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A magical Lionel Messi hat-trick as Argentina beat Algeria - but should he have been sent off?
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Lionel Messi, at 38 and playing in his sixth World Cup, scored a hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria, equaling Miroslav Klose as the all-time top scorer in men's World Cup history with 16 goals.
- Messi dispelled doubts about his fitness and form by dominating the match, showing urgency and decisiveness, and contributing heavily to Argentina’s attacking play.
- Despite his brilliance, Messi was fortunate to avoid a yellow or red card for a dangerous challenge on Algeria’s captain Aissa Mandi, as referee Szymon Marciniak only awarded a free kick.
- Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of Zinedine Zidane, had a difficult World Cup debut, making errors that led to two of Messi’s goals, highlighting the pressure of following in his famous father’s footsteps.
- Argentina’s strong opening win improves their chances of advancing from Group J, with upcoming matches against Austria and Jordan; the knockout stage will see them face Group H qualifiers in early July.
