Post by Arise News (@arisenews)

Lionel Messi delivered a masterclass as Argentina began their World Cup title defence in style, scoring the first World Cup hat-trick of his career in a commanding victory over Algeria. The 38-year-old captain marked his 200th appearance for Argentina by netting three goals, taking his World Cup tally to 16 and drawing level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose as the tournament's all-time leading scorer. Messi's historic night also saw him become the first player ever to feature at six World Cups. His goals helped Argentina secure their first opening-match victory as defending champions, overcoming a spirited Algerian side to make a strong statement in Group J. As the reigning champions target back-to-back World Cup crowns, all eyes are now on whether Messi can break the scoring record outright and add another chapter to his extraordinary legacy.

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