Lionel Messi opened his sixth World Cup at age 38 with a historic night in Kansas City, where Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 to begin its title defense. It was Messi’s first career hat-trick at a World Cup, and the performance gave Argentina its first victory in the tournament.
With the three goals, Messi reached 16 World Cup goals, tying Miroslav Klose’s all-time record. The article described the match as a milestone in a career already filled with iconic moments, but said this one stands among the very best.
The game came after Messi’s last World Cup appearance ended in tears of joy when he won the only major title missing from his collection. Now, after his opening display in the 2026 tournament, the report says he appears determined to chase another run of success for the reigning champions.