Messi’s first FIFA World Cup hat trick; Argentina beats Algeria by three goals

KANSAS CITY: Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in the 23rd World Cup match. Argentine captain Lionel Messi led the team to victory by scoring his first hat-trick in the World Cup. By the 85th minute of the match, the defending champions Argentina were three goals ahead. Even in the final moments of the match, Algeria could not break Argentina's goal net.

Argentina won in the group match held at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Messi scored goals in the 17th, 60th and 76th minutes of the match. With this hat-trick, Messi's total number of goals in the World Cup reached 16. With this, Messi equaled the record of Germany's Miroslav Klose for the most goals scored in the World Cup. After scoring the hat-trick, Messi was recalled by coach Lionel Scaloni.