New Delhi, June 17 -- Putting all doubts about his injury to sleep, Lionel Messi came all colours flying in his 200th game for Argentina with a record hattrick against Algeria in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener at the Kansas City Stadium on Wednesday. With this hattrick, Messi went on level with Germany's Miroslav Klose for most goals in FIFA World Cups at 16.

While his first goal came in the 17th minute, Messi scored his second and third on 60th and 76th minute. With these three goals, Messi became the second player after Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo to score in five World Cups. Ronaldo became the first in 2022 and is set to play his sixth World Cup later in the day when Portugal face DR Congo.

Messi's goals came 20 years to the day t...