Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane got a hand to the effort, but could not keep it out as Argentina took a deserved lead.
Messi’s otherwise brilliant first-half display was not without controversy. The Argentine skipper escaped punishment after a late challenge on Aïssa Mandi, appearing to rake his studs down the defender’s calf. Despite appeals, neither a card nor an on-field review followed.
Argentina continued to dominate after the break, and Messi doubled his tally in the 60th minute. Alexis Mac Allister’s long-range effort was parried by Zidane directly into the path of the veteran forward, who calmly slotted home from close range. The goal highlighted both Argentina’s attacking quality and Algeria’s defensive struggles.
With Argentina controlling possession and looking secure at the back throughout the contest, Messi completed his hat-trick later in the match to cap a memorable evening. His three-goal masterclass ensured Argentina began their World Cup journey in emphatic style while further strengthening his claim as one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.
For Messi, it was another historic chapter in an extraordinary international career. For Argentina, it was the perfect start to their quest for another World Cup crown.
Player Ratings
Argentina Player Ratings
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Emiliano Martínez | 6/10 |
| Gonzalo Montiel | 5/10 |
| Cristian Romero | 6/10 |
| Lisandro Martínez | 6.5/10 |
| Facundo Medina | 6/10 |
| Rodrigo De Paul | 7.5/10 |
| Enzo Fernández | 7/10 |
| Alexis Mac Allister | 6.5/10 |
| Thiago Almada | 5/10 |
| Lionel Messi | 10/10 |
| Lautaro Martínez | 6/10 |
Substitutes
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Nahuel Molina | 5/10 |
| Nico González | 6/10 |
| Julián Álvarez | 5/10 |
Algeria Player Ratings
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Luca Zidane | 3/10 |
| Rafik Belghali | 4/10 |
| Aïssa Mandi | 5.5/10 |
| Ramy Bensebaini | 5/10 |
| Rayan Aït-Nouri | 5/10 |
| Nabil Bentaleb | 4/10 |
| Hicham Boudaoui | 5/10 |
| Ibrahim Maza | 5.5/10 |
| Farès Chaïbi | 5.5/10 |
| Anis Hadj Moussa | 5/10 |
| Amine Gouiri | 4/10 |
Substitutes
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Houssem Aouar | 5/10 |
| Riyad Mahrez | 5/10 |
| Mohamed Amoura | 4/10 |
| Adil Boulbina | N/A |
| Ramiz Zerrouki | N/A |
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Argentina | Algeria |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 3 | 0 |
| Possession | 48% | 52% |
| Total Shots | 10 | 7 |
| Shots on Target | 6 | 0 |
| Shots off Target | 4 | 7 |
| Passes* | 468 | 507 |
| Pass Accuracy* | 86% | 88% |
| Corners* | 4 | 3 |
| Fouls Committed* | 11 | 13 |
| Yellow Cards* | 0 | 1 |
| Offsides | 1 | 1 |
Man of the Match
| Player | Rating | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | 10/10 | Hat-trick (17′, 60′, 76′), record-equalling 16th World Cup goal, historic 200th cap for Argentina |
