Lionel Messi scored his first-ever World Cup hattrick as defending champions Argentina cruised to a 3-0 victory over Algeria in their Group J opener at Arrowhead Stadium in the early hours of Wednesday.
The 38-year-old, marking a record-breaking sixth World Cup appearance, single-handedly dismantled the North Africans to tie Miroslav Klose as the joint-highest goalscorer in tournament history with 16 goals.
Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a vintage left-footed strike from outside the
He doubled the lead in the 60th minute, slotting home from inside the penalty area, before completing his treble with another clinical edge-of-the-box finish 16 minutes later. He exited to a massive standing ovation in the 79th minute as Argentina easily managed the clock to secure maximum points.
Erling Haaland also enjoyed a sensational World Cup debut, netting a brace to guide Norway to a resounding 4-1 victory over Iraq at the
Haaland opened his account in the 29th minute, connecting with a cross from David Møller Wolfe. Iraq, making their first World Cup appearance in 40 years, fought back bravely and equalised ten minutes later through an Aymen Hussein header.
However, a costly defensive error allowed Haaland to grab his second goal just before halftime. Leo Østigård extended Norway’s lead with a firm header in the 76th minute, before a late stoppage-time own goal by Hussein compounded Iraq’s misery.
The win leaves Norway level on three points with France at the top of Group I.
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