BY KUNLE SOLAJA, VANCOUVER

Lionel Messi added yet another remarkable chapter to his glittering career on Tuesday (Wednesday in Africa and Europe) scoring the first World Cup hat-trick of his career as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in their opening Group J match of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The night was already destined to be special for the Argentine captain as he made his 200th international appearance, becoming only the second male footballer to reach the milestone after Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi, however, ensured the occasion would be remembered for much more than the landmark cap.

At 38 years old, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner produced a vintage performance, netting all three goals to register his maiden World Cup hat-trick and further cement his place among football’s immortals.

The feat carried multiple layers of history.

Messi became the oldest goalscorer in Argentina’s history at a World Cup, surpassing the previous mark while also extending a curious personal connection with Algeria.

The North Africans were the opponents against whom he scored his first international goal for Argentina in a friendly in 2007. Then aged just 19, Messi became Argentina’s youngest goalscorer when he found the net in a thrilling 4-3 victory over Algeria.

Nineteen years later, and on the same opposition, he rewrote the record books once again.

His treble against Algeria also expanded an exclusive World Cup record. Messi has now scored against 10 different nations at the global finals, adding Algeria to a list that already included Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Australia, the Netherlands and France.

The hat-trick elevated Messi into another select club in World Cup history.

Before Tuesday’s match, 54 hat-tricks had been recorded in World Cup history by 50 different players. Messi’s achievement raised those figures to 55 hat-tricks scored by 51 players.

Only four players have previously managed to score two World Cup hat-tricks: Hungary’s Sándor Kocsis, France’s Just Fontaine, West Germany’s Gerd Müller and Argentina’s Gabriel Batistuta, who remains the only player to have recorded hat-tricks in two different World Cup tournaments.

World Cup hat-tricks remain among the rarest feats in football. The first was scored by American Bert Patenaude against Paraguay at the inaugural tournament in 1930. Only two players have managed the feat in a World Cup final — England’s Geoff Hurst in 1966 and France’s Kylian Mbappé in 2022.

Messi’s masterclass ensured his name is now firmly etched into that distinguished list.

For Argentina, the victory provided a perfect start to their World Cup campaign. For Messi, it was another night when records tumbled, history beckoned, and football’s enduring superstar once again demonstrated why he remains one of the game’s greatest-ever players.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, VANCOUVER

England and Croatia will renew a rivalry forged on football’s biggest stage when the two nations meet in a heavyweight Group L clash at the FIFA World Cup.

The encounter pits together one of the tournament’s traditional powers against one of its most consistent performers in recent editions. England, champions in 1966 and appearing in their 17th World Cup, enter the tournament among the favourites after a strong qualifying campaign.

Croatia, however, have developed a reputation for thriving under pressure at major tournaments. Remarkably, their only defeats in their last 14 World Cup matches have come against eventual champions France in 2018 and Argentina in 2022.

The fixture inevitably recalls Croatia’s dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over England in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, a result that propelled the Balkan nation to its first final.

With both teams expected to challenge for top spot in Group L, the outcome could have a significant bearing on the knockout-round path awaiting the winner.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, VANCOUVER

Ghana will look to make a strong start to their FIFA World Cup campaign when they take on Panama in a Group L encounter, with both sides aware that victory could prove crucial in the race for a place in the knockout stage.

The Black Stars will rely on the experience of captain Jordan Ayew, who is appearing at his third World Cup finals. At 34 years and 279 days, Ayew could become the oldest player ever to represent Ghana at a World Cup, adding another milestone to a distinguished international career.

Panama, meanwhile, arrive with valuable tournament experience of their own. Seven members of their squad featured during the Central Americans’ only previous World Cup appearance in 2018, giving coach Thomas Christiansen a core of players familiar with football’s biggest stage.

With England and Croatia also in Group L, both Ghana and Panama know that avoiding defeat could be just as important as chasing victory in what promises to be a closely contested battle.

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