Lionel Messi delivered a historic performance as Argentina secured a 3–0 victory over Algeria, setting three new milestones in FIFA World Cup history.
The Argentina captain scored once in the opening half and added two more after the break to complete a hat-trick at the Kansas City Stadium, guiding his side to a commanding win.
With the feat, Messi became the first player to score against 11 different national teams in World Cup history, surpassing the previous record of 10 held by Ronaldo Nazário and Jürgen Klinsmann.
At 38 years and 357 days, the forward also set a new benchmark as the oldest player to score multiple goals in a single World Cup match, eclipsing the long-standing record held by Roger Milla.
The match further marked a personal milestone, as Messi made his 200th appearance for Argentina, extending his record as the country’s most-capped player.
Argentina will now turn attention to their next fixture against Austria as they continue their campaign.
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