Lionel Messi writes fresh history with first World Cup treble, joining all-time greats on 16 goals in emphatic 3-0 victory over AlgeriaLionel Messi delivered a masterclass on Tuesday, scoring a memorable hat-trick as defending champions Argentina launched their bid for back-to-back World Cup titles with a commanding 3-0 win over Algeria at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium.

The 38-year-old superstar, making his record-breaking sixth World Cup appearance, lit up the 69,045-capacity venue on his 200th international cap. His dazzling display moved him level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose at the top of the all-time World Cup scoring charts with 16 goals.

Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a trademark curling strike, taking him to 14 World Cup goals and level with legends Gerd Müller and Kylian Mbappé. He then pounced on a rebound from an Alexis Mac Allister shot in the 60th minute to reach 15 goals, before sealing his first-ever World Cup hat-trick with a composed low finish from the edge of the box in the 76th minute.

The Argentine captain was substituted to a thunderous standing ovation four minutes later as Argentina cruised to victory in Group J.