Messi hat-trick powers Argentina past Algeria in World Cup opener

Messi hat-trick sinks Algeria 3–0 in the opener

Argentina 3–0 Algeria in Kansas City, and Lionel Messi scored all three. He's now tied the all-time World Cup goals record. Scaloni looked emotional as Messi walked off. "I have no words," the manager said. "What can I say? He's too much. He's been doing this for 20 years. We just have to enjoy what he's doing. It's simply incredible" (1). Your team broke the curse: Argentina had lost both previous World Cup openers as defending champions. Not this time.

The numbers behind the show

Messi put up 29.90 Cartola fantasy points, the highest of any player on day six of the tournament. Mbappé, Haaland, and Jordan's Olwan all trailed him (2). That's three goals, a record equalled, and the highest fantasy score of the day in one performance.

Cuti Romero: 'We have the sword and we have to enjoy it'

Cuti Romero didn't hold back after the match. "Tenemos el ancho de espadas y hay que disfrutarlo todo el tiempo que podamos," he said. He also spoke about his 13-year friendship with Lisandro Martínez: "He's a brother that football gave me" (3). The defensive pair looked solid behind a midfield that controlled the tempo all night (6).

Mac Allister shuts down the doubters

Mac Allister was blunt. "If anyone thought this team was better without Messi, today it became very clear that the guy is the most important of all," he said. "We have to build a team so he feels comfortable, and I think we're doing that. He's playing well, he's happy, he's scoring goals" (4). Dibu Martínez, Lautaro, Almada, and Enzo Fernández all echoed the same sentiment: everything runs through the 10.

The legends take notice

Haaland, Ibrahimovic, Henry, and Müller all posted about Messi's hat-trick after the final whistle (5). Four generations of goalscorers, same reaction. Your captain made the entire football world stop and watch.

Messi stays humble

His own words on tying the record: "It is an honour, but it is just a statistic" (7). Six World Cups, a hat-trick in the opener, and he's talking like it's a Tuesday training session.