Messi Shines with a Hat Trick on World Cup's Star Day

On the World Cup's day of stars, Lionel Messi reminded everyone of his status as the greatest of all time with a stunning hat trick against Algeria. The day was marked not only by Messi's brilliance but also by impressive performances from Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, who both made their presence felt by scoring two goals each for France and Norway in their matches against Senegal and Iraq, respectively.

Messi, who will be 39 next week, not only became the first player of this World Cup to score a hat trick but also moved level with Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading World Cup scorer with 16 goals. The Argentine star was substituted to a huge ovation in Kansas City after 80 minutes of play, having surpassed the likes of Gerd Müller and Brazil's Ronaldo during the match.

While Messi showcased his brilliance, Mbappé continued to rewrite history for France. His double in the 3-1 victory over Senegal made him Les Bleus' all-time leading scorer with 58 goals in 99 internationals, outpacing former Arsenal and Chelsea forward Olivier Giroud. Mbappé’s 13th and 14th World Cup goals elevated him to third in the all-time scoring charts, although he briefly lost this position to Messi before the latter's hat trick.

On the other hand, Haaland made his mark with a strong debut for Norway in their first World Cup match since 1998. Scoring two goals against Iraq, he demonstrated his predatory instincts, showcasing his ability to find the net in various scenarios. Although Haaland should have scored a third goal later in the match, his first two were emblematic of his powerful playing style.

The day was significant for Messi, as it marked his sixth World Cup appearance, making him the first player to achieve this feat. Cristiano Ronaldo will reach this milestone when Portugal plays against Congo DR. Messi also extended his record of the most World Cup matches played to 27.

With the stage set by Mbappé and Haaland, it was no surprise that Messi was eager to add to his goal tally. Remarkably, 20 years to the day since his World Cup debut goal against Serbia and Montenegro in 2006, Messi found the net again with a classic strike that put Argentina ahead 1-0 in Arrowhead Stadium.

Not content with just one goal, Messi capitalized on a rebound from a shot by Alexis Mac Allister, scoring his second goal shortly after. In a remarkable display, Messi proved that he remains the centerpiece of the World Cup, continuing to achieve accolades as he stands alongside the new generation represented by Mbappé and Haaland.