Kansas City/IBNS-CMEDIA: Football legend Lionel Messi painted the Kansas City Stadium in blue and white, scoring a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Tuesday (local time).
Messi Equals Klose’s World Cup Record
Messi’s three-goal masterclass saw him draw level with German great Miroslav Klose’s all-time FIFA World Cup goalscoring record.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner further cemented his place in football history by taking his World Cup tally to 16 goals, matching Klose’s long-standing mark.
Landmark Night for the Argentine Captain
The match carried added significance for Messi as he made his 200th international appearance for Argentina and registered the first World Cup hat-trick of his illustrious career.
Early Strike Sets the Tone
Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a trademark finish after both sides had earlier seen goals ruled out for offside.
The Argentine captain doubled the lead in the 60th minute before completing his hat-trick later in the game, ensuring the defending champions began their title defence in emphatic fashion.
Mbappé Continues France’s Charge
Earlier in the day, France had also made a strong statement with captain Kylian Mbappé delivering a match-winning performance to inspire Les Bleus.
With Messi starring for Argentina and Mbappé leading France from the front, two of world football’s biggest icons have already lit up the World Cup, setting the stage for a thrilling tournament ahead.
