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Lionel Messi opened his record-breaking sixth World Cup with a hat-trick to go the tournament’s associated all-time apical scorer connected Tuesday (June 16, 2026) arsenic holders Argentina launched their bid for back-to-back titles with a dazzling 3-0 rout of Algeria.
On a magical nighttime astatine Kansas City’s 69,045-capacity Arrowhead Stadium, Messi delivered an electrifying idiosyncratic display to articulation Miroslav Klose astatine the apical of the World Cup scorers charts with 16 goals.
The 38-year-old had started an unforgettable juncture — his 200th planetary quality — by claiming a portion of history, becoming the archetypal antheral to play successful six World Cups arsenic helium led Argentina onto the tract for what would go a one-sided Group J clash.
FIFA World Cup 2026 | Argentina vs Algeria LIVE updates
Messi, who archetypal played successful the World Cup arsenic a teen during the 2006 finals successful Germany, past emphatically stamped his people implicit proceedings with a memorable hat-trick — the archetypal of his World Cup career.
A 17th infinitesimal curling onslaught took his World Cup goals tally to 14, putting him alongside German fable Gerd Muller and France superstar Kylian Mbappe successful the all-time rankings.
He past moved 1 wide of Muller and Mbappe to articulation Brazilian large Ronaldo connected 15 goals successful the 60th infinitesimal aft pouncing connected a rebound from an Alexis Mac Allister changeable to marque it 2-0.
He joined Germany’s Klose connected 16 goals successful the 76th minute, sweeping successful a debased decorativeness from the borderline of the country earlier departing to deafening applause and a lasting ovation from an adoring assemblage 4 minutes later.
Argentina defeated France successful an epic 2022 World Cup last successful Doha, winning connected penalties aft a 3-3 gully that saw Les Bleus striker Mbappe people a hat-trick.
Mbappe disconnected the mark
France — who could conscionable Argentina successful the last again this twelvemonth if seedings travel the signifier book — launched their tourney connected Tuesday (June 16, 2026) with a 3-1 decision of Senegal, with Mbappe scoring doubly to suggest helium is much than acceptable to present different large World Cup.
“There are inactive radical retired determination who volition criticise him but helium is an bonzer player,” France manager Didier Deschamps said of Mbappe. “Not everything came disconnected for him, but helium tin triumph games successful 1 moment.”
Mbappe’s treble against the Senegalese besides saw him overtake Olivier Giroud arsenic France’s starring goalscorer with 58 goals from 99 games.
“I americium truly pleased for him. He didn’t people successful the warm-up affable games but to interruption the grounds astatine the World Cup gives it much impact,” Deschamps added.
Another potent scorer, Erling Haaland, marked his archetypal World Cup finals appearance with 2 goals successful a 4-1 romp against Iraq successful France’s Group I.
The Manchester City striker pounced from adjacent scope connected 29 minutes successful Foxborough, but Aymen Hussein’s header brought Iraq level earlier Haaland capitalised connected an Iraqi antiaircraft mistake to enactment Norway up again earlier half-time. He took his planetary goals tally to 57 successful conscionable 51 matches.
Substitute Leo Ostigard headed successful a 3rd for Norway and they got a 4th heavy successful stoppage clip done a Hussein ain extremity to unafraid 3 points successful their archetypal quality astatine a World Cup since 1998.
Haaland’s goalscoring World Cup debut near Norway manager Stale Solbakken purring with satisfaction.
“You could spot that helium adapted to the occasion, the juncture wasn’t excessively large for him,” said Solbakken.
“”I had a bully feeling earlier the game. I had rather a comfy feeling that helium would bash it for america today.”
In the precocious crippled connected Tuesday, World Cup debutants Jordan look Austria successful Santa Clara, California successful Group J.
