In a remarkable display of skill, Argentina triumphed over Algeria in a match that will be remembered in World Cup history, largely due to the outstanding performance of 38-year-old Lionel Messi.
Messi achieved a hat-trick, marking his first of this World Cup and bringing his total to 16 goals, which ties him with legendary German striker Miroslav Klose for the most goals scored in World Cup history.
Currently, Messi leads the scoring charts for the 2026 World Cup, surpassing prominent players Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.
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In a separate incident during the match, controversy arose as the referee chose not to issue a red card to Messi for a rough foul, drawing attention to the officiating standards in the tournament.