Lionel Messi’s Magical Hat-Trick Powers Argentina to Dominant World Cup Victory

Football legend Lionel Messi once again proved why he is regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. Despite nearing 39 years of age and continuing to manage a knee injury, the Argentine captain delivered a stunning performance, scoring a sensational hat-trick to lead defending champions Argentina to a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria in their opening FIFA World Cup match. Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute, added another in the 60th minute, and completed his hat-trick with a breathtaking solo effort in the 76th minute that left defenders and fans in awe.

The remarkable performance saw Messi equal the World Cup goalscoring record of 16 goals previously held by Miroslav Klose. He also became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick, surpassing the previous record set by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018. The emotional Argentine superstar was seen with tears in his eyes after scoring his first goal, reflecting the significance of the moment. Remarkably, the hat-trick came exactly 20 years after Messi scored his first-ever World Cup goal during the 2006 tournament, adding another unforgettable chapter to his legendary career.