Lionel Messi scores a first World Cup hat-trick as Argentina open their tournament with a 3-0 win over Algeria. The goals take him to 16 World Cup goals, matching Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the joint all-time leading scorer. Multiple reports describe the hat-trick as coming in the match against Algeria, with one source noting Messi completes it in the 76th minute. The performance also adds to Argentina’s World Cup campaign as they begin their title defence. Sources also highlight Messi’s broader tournament milestones: he is reported to make it his 200th appearance for Argentina, and his scoring run extends across consecutive World Cups. Several outlets also mention that Messi becomes the first player to reach six World Cup appearances, and they note his age and record-setting status as an older World Cup hat-trick scorer. Overall, the coverage converges on the same key points: Messi records his first World Cup hat-trick, Argentina beat Algeria 3-0, and Messi ties Klose on the all-time World Cup goals list.