Before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, one of the most anticipated storylines was the race to break Germany striker Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup goalscoring record.

The proof of Messi-De Paul’s telepathic alchemy manifested beautifully on Wednesday morning as the lights of Kansas City illuminated screens across the world.

The footballing community - from awe-struck teammates and rival coaches to a glittering panel of global pundits -was left searching for answers, and adjectives, to describe a performance that felt both timeless and utterly supernatural.

Lionel Messi savoured a "beautiful moment" after becoming the World Cup's joint all-time leading goalscorer on Tuesday but said "ultimately, it is just a statistic, nothing more".

Lionel Messi’s first World Cup hattrick saw him equal Miroslav Klose’s record 16 goals, but his landmark display was overshadowed by debate over a controversial challenge.

Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic said mistakes from his team had made it easier for Lionel Messi to score the hat-trick that saw him match the World Cupscoring record in Argentina's 3-0 victory in Kansas City on Tuesday.

The 38-year-old Argentina captain etched another memorable chapter in his glittering career with a brilliant hat-trick in the South Americans' 3-0 win over Algeria at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium.

The World Cup has always been a stage where legends are born, dreams are realised and history is rewritten. But Tuesday offered something even rarer -- a spectacular celebration of football's past, present and future as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland all delivered unforgettable performances on the same day.

He completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute, sending the massed ranks of Argentine fans in Kansas City wild.

Sports can be very cruel. Often, it is the final image that leaves the deepest imprint on fans’ minds.

Remember Szymon Marciniak? The bald-headed Polish referee who officiated the thrilling FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and France three and a half years ago at the Lusail Stadium.

The Argentine coach has reportedly experimented with both a 4-4-2 and a 3-5-2 formation during training, keeping opponents guessing ahead of Group J's opening match.

Defending champions Argentina are set to launch their World Cup title defense mission when they take on Algeria in their opening Group J match at the Kansas City Stadium in Missouri on Wednesday morning. The match is scheduled to start at 7:00 am (Bangladesh time).

Uncover how Lionel Scaloni transformed a fractured Argentina squad into global champions. Defying critics like Diego Maradona, the tactical manager built trust around Lionel Messi, securing historic victories like the 2022 World Cup and Copa America trophies.

Lionel Messi's Argentina and Kylian Mbappe's France, the two teams who contested a thrilling World Cup final four years ago, roar into the 2026 tournament on Tuesday.

With Messi still leading the way, Argentina continue to believe that anything is possible.

Messi is set to take part in a record sixth World Cup, four years after leading his country to glory in Qatar.

Lionel Scaloni's side will open their Group J campaign against Algeria in Kansas City on June 17 at 7:00am Bangladesh time. Austria and Jordan complete the group.

"They've been very unfair to him," the Paris Saint-Germain winger said. "They go a bit overboard with the criticism of Kylian because he's an incredible player. A great person off the field. I've known him for a long time."

Lionel Messi stepped onto the stage. The Golden Ball was placed in his hands -- the award for the tournament’s best player. He had received it before, in 2014. But this was different.