Messi hat trick lifts Argentina past Algeria in World Cup opener

Lionel Messi scored a hat trick as Argentina opened its World Cup title defense with a 3-0 win over Algeria in Kansas City on Tuesday, Al Jazeera reported. The performance gave Messi a record sixth World Cup appearance and moved him level with Miroslav Klose on 16 career goals at the tournament, according to Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera reported that Messi, 38, had a goal ruled out in the eighth minute after he finished from close range but was flagged offside. Algeria also had an early effort disallowed, with Fares Chaibi denied in the ninth minute for the same reason, according to the broadcaster.

Messi did not have to wait much longer. Al Jazeera said he put Argentina ahead after a run that ended with a left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area, beating Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane, the son of former France World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane.

Argentina extended the lead on the hour mark, according to Al Jazeera, when Messi converted a rebound after Alexis Mac Allister's shot was stopped by the goalkeeper. Messi completed the hat trick in the 76th minute with a low strike from just outside the area, Al Jazeera reported.

That third goal brought Messi level with Klose at the top of the World Cup scoring list, according to Al Jazeera. He was substituted three minutes later and received a standing ovation, with Al Jazeera reporting that the change appeared aimed at managing his workload as Argentina tries to become only the third team to retain the World Cup.

Al Jazeera said Algeria, the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations champion, offered little attacking threat after its early disallowed goal. The result avoided a repeat of Argentina's opening match at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where it lost to Saudi Arabia before going on to beat France in the final, according to Al Jazeera.

The match was also Messi's 200th international appearance, Al Jazeera reported. His Argentina career began in 2005 when he was 18. According to Al Jazeera, only Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, set for his 229th cap against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Kuwait's Bader Al-Mutawa, with 202, have made more international appearances.

Al Jazeera reported that Ronaldo is also due to match Messi's record of six World Cup appearances when Portugal plays on Wednesday. Messi entered the tournament after a minor hamstring injury sustained with Inter Miami, but he had played 20 minutes and scored a penalty in a warm-up against Iceland last week, according to Al Jazeera.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Al Jazeera reported that Kylian Mbappe scored twice in France's 3-1 win over Senegal and Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway beat Iraq 4-1. Mbappe is now tied for fourth on the World Cup scoring list with 14 goals, according to Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera said Jordan and Austria were scheduled to begin their group campaign later Tuesday in San Francisco. Argentina's next match is against Austria on Monday.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.