DOHA — Lionel Messi produced another masterclass on the world stage, scoring a sensational hat-trick to lead reigning champions Argentina to a thrilling victory over a resilient Algeria in their World Cup group-stage clash.
The current titleholders looked every bit like champions, but they had to fight hard against a highly disciplined Algerian team that refused to back down. In the end, it was the magic of Argentina’s captain that proved to be the difference, sending fans into absolute frenzy.
Match Highlights
The match started at a frantic pace, with Algeria pressing high and closing down spaces. However, it didn’t take long for Messi to break the deadlock.
- First Goal: In the 24th minute, Messi received a precise pass at the edge of the box, cut inside on his left foot, and curled a classic strike into the top corner.
- The Algerian Fightback: Algeria responded fiercely just before halftime, capitalising on a defensive defensive mix-up to level the score and shock the champions.
- Second Goal: Ten minutes into the second half, Argentina won a penalty after a clumsy challenge in the box. Messi stepped up and calmly slotted it past the keeper.
- The Hat-Trick: The finest moment came in the 82nd minute. Messi picked up the ball near the halfway line, danced past three Algerian defenders, and chipped the goalkeeper to seal his hat-trick and secure the 3-1 win for Argentina
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match Score
| Metric | Argentina | Algeria |
| Final Score | 3 | 1 |
| Possession | 62% | 38% |
| Shots on Target | 8 | 3 |
| Fouls Committed | 11 | 15 |