Lionel Messi delivered a commanding performance in Argentina’s World Cup opener, scoring a hat trick to lead his team to a 3-0 victory over Algeria on Tuesday in Kansas City, Missouri. The three-time World Cup champions secured the win in front of a crowd of 69,045, with Messi’s goals marking a significant milestone in his international career.

Messi’s emotional display came early in the match as he opened the scoring shortly after kickoff on a well-placed assist from Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul. He added a second goal by converting a rebound early in the second half, followed by a precise third strike just before being substituted. This marked Messi’s 16th World Cup goal and tied him with Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the tournament’s all-time scoring record.

The match also served as a personal milestone for Messi, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of his World Cup debut, in which he also found the net. He became only the second player in history to score in five different World Cup tournaments. Overall, this was Messi’s 61st career hat trick and his 11th with the Argentine national team. He extended his scoring streak to five consecutive World Cup games.

Despite carrying a minor hamstring injury in the buildup to the tournament, Messi showed no signs of limitation during the match. He had demonstrated good form in a recent warm-up game against Iceland, where he scored a penalty in limited playing time. Messi expressed satisfaction with his physical condition, emphasizing the importance of starting the tournament with a victory.

“This is my sixth World Cup, and I still feel like I’m in good shape,” Messi said after the game. “It’s important to start the tournament with a win, as that’s never easy in a World Cup.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni lauded Messi’s contribution, saying, “At a loss for words about Leo. What can I say? He’s incredible.” Algeria’s coach Vladimir Petkovic also acknowledged Messi’s brilliance and the support he receives from his teammates.

The match marked Messi’s 200th appearance in international football, placing him among the most capped players globally. Only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who is set to make his 229th appearance soon, and Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa have more caps. Both Messi and Ronaldo share the distinction of scoring in five World Cups.

Argentina has established its base camp in the Kansas City metropolitan area, where “Messi Mania” has been palpable since their arrival two weeks ago. Thousands of fans donned Argentina’s No. 10 jersey to support their team at the stadium, highlighting Messi’s influence both on and off the field. De Paul emphasized Messi’s leadership role within the squad, praising his commitment to the team over individual accolades.

Elsewhere in the tournament, Austria claimed a 3-1 victory over Jordan in Santa Clara, California, with an own goal from Jordan’s Yazan Al-Arab in the 76th minute proving decisive.