Lionel Messi delivered a sensational hat-trick in Argentina’s World Cup opener against Algeria, powering a dominant performance and further cementing his legacy on football’s biggest stage.The Argentine veteran, playing in a record sixth World Cup, equalled Germany’s Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals with his latest strike in the tournament.Messi opened his account with a long-range effort in the first half before adding a close-range finish after the break. He completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute, sending Argentina fans in Kansas City into wild celebrations.The goals came exactly 20 years to the day after Messi’s World Cup debut for Argentina against Serbia and Montenegro, where he also scored, making him only the second player to find the net in five different editions of the tournament. With 16 World Cup goals across six appearances, he now stands level with Miroslav Klose, and the German’s record appears increasingly within reach. The hat-trick also took his career tally to 61 and marked his 11th for Argentina, extending a remarkable streak of scoring in five consecutive World Cup matches.Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026: Messi scripts history, becomes first man to play in six World CupsThe landmark performance came alongside other marquee displays on the same day, with Kylian Mbappé netting twice in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal and Erling Haaland also striking twice in Norway’s 4-1 victory over Iraq, though both were overshadowed by Messi’s exploits.Messi, who turns 39 next week, had entered the tournament following a minor hamstring issue during his stint with Inter Miami, but showed no signs of discomfort after a strong tune-up appearance against Iceland, where he scored from the spot in limited minutes.The match also marked his 200th international appearance since his Argentina debut in 2005 at the age of 18, placing him behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Kuwait’s Bader al-Mutawa in all-time caps.Also Read: Neymar returns to action for limited training with Brazil at the World CupArgentina’s base in the Kansas City region has fuelled intense Messi-mania, with thousands of fans turning out in No. 10 jerseys and filling Arrowhead Stadium with chants for the Argentine icon. The celebrations peaked on match day as supporters and even a playful watch-party moment featuring a goat mascot added to the spectacle before Messi’s eventual heroics reinforced his status in the ongoing GOAT debate.