Lionel Messi equals Klose record of 16 World Cup goals with hat-trick as Argentina thrash Algeria 3-0 | OneFootball

Lionel Messi is not done on the big stage yet. In a record-breaking sixth World Cup, the 38-year-old inspired Argentina to a 3-0 win over Algeria in their opener.

This was a Messi masterclass.

Argentina's win in Qatar four years ago saw Messi finally get his hands on the trophy that means most, but the world champions are in North America to defend their crown. A second World Cup would perhaps make Messi's claim as the greatest of all time unquestionable, even if for many, it already is.

After having an early effort disallowed for offside, Messi soon took the game away from Algeria. He broke the deadlock on 17 minutes with a fierce effort that flew past Luca Zidane in the Algerian goal. The Algerian goalkeeper is the son ofWorld Cup royalty, and was firmly in the presence of another here.

Messi's first goal took him level with German great Gerd Muller for World Cup goals, before a second, tucked in on the rebound, moved him alongside Ronaldo Nazario. He was not done there.

A hat-trick, sealed in signature Messi fashion with a finish passed into the bottom corner, sealed the match ball and World Cup history.

16 goals for Messi on the World Cup stage, no player has more. Given how Argentina have opened, it looks a formality before Messi takes Miroslav Klose's goal record outright.

Messi's magical performance came just hours after Kylian Mbappe had scored twice inFrance's 3-1 win over Senegal, on a night where the tournament's big names came alive. Mbappe's brace took him to 14 goals in the World Cup and, at 27, has his sights set on history of his own.

FIFA World Cup all-time top goalscorers