Messi Hat-Trick Powers Argentina to Winning Start

Playing in his 200th international match, Messi became the first footballer ever to feature in six FIFA World Cups. The Argentine captain marked the occasion with the first World Cup hat-trick of his illustrious career, guiding the defending champions to a comfortable Group J win.

The 38-year-old opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a superb curling effort before doubling Argentina’s advantage shortly after the hour mark by converting a rebound from an Alexis Mac Allister attempt.

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Messi completed his memorable treble in the 76th minute with a composed finish from the edge of the penalty area, taking his World Cup tally to 16 goals and drawing level with German legend Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s joint all-time leading scorer.

The performance earned Messi a standing ovation from the crowd at Arrowhead Stadium, where Argentina produced an impressive display to begin their quest for consecutive World Cup titles.

Elsewhere, France opened their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Senegal, inspired by a brace from Kylian Mbappe. The French superstar also became his country’s all-time leading goalscorer, surpassing Olivier Giroud with 58 international goals.

Norway enjoyed a winning start as Erling Haaland scored twice in a commanding 4-1 victory over Iraq. Making his World Cup debut, the Manchester City striker continued his remarkable scoring form by taking his international tally to 57 goals in just 51 appearances.

With football’s biggest stars delivering on the opening days of the tournament, the World Cup has already provided memorable moments and set the stage for an exciting competition ahead.