Messi, who turns 39 next week, scored his first World Cup hat-trick with all three goals from open play as Algeria found him impossible to stop. The display earned him a perfect 10 rating from WhoScored, plus 9.7 on FotMob and 10 on SofaScore. In 80 minutes he posted three goals, six shots with four on target, 30 completed passes at 81 percent, two chances created, two successful tackles, 58 touches and four inside the opposition box.
Messi is a madman
Erling Haaland, who had scored two goals himself earlier that day, posted that reaction on Snapchat.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, drew criticism for an ineffective display in Portugal's opener. He recorded the fewest touches of any World Cup match in his career with 25, and just five inside the opposition box. Across 90 minutes he finished with zero goals, zero assists, three shots with none on target, 19 completed passes at 90 percent, zero chances created and ratings of 6.7 on FotMob, 6.1 on SofaScore and 6.33 on WhoScored.
One thing that's important, please… people at home… the team needs to score, it's not you who needs to score
Thierry Henry said that on Fox Sports while highlighting a passage of play in which he suggested the 41-year-old Al-Nassr striker was playing selfishly.
The veteran has now gone 10 major tournament games without scoring for Portugal, having failed to score with his last 33 attempts. Messi has scored nine World Cup goals since Ronaldo last found the net. For many fans, Argentina's World Cup win in Qatar looked like the final chapter in the Messi-Ronaldo debate, but both stars are back on the global stage with Messi carrying little left to prove and Ronaldo facing what may be his last chance to win the major trophy that has eluded him.
Messi vs Algeria
Games: 1. Minutes played: 80. Goals: 3. Assists: 0. Goal contributions: 3. Penalties scored: 0. Shots: 6. Shots on target: 4. Dribbles completed: 0. Passes completed: 30. Pass completion: 81 percent. Chances created: 2. Successful tackles: 2. Touches: 58. Touches in opposition box: 4. Dispossessed: 2. FotMob rating: 9.7. SofaScore rating: 10. WhoScored rating: 10.
Ronaldo vs DR Congo
Games: 1. Minutes played: 90. Goals: 0. Assists: 0. Goal contributions: 0. Penalties scored: 0. Shots: 3. Shots on target: 0. Dribbles completed: 0. Passes completed: 19. Pass completion: 90 percent. Chances created: 0. Successful tackles: 0. Touches: 25. Touches in opposition box: 5. Dispossessed: 0. FotMob rating: 6.7. SofaScore rating: 6.1. WhoScored rating: 6.33.
