Argentinian football legend Lionel Messi made history with three goals against Algeria, but Argentina’s captain may have been lucky to stay on the pitch after a controversial challenge in the first half.
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A potential red card for Lionel Messi
Messi caught Algerian central defender Aissa Mandi with a studs-up challenge, high up on the calf in the 31st minute, escaping a caution in what could have been a red card offence.
— gam (@burnercopyyyyyy) June 17, 2026
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Lionel Messi’s historic move at World Cup
The 38-year-old soccer star achieved his first-ever hat-trick at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and marked his 200th appearance for Argentina. This made the athlete the first man to appear in six World Cups.
The hat-trick goals took him to 16 World Cup goals, levelling with Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the record.
Originally published by Soccermag.
Also see: Argentina destroys Algeria as Messi makes World Cup history
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