New Delhi, June 17 -- Life came a full circle for Lionel Messi on Wednesday (June 16) as the Argentine captain became the oldest footballer to score a FIFA World Cup hattrick. Playing in his 200th international game for the country, Messi saw his opening goal rules off side in the seventh minute against Algeria during their Group F campaign opener at the Kansas City stadium.

From there on, it was all about Messi as the Argentine talisman went past Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo to become the oldest to achieve the feat. Messi's World Cup hattrick came at 38 years and 357 days as compared to Ronaldo's at 33 years and 130 days in 2018 edition against Spain.

Interestingly, it was Messi's first-ever hattrick at a FIFA World Cup. Ronaldo too ha...