Lionel Messi stands alone. What else is new?
The Argentina icon became the first man to play in six World Cups by starting in the Albiceleste's 2026 tournament opener against Algeria on Tuesday.
It took him only 17 minutes to open the scoring, as he picked up the ball in a pocket of space and unleashed a wicked strike that evaded the outstretched arms of Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane.
He added a tap-in off a rebound in the second half, and then completed his hat-trick - the first World Cup treble of his career - later in the match to tie the all-time tournament scoring record. He's now level with Miroslav Klose on 16 goals.
Messi, who turns 39 next week, overcame a lingering hamstring issue to start Tuesday's Group J contest in Kansas City in front of a raucous pro-Argentina crowd.
The match marked Messi's 200th cap for his country as well as the record-extending 27th World Cup game of his decorated career.
Messi led his nation to the World Cup title four years ago in Qatar, scoring seven goals en route to lifting the trophy for the first time. He also took home the Golden Ball as the competition's best player.
This summer's supersized World Cup is expected to be his last. It comes 20 years after he made his tournament debut as a 19-year-old in 2006.
Defending champion Argentina, looking to capture its fourth World Cup title, will take on Austria and Jordan in Group J after facing Algeria.
Eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo can match Messi's accomplishment of featuring in six World Cups when Portugal begins its World Cup campaign Wednesday. Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is the only other player to be called up by his country for six different World Cups, but he's only logged minutes in three of them so far.
