Doubts surrounded Lionel Messi's fitness and readiness heading into the FIFA World Cup 2026, with many questioning whether he would even make it to the tournament. He answered every one of those questions in emphatic fashion — delivering a hat-trick in Argentina's opening match to announce himself as a force to be reckoned with.

The performance was a stunning reminder that, whatever uncertainty existed before kick-off, Messi arrived at this World Cup prepared, motivated, and in devastating form. His three goals in the opening game silenced the sceptics and set the tone for Argentina's campaign.

It was the kind of display that rolls back the years — a vintage Messi showing precisely when the stakes are highest. Argentina's supporters will dare to dream of yet another deep run, with their talisman looking every bit the player who lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022.