Nigeria, June 17 -- Lionel Messi has once again proven that age is just a number with his masterclass display against Algeria in their opening Group J match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The Argentina captain delivered a record-breaking performance to inspire the reigning champions to a comfortable 3-0 victory over the Desert Foxes.

Making his 200th senior appearance for Argentina, the 38-year-old became the first player in history to feature in six different World Cup tournaments.

He marked the milestone in fitting fashion, scoring a hat-trick that further cemented his place among football's immortals.

The three-goal haul also saw Messi become the oldest player ever to score more than once in a World Cup match at 38 years and 357 days, ...