Messi’s World Cup Hat trick!
Messi scores 3 goals in Argentina-Algeria (3-0) upset game in Kansas.
Kansas City, US, June 16 (EFE).- By Santiago Carbone
Lionel Messi wrote a new page in the annals of football history on Tuesday, scoring all three goals in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria, tipping them as favorites.
His hat trick saw him equal Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, with 16 goals. On the 20th anniversary of his first World Cup goal, the Argentine star shone from the first minute, needing only 17 minutes to thrill the thousands of fans who accompanied Lionel Scaloni’s team to the Group J match in Kansas City.
His goal came with a stunning left-footed strike from outside the box that nestled near the top left corner, leaving Luca Zidane with no chance.
“And hand in hand/with Leo Messi/we’re all going to take the victory lap,” chanted the Albiceleste supporters, who took just 5 minutes to celebrate a goal from their captain, although that one was disallowed for offside.
Earlier, Lautaro MartÃnez signaled Argentina’s intentions with a header that Zidane brilliantly saved on the first dangerous attack.
Algeria responded quickly, scoring a goal 10 minutes later that was disallowed for offside. After a spectacular pass from Ibrahim Maza, Fares Chaibi converted but couldn’t celebrate.
As the minutes ticked by and with the lead in their favor, Argentina took control of the ball and the game, with Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister orchestrating the midfield and Messi troubling the opposing defense with his movement.
On the other side, Chaibi spearheaded the few chances the visitors had to equalize in the first half.
In the second half, Vladimir Petkovic’s men pushed forward, which led to several counter-attacks that threatened their defense.
Argentina’s goal seemed imminent, and in the 60th minute, it finally arrived. Alexis Mac Allister fired a shot from outside the box, Zidane parried it, and Messi pounced on the rebound to seal the victory for the reigning world champions.
“And hand in hand/with Leo Messi/we’re all going to take the victory lap,” echoed through the stands once more. The captain reached 15 World Cup goals, just one shy of Klose’s record.
And he didn’t take long to equal it: in the 76th minute, he capitalized on a pass from Nicolás González and, with a precise shot that nestled inside the right post, became, alongside the German, the all-time leading scorer in the World Cup.
Minutes later, the man who would lift the FIFA trophy in Qatar 2022 was substituted by Nico Paz and left the field to a standing ovation.
Messi wrote another golden page in football history, and Argentina began their title defense in the best possible way. Scaloni’s men climbed to the top of Group J, which will feature the Austria-Jordan match on Tuesday.
Argentina became the first South American team to start with a win in this World Cup and, with little time for celebrations, will begin preparing for their match against Austria in Dallas on June 22. EFE
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