Messi ties World Cup goals record as Argentina tops Algeria

Lead

Lionel Messi scored his first World Cup hat-trick to lead Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Algeria in their opening Group J match, equalling Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16 goals at the tournament. The 38-year-old captain, playing in his record sixth World Cup, delivered two powerful strikes and a poacher's finish at Kansas City Stadium, as reported by multiple outlets including Al Jazeera, Dawn, and TASS.

Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, now shares the record with the former Germany striker Klose and is one goal away from breaking it outright, as noted by ABC Australia and the Buenos Aires Times. The hat-trick came exactly 20 years after his World Cup debut, and he became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick, according to Dawn.

Argentina, the defending champions, have opened their campaign with a commanding performance, and Messi's goals have already sparked talk of back-to-back titles. The team faces Austria on Monday, with Messi having the chance to claim the record for himself.

Coverage Comparison

All outlets that covered the match reported the same core facts: Messi's hat-trick, the 3-0 scoreline, and the tying of Klose's record. ABC Australia and Africa News led with Messi's performance and his record, with Africa News also highlighting his age. Al Jazeera's report noted that Messi “rewrote history books” and was the first man to play in six World Cups.

Several Buenos Aires Times articles emphasised different aspects of the story. One focused on the team's strong squad continuity, while others highlighted Messi's upcoming birthday, his impressive performance despite his age, and the situation of striker Julián Álvarez. One Buenos Aires Times piece noted that Messi has scored all five of Argentina's goals in their first two matches, raising questions about the team's dependence on him.

Dawn described Messi's performance as “majestic” and noted he answered doubts about his influence at age 38. RFI — English provided factual coverage, noting the match was attended by spectators at Kansas City Stadium. TASS — English reported the group standings, noting that Argentina and Algeria compete in Group J alongside Austria and Jordan, and that the World Cup will conclude on July 19.

Africa News and Al Jazeera reported Messi's age as 39 and 38 respectively, a discrepancy that also appears across other sources. The Buenos Aires Times and Dawn stated he is 38; RFI and multiple Buenos Aires Times articles said he is 39 or will turn 39 on Wednesday.