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Magical Messi equals World Cup goals record as Argentina win

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Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the 2026 World Cup Group J match between vs Algeria at the Kansas City Stadium in Kansas City on June 16, 2026. [ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP]

Lionel Messi opened his record-breaking sixth World Cup with a hat-trick to become the tournament's joint all-time top scorer on Tuesday as holders Argentina launched their bid for back-to-back titles with a dazzling 3-0 rout of Algeria.

On a magical night at Kansas City's 69,045-capacity Arrowhead Stadium, Messi delivered an electrifying individual display to join Miroslav Klose at the top of the World Cup scorers charts with 16 goals.

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