Match Summary · Argentina · World Cup · Football · International · World Cup · Argentina · Algeria · Fares Chaibi · Lionel Messi · Rodrigo De Paul
| Metric | Argentina | Algeria |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 47% | 53% |
| Shots | 9 | 6 |
| Shots on target | 6 | 0 |
| Shots off target | 3 | 3 |
| Corners | 2 | 2 |
| Fouls | 12 | 8 |
| Yellow cards | 0 | 0 |
| Red cards | 0 | 0 |
| Offsides | 3 | 1 |
| Goalkeeper saves | 0 | 2 |
Messi’s first put Argentina in front on 16 minutes, with Rodrigo De Paul supplying the pass, after Algeria saw an early Fares Chaibi effort ruled out by VAR at 8 minutes. From there, it was a one-man summary: Messi struck again just before the hour, then completed his treble on 75 minutes, this time fed by Nico Gonzalez.
The stats underlined the control behind the score: Argentina finished with six shots on target, while Algeria failed to register a single effort on target despite having 53% possession. Messi’s hat-trick also moved him level with Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals, and the update noted he became the first man to play at six World Cups.
Off the pitch, a family statement said Messi’s father Jorge is "under medical supervision, recovering and progressing favourably within the condition he is experiencing," and criticised speculation as lacking "sensitivity, respect, and discretion." Messi also pointed to his support network, adding: "They were always there for me, as always. They gave me a lot of strength to get through this, and that's all."