August 15, 2026 03:32 am (IST)

Make this your homepage

Sports News

Ajit Doval breaks silence on Operation Sindoor in Discovery’s explosive new docuseries | Rahul Gandhi's 'mock hug' taunt sparks row; Centre stresses 'mutual respect' with Italy | Delhi on high alert: Bomb threat to High Court, airport and multiple locations ahead of I-Day | ‘Who are they to interfere?’: CJI Surya Kant slams Bar Council of India over NALSAR students’ enrolment row | 'Shows how low Congress has sunk': BJP slams Rahul Gandhi over Modi foreign policy jibe | From guns to glamour: Former women Maoists walk the ramp in Chhattisgarh | Netaji row: Suvendu Adhikari govt strips BJP MP Anant Maharaj of state honour | Sukhbir Badal attacked by Nihang Sikh with kirpan at Maharashtra gurdwara; assailant detained | ‘If you cannot do it, we will pass an order’: Supreme Court’s final warning to Centre on food labels | ‘Time to move on’: Bombay HC sends strong message in Vijay Mallya-bank dispute

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina's World Cup opener against Algeria. Photo; Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Messi Makes History! Argentina star equals World Cup goal record with stunning hat-trick against Algeria

India Blooms News Service | @indiablooms | Jun 17, 2026, at 09:33 am

Football icon Lionel Messi became the FIFA World Cup's joint all-time leading scorer after netting a hat-trick to guide defending champions Argentina to a commanding victory over Algeria in their opening match on Tuesday.

The match was particularly significant for Messi as he made his 200th international appearance for Argentina and scored the first World Cup hat-trick of his illustrious career.

Classic Messi 🇦🇷#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/xkq2cSrQCo
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 17, 2026

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner etched his name further into football history by taking his World Cup goal tally to 16, drawing level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose as the competition's joint highest scorer of all time.

In their bid to retain the title, Argentina began their campaign in dream fashion at Kansas City Stadium.

Back on the big stage. 🇦🇷✨

Find out where to watch. ⬇️ #FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 17, 2026

The victory also marked the first time Argentina have won their opening match of a World Cup as defending champions, having suffered defeats in that role in 1982 and 1990.

Following the emphatic win, Argentina will next face Austria and Jordan in the group stage as they continue their quest for back-to-back World Cup titles.

#Lionel Messi # Messi hat-trick # Argentina vs Algeria # FIFA World Cup 2026 # Messi World Cup record # Miroslav Klose # World Cup top scorer # Messi 200th match # Argentina football team # Messi goals # Argentina title defence # World Cup history # Messi World Cup goals # Argentina victory # Kansas City Stadium # Ballon d'Or winner # football news # FIFA World Cup # Argentina opener # World Cup records # Lionel Messi record # Argentina World Cup campaign

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.