Lionel Messi reminded the soccer world once again why he stands alone among the sports all-time greats, delivering a hat trick against Algeria on Tuesday night. With all three goals in a 3-0 win, he didnt just decide the match, but he owned the entire storyline from start to finish. FOX Sports analyst Thierry Henry couldn't hold back his praise during the postgame broadcast as Lionel Messi once again reminded the world of his greatness. Despite fielding the oldest team in the World Cup, Argentina may still have the tournament's best player leading the way. "He reminded us why he is who he is and Argentina reminded us that they are the oldest," Henry said. "Lets not forget about them, but Leo [Messi] is just different." Messis performance against Algeria was one for the history books. His hat trick came exactly 20 years after he scored in his World Cup debut against Serbia and Montenegro, adding another milestone to his legendary career. "I said watch and enjoy, and that's what we did," Zlatan Ibrahimovi said of his pre-match comments. Not only did he complete a hat trick, but he also tied Miroslav Klose's all-time record for the most goals in mens FIFA World Cup history. The performance was another reminder of Messis enduring greatness on the world stage. The moment was so impactful that even FOX Sports analyst Stu Holden admitted he had a "pinch me" moment. More than the performance, it was a reminder of how fortunate fans are to witness Messi's greatness while hes still playing. "Tonight was just another one of those 'pinch me' moments, where I just feel so fortunate to be in the position that we are in to witness greatness," Holden said. "Its the fact that he delivers greatness time after time."

Messi scored each of the goals in Argentina's first World Cup game since lifting the title in Qatar in 2022

According to at least one report, the Los Angeles Lakers' biggest priority as far as upgrading their roster this summer is acquiring some sort of upgrade at the center position. While current starting center Deandre Ayton played well at times, most consider him to be a disappointment, and he has a player option for next season. In addition, backup center Jaxson Hayes is about to become a free agent at the end of this month.For at least the past year, Utah Jazz big man Walker Kessler has been linked to the Lakers. He will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and he has been thought to be a bit unrealistic for Los Angeles. But according to a new report in The Athletic, there may be at least a crack in the proverbial window for L.A. to snag Kessler.Sam Amick wrote that Kessler "is at odds" with Utah's front office and may be considering leaving."Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler is at odds with the teams front office over the current handling of his restricted free agency, league sources told The Athletic," Amick wrote."Kessler, the 24-year-old who was taken 22nd overall out of Auburn by the Memphis Grizzlies before his rights were traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves and eventually the Jazz in 2022, was already known to be frustrated by Utahs choice not to offer him an extension last summer. And now, with the Jazz choosing to leverage the realities of restricted free agency against him as a way to minimize his market, sources say he is strongly considering the prospect of a basketball future outside Utah."Kessler has been a dream target for Lakers fans due to his outstanding rebounding and rim-protecting skills. In his four seasons in the NBA, he has career averages of 9.5 points on 68.1% shooting, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 25.3 minutes a game. While he only played in five games this season due to a torn left labrum, he remains one of the most attractive centers, if not the most attractive center, in this year's free agent class.But since the Jazz have the right to match any outside offer given to him, it won't be simple for the Lakers to snag him, no matter how badly he may want to leave Utah. It could take an offer well north of $30 million for the Jazz to fold, and giving that much money to a player who lacks offensive skills is very risky and perhaps just unwise.This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Big Lakers center target 'is at odds' with his current team

Lionel Messi made history Tuesday night by tying the record for most men's World Cup goals at 16 with Miroslav Klose after scoring a hat trick and staking Argentina to a 3-0 lead over Algeria before coming off late in the second half.

United States coach Mauricio Pochettino has encouraged his team to fight fire with fire during their upcoming World Cup clash against Australia.

Some of the biggest names in Aussie sport congratulated the overjoyed couple after the announcement.

Lionel Messi registered his first World Cup hat trick while moving into a tie for first on the tournament's career scoring list Tuesday night, sending defending champion Argentina to a dominant 3-0 victory over Algeria in its group-stage opener.Messi scored his first goal in the opening minutes on a nice feed from Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, the second on a rebound early in the second half. Shortly after he got his third on a strike from the top of the penalty box, he subbed out to a standing ovation from a heavily pro-Argentina crowd.The trio of goals gave him 16 for his career, putting him in a tie with Germanys Miroslav Klose for the career record. They also allowed him to join Portugals Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to have scored in five World Cups.The first matches at the World Cup are always tough, Messi said after playing in the tournament for a record-setting sixth time, and were seeing that nobodys giving anything away.Well, almost nothing. Algeria made some crucial mistakes on the first two of Messi's goals, which came 20 years to the day that he made his World Cup debut for Argentina in a match against Serbia and Montenegro he scored in that one, too.We're not talking about any old footballer, Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic said. Unfortunately we also afford him the opportunity with the first and second goal, and we actually made it easier for him. But Messi, with his clear thinking in crucial stages of the game, is able to do things that much more easily.Messi's brilliant hat trick helped Argentina get off to a much better start than its last World Cup. Four years ago, La Albiceleste were beaten by Saudi Arabia in their opening match in Qatar, only to rally from there to win their third world title.The first match is always tricky, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. We had stumbled in the last World Cup and we needed to have a good debut today.Messi, who turns 39 next week, nearly had two other goals against Algeria, never once looking like the mild hamstring injury that worried fans in the run-up to the tournament was a problem. One found the back of the net but was called back because he was ever-so-slightly offside, and another strike in the second half just cleared the crossbar.He was a pest on defense, too, helping Argentina lock down the overmatched Les Fennecs. Argentina have a special player who can change a game on his own, Algeria star Riyad Mahrez said.Algeria's best chance came in the opening minutes, when Fares Chaibi's would-be goal was taken away by a VAR review that showed he was offside. Messi scored moments later, and the rest of the night belonged to him and Argentina.I like playing soccer. Its been my passion since I was little, Messi said. When Im in good shape, I give it my all.The game played at Arrowhead Stadium fulfilled the longtime dream of the late Lamar Hunt, who not only founded the NFL franchise that calls it home, but who was instrumental in the growth of soccer in the U.S. from the 1960s through the early 2000s.Hunt played a big role in the U.S. hosting the 1994 World Cup. His sons, Clark and Dan, are doing likewise with this edition.Among those in the crowd on a picture-perfect night in the Heartland were Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who traded in his usual red-and-yellow football uniform for a blue sweatsuit and white shirt, and his wife, Brittany. Argentina will continue its pursuit of back-to-back titles in Arlington, Texas, when it plays Austria on Monday and Jordan on June 27. Algeria plays Jordan on Monday in Santa Clara, California, before facing Austria in its Group J finale on June 27 in Kansas City.The goal, De Paul said, is always to arrive on the first day and leave on the last.___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland both enjoyed a fine start to the World Cup - but on a day packed with superstars, Lionel Messi still took top billing.

In der Gruppe J trifft sterreich auf Jordanien. Alle Tore der Partie im Video.[mehr]

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