Kansas City, MINA – Argentina superstar Lionel Messi scored a stunning hat trick for his team on Tuesday to equal Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup record of 16 goals, as the defending champions defeated Algeria 3-0.
On a historic night in Kansas City, records continued to be broken for the Argentine prodigy.
As play kicked off at the home of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, Messi became the first player to appear in six World Cup tournaments, making his 200th international appearance.
The 38-year-old capped the occasion with three goals in a clinical performance by the defending world champions.
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Messi produced a stunning long-range finish in the 17th minute, sparking joy among his fans, who had turned the match into a virtual home game.
Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of French legend Zinedine Zidane, managed to parry the ball but was unable to prevent it from going in.
Messi scored again in the second half from close range, capitalizing on a rebound, moving him to within one goal of Germany’s Klose’s all-time record.
He then completed his first World Cup hat trick with an unstoppable finish in the 76th minute.
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The diminutive genius was substituted shortly afterward.
Meanwhile, Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will equal Messi’s record of six World Cup appearances if he plays for Portugal against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday. []
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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