Defending champions Argentina made a powerful start to their FIFA World Cup campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria in their Group J encounter.
The match was played in Kansas City, where thousands of fans witnessed another magical performance from football icon Lionel Messi.
Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute, giving Argentina an early advantage and helping the South American giants take a 1-0 lead into halftime.
The Argentine captain continued to dominate after the break, adding his second goal in the 60th minute before completing a sensational hat-trick in the 76th minute.
Algeria struggled to cope with Argentina’s attacking quality throughout the contest, as Messi’s masterclass ensured a comfortable victory for the reigning world champions.
The 3-0 win sees Argentina begin their quest for another World Cup title in perfect fashion, while Messi once again proved why he remains one of the greatest players in football history.
