Argentina 3-0 Algeria, Highlights: Lionel Messi Lights Up FIFA World Cup With Hat-Trick In Landmark Match

• Matches played: 1

• Argentina wins: 1

• Algeria wins: 0

• Draws: 0

• Goals scored by Argentina: 4

• Goals scored by Algeria: 3

Messi seeks 200th cap if and when he enters the field of action. The Inter Miami ace is nursing an injury and his manager has been skeptical of his inclusion.

“Not only the Argentinian population but everybody — the whole planet — wants to see him play,” ARG coach Lionel Scaloni explained. “Everybody wants to see him on the pitch, because he has an effect not only on Argentina fans but supporters all over the world.”

“There’s nothing negative to say,” Scaloni said. “He’s always been there, and he’s essential for us. He’s going to remain that way.”

ARG Starting XI: Emiliano Martinez; Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Facundo Medina; Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Thiago Almada; Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez.

ALG Starting XI: Luca Zidane; Mohamed Farsi Belghali, Aissa Mandi, Ramy Bensebaini, Rayan Ait-Nouri; Hicham Boudaoui, Ahmed Kendouci Maza, Nabil Bentaleb; Anis Hadj Moussa, Amine Gouiri, Farid El Melali Chaibi

Algeria: W-W-D-W-L

Argentina: W-W-W-W-W

Both set of players are on the field as it's time for the national anthems. Argentina's national is anthem is being played out first followed by Algeria's.

The pre-match formalities are done and dusted and both set of players are in position as the play is about to start. Argentina are in their blue and white jersey while Algeria don their all-green kit. Referee blows the whistle and the defending champions start the proceedings.

MESSI HAS THE BALL IN THE NET... but it won’t count!

Lautaro does well to shield possession before slipping Messi through inside the box. The Argentine star stays composed, takes a touch, and blasts a left-footed effort into the near post, only for celebrations to be halted as the assistant’s flag goes up. Replays later confirm he was caught offside by the narrowest of margins.

That a stunning goal from Algeria but the referee takes VAR and it was offside, denying Algreia the lead. Ibrahim Maza turns brilliantly in mid-field, creates space and passes it to Chaibi, who fires a beautiful curling shot into the near post.

Goaaalll....! Lionel Messi starts his final World Cup campaign with a goal. He collects the ball in midfield and fires a powerful strike from some distance. The fierce brushes the fingertips of the goalkeeper, Luca Zidane before finishing into the top corner of the post. The entire stadium erupts as Messi scores first in his 200th appearance.

Lionel Messi now has second-most career goals in the World Cups (15), surpassing Kylian Mbappé and Gerd Müller.

Top stuff at display from Argentina as their movement down the left flank is keeping Algeria on tenterhooks and Messi is in the center of it all with his slick one-touch exchanges.

The referee blows the halftime whistle and with it the stoppage times comes to an end. Both set of players are heading back to the locker rooms for the break with Argentina leading by 1-0, courtesy of a Messi special.

The players are back in the field for the final half of the game. Argentina have looked a class apart today, keeping the opposition on the edge with Lionel Messi leading from the front.

Maza gets a shot away from the edge of the box, but his effort is blocked by his marker. Algeria are beginning to find their rhythm now, showing greater urgency and purpose in the attacking third.

Goaaalll....! Argentina scores their second goal of the night and who else can it be other than Messi as he threads a clever pass for Gonzalez on the left, while the cross is cleared till Mac Allister, who fires from a distance. Algeria's Zidane could only push it to the danger area and Messi pounces on the opportunity and taps in with ease.

Lionel Messi sets up a brilliant ball with his special weaving from the center of the circle before passing the ball left to Nico Gonzalez with the substitute returning the ball to Messi at the corner of the penalty area, who then fires it into the bottom corner.

Lionel Messi found the net three times in his 200th appearance for Argentina, marking his first-ever World Cup hat-trick and his sixth appearance at the tournament. The milestone-filled night also saw him reach 16 World Cup goals, drawing level with all-time record scorer Miroslav Klose.

That's it! The referee blows the fulltime whistle and with it the stoppage time comes to an end. It's been a memorable day for football fans across the globe as Lionel Messi lights up the field with his amazing skill and scores a hat-trick to get his team to a 3-0 win.

- This was Lionel Messi's first hat-trick in World Cup.

- He has also now become the oldest player (38y-357d) to score a World Cup hat-trick breaking Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 33y 130d.

- Messi now has 24 goal contributions in the FIFA World Cup, surpassing Pele (21).

- This was Messi 200th match for Argentina, making him the only South American player and third overall to achieve this feat.

- Lionel Messi has now scored in five consecutive World Cup matches stretching back to 2022, leaving him just one game short of equalling the tournament record jointly held by Just Fontaine and Jairzinho.

- He also becomes the first Argentine player ever to find the net in five straight World Cup games.

That's a wrap! That's a wrap from our end, we'll be back soon with another blog, until then, bye bye.