Lionel Messi enjoyed a night to remember as Argentina opened the defence of their World Cup title with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Algeria. The 38-year-old delivered a hat-trick in Kansas City, marking his record sixth World Cup appearance in style and moving level with Miroslav Klose on 16 goals as the tournament's joint-highest scorer. However, while Messi's performance dominated the headlines, much of the conversation online centred on a controversial incident in the first half.
The Argentinian captain escaped punishment after a challenge on Algeria defender Aissa Mandi, prompting accusations from some supporters that he had been treated differently because of his status. Despite the debate surrounding the incident, Messi continued to dictate proceedings and ultimately ensured Argentina began their latest World Cup campaign with a convincing victory. His landmark appearance, historic goalscoring achievement, and the reaction to the contentious challenge combined to make it one of the most talked-about matches of the tournament so far.
