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

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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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, VANCOUVER

Erling Haaland announced his arrival at the FIFA World Cup in emphatic fashion on Tuesday, becoming the sixth player to score twice at the tournament as Norway crushed Iraq 4-1 to move top of Group I.

Playing in Norway’s first World Cup match in 28 years, the prolific striker needed less than half an hour to open his account and quickly demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the most feared forwards in world football.

Haaland’s brace placed him among a select group of players who have scored two goals in a single match at the 2026 World Cup, further enhancing his credentials as a contender for the Golden Boot award.

The Manchester City star opened the scoring in the 29th minute when he slid in at the far post to convert a low cross from left back David Moller Wolfe, giving Norway a deserved lead.

Iraq responded strongly and drew level 10 minutes later through veteran striker Aymen Hussein, who rose above three Norwegian defenders to power home a header and briefly silence the Scandinavian supporters.

But parity lasted only four minutes.

Haaland capitalised on a costly defensive error when Zaid Tahseen’s under-hit back pass left goalkeeper Jalal Hassan in trouble. The Iraqi keeper hesitated before attempting a hurried clearance, only for the ball to strike Haaland’s knee and rebound into the net for the striker’s second goal of the evening.

The strike was Haaland’s 57th goal in just 51 international appearances, underlining his extraordinary scoring record for Norway.

With Iraq chasing another equaliser, Norway tightened their grip on the contest in the second half. Substitute Leo Ostigard added a third goal in the 76th minute, heading home from a corner to effectively settle the outcome.

The scoring was completed in the closing moments when Hussein inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, giving Norway a commanding 4-1 victory.

The result lifted Norway to the top of Group I ahead of France, who defeated Senegal 3-1 earlier in the day.

For Haaland, however, the night was about more than three points. After waiting years for his first World Cup appearance, the 25-year-old delivered the kind of performance Norway had dreamed of, immediately establishing himself among the tournament’s most dangerous attacking threats and sending a clear warning to defenders across North America.

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