Messi was on show as reigning champions Argentina got off to a dream start at the World Cup. The icon put Argentina 1-0 up in the first half and then sealed the match in the second with goals to make it 2-0 and 3-0 in Kansas.
- "First I want to thank the coaches, my teammates and all the supporters. It was an important match and now we want to enjoy it," says Messi in a post-match interview.
The hat-trick means Messi is the all-time leading World Cup goalscorer, alongside Germany's Miroslav Klose. Both have scored 16 goals.
I feel in good shape. The first half was difficult and they (Algeria) played well. But in the second half there was a big difference. I want to thank all our supporters. It doesn't matter where we are, in Qatar or in the United States. They are with us everywhere. We are grateful.
The night's performance did not go unnoticed. Erling Braut Haaland, who hours earlier had defeated Iraq with two goals, stated on social media:
Messi is crazy.
In the same match, Lionel Messi made more history. The 38-year-old has played in six World Cups, in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026. He is the only one to do so - at least until later on Wednesday, when he will most likely be joined by Cristiano Ronaldo, 41. If nothing unforeseen happens, the Portuguese will start against Congo-Kinshasa.
"What more is there to say about Messi? It's unfair to try to describe Messi in words and what he means to us and to football," says Argentina national team captain Lionel Scaloni.
Facts: World Cup top scorers of all time
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Lionel Messi, Argentina: 16 goals
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Miroslav Klose, Germany: 16 goals
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Ronaldo, Brazil: 15 goals
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Kylian Mbappé, France: 14 goals
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Gerd Müller, West Germany: 14 goals
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Just Fontaine, France: 13 goals
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Pelé, Brazil: 12 goals
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Jürgen Klinsmann, West Germany: 11 goals
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Sándor Kocsis, Hungary: 10 goals
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Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina: 10 goals
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Gary Lineker, England: 10 goals
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Teófilo Cubillas, Peru: 10 goals
