Lionel Messi has scored his first-ever FIFA World Cup hat-trick as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 this afternoon.
The captain once again showed his class on the world stage, scoring all three goals to guide Argentina to a convincing victory in their Group J clash.
The match was also a historic one for Messi, with his opening goal marking the 200th goal milestone of his remarkable career.
Playing in his sixth FIFA World Cup, Messi continues to add to his legendary status, becoming the difference-maker for Argentina as they secured all three points.
Argentina's win puts them in a strong position early in the tournament, while Algeria will look to bounce back in their next match.
Messi's hat-trick is likely to be remembered as one of the standout performances of the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far.
In matches tomorrow, Christiano Ronaldo's Portugal takes on Congo CR at 5am, England faces Croatia at 8am, Ghana faces Panama at 11am while Uzbekistan takes on Colombia at 2pm.
