Argentina walked onto the pitch hungry to win the FIFA World Cup for a second time in a row, and Lionel Messi made sure their opening fixture sent that message loud and clear. Repeatedly slicing through Algeria's defence, the star almost single-handedly completed a hat trick and steered his side to a one-sided 3-0 victory. What made the night even sweeter was the occasion: this was Messi's 200th international appearance, and he turned the milestone into a personal showcase with three goals.
The Foundation Laid in the First Half
Messi seized control of the tempo from the outset. In the 17th minute he completely outfoxed the Algerian goalkeeper, the ball slipping past him and nestling into the net. It was the legend's 14th goal at the FIFA World Cup. Argentina carried that 1-0 cushion into the break. Algeria pushed hard across the first 45 minutes, going forward on several occasions, but could not find the equaliser they badly needed.
Aged 38, but Burning Like a 28-Year-Old
The crowd of Messi devotees were sent into raptures by what they witnessed. At 38, his sharpness and drive looked no different from that of a 28-year-old. The entire Algeria side appeared helpless against him as he kept overpowering the opposition rearguard on his own. His performance in the very first game underlined that Argentina mean not just to defend their crown, but to do so with authority.
Messi Dominates the Second Half Too
The second half belonged to Messi just as completely. In the 60th minute he struck his second of the night. The goal came after goalkeeper Luka Zidane failed to hold on to the ball, and Messi pounced on the rebound without hesitation. With that strike he set a record of 15 goals at the tournament.
Third Goal Draws Him Level With Klose
Having scored twice, Messi wasted little time completing his hat trick. He netted his third in the 76th minute to seal Argentina's win. It was his 16th goal at the World Cup, a strike that drew him level with Germany's great striker Miroslav Klose. In the next match, Messi will be looking to move past that mark and write his name into the history books.
