World Cup LIVE: Erling Haaland sends Lionel Messi message after Argentina hat-trick

World Cup LIVE: Erling Haaland sends Lionel Messi message after Argentina hat-trick Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Argentina beat Algeria in their World Cup opener after braces for Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe Hello and welcome to the Mirror's live coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, June 17. France vs Senegal kicked off Tuesday's action with a 3-1 win for Didier Deschamp's side. An Erling Haaland brace just a few hours later helped Norway to a 4-1 win over Iraq in the second match of the day. Reigning champions Argentina then faced Algeria with Lionel Messi emphatically responding to braces from Mbappe and Haaland, who issued his own reply to the 38-year-old, by scoring a hat-trick. Later on, Austria and Jordan clash with that game rounding off the action, but it is off the pitch where headlines are being made. England were rocked by an injury blow to defender Tino Livramento, who has withdrawn from Thomas Tuchel's squad with a calf injury. He has been replaced by Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah, with that decision explained by the England boss in his most recent press conference. Elsewhere, Roberto Martinez is reportedly set to leave his role with Portugal at the end of the tournament but he has denied any truth in those rumours. We will keep you up to date with all the latest from the USA, Canada and Mexico right here on our live blog, which you can read below... Key Events Lionel Messi's evolution across his record SIX World Cup appearances from down the years... Romano Schmid has just scored for Austria with a superb strike after just 22 minutes. Austria get us going in San Francisco! For those of you powering through the night, we have one more game left with Austria facing Jordan! While many were left speechless by Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland seemingly found the perfect word to describe his display. After his own brace in Norway's win over Iraq just hours earlier, he simply wrote on Snapchat: "Messi is a madman [crown emoji]." Lionel Messi is approaching undisputed greatest of all time status with the Argentina captain not only scoring his first World Cup hat-trick - that was the 51st of his career - against Algeria but also going level in the tournament with Miroslav Klose on 16. And though the United States is now fully acquainted with the 38-year-old, as he is approaching three years at Inter Miami, but there was still something special about the occasion in Kansas City. Click here to read the full analysis. Argentina have officially beaten Algeria 3-0 with Lionel Messi grabbing all three goals! What an excellent few hours of football we have been treated to with Messi going one better than Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. We are simply running out of superlatives to describe Lionel Messi at this point.... Argentina have a third and Messi has his hat-trick as he expertly bends an effort into the corner from the edge of the box. He is now level with all-time World Cup record goal-scorer Miroslav Klose on 16 goals. He is withdrawn to a standing ovation just moments later. Messi doubles Argentina's lead and even though it was a rebound tap-in, it was still majestic from the winger. Alexis Mac Allister forces a save from Luca Zidane but his shot is spilled with Messi reacting quickest to simply pass the ball into the net. He is simply sensational! The second half of Argentina vs Algeria is now underway with one change made by the champions at the break with Gonzalo Montiel replaced by Nahuel Molina. More chances for both teams have followed in the first half but Argetina lead at the break through that Lionel Messi goal. The Inter Miami star has been a joy to watch in the opening 45 minutes with the 38-year-old certainly showing he still has it in front of goal. He did have one nervy moment however, as he committed a late foul which could have very easily been punished by more than just him conceding a free-kick. Yet again, Messi has too much time and space and this time there is no question over an offside. He picks up the ball deep and advances before curling an effort into the far corner. Argentina lead 1-0. Moments later it is Algeria's turn to be denied by an offside with Fares Chaibi on target but just millimetres beyond the last Argentina defender. Well that would have been some fairytale start for Argentina and Lionel Messi with their star player scoring after just a few minutes. However, he was marginally offside and as such the score remains level! The two nations have emerged out onto the pitch and have both emotionally sung their respective national anthems. We are now off and running at the Kansas City Stadium! Alongside his Ronaldo comments, Martinez confirmed that Ruben Dias will miss their World Cup opener against DR Congo with the Portugal boss later dismissing the reports that he won't be their head coach beyond the tournament. He said: "This is not news. We talked about it a lot in Portugal. It might be news here, but not in back in Portugal. "The focus is to prepare for the World Cup. I deal with this very naturally. My contract ends. It's not news, this is just a fact." As we await kick-off for the third game of the day, there have been more big World Cup updates from press conferences. Cristiano Ronaldo was a major topic at Roberto Martinez's press conference with claims the 41-year-old cannot contribute rubbished by his national team boss. Martinez said: "He's a role model. An iconic player in global football to young athletes and children, male and female, who start feeling the love for football on the streets. "It might be is sixth World Cup, but it feels like his first when it comes to his intensity and emotions. He is ready to lead the group and is so essential. He's the striker, he's a killer. He's a player with excellent numbers. He's ready." While Argentina's star winger is in from the off, Algeria's Riyad Mahrez is not in the starting XI. Manchester City's Rayan Ait-Nouri is the recognisable name in their team with former Tottenham star Nabil Bentaleb also in midfield. Right then, it is now full focus on Argentina vs Algeria with Lionel Messi in the starting XI for his sixth World Cup. He is joined in the front two by Lautaro Martinez, who has been preffered to Julian Alvarez, while Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister anchor the midfield. Alongside his own decisions, Tuchel was asked about a manager in charge of a country that is not from winning the World Cup. He replied: "I am still proud and privileged that the national association chose me. I felt a strong bond, very happy and proud to coach there. "I didn't know about this statistic but you are absolutely right - it's time to break this routine." More from Tuchel out in the United States as he confirms reports of plans to hold an in-house following the clash with Croatia. Yes, it's true, it's an in-house friendly to help players with their load and to play and to get minutes. Before we switch focus to Argentina vs Algeria, Thomas Tuchel has been holding his latest press conference as the anticipation for England's first World Cup game builds. The big news from the Three Lions camp in the last few days surrounds Tino Livramento's injury and the somewhat surprising decision to call Trevoh Chalobah as his replacment. Tuchel has now explained exactly why he has brought in a centre-back for a right-back. Speaking to reporters, with our man in the United States John Cross also present, he said: “The injury is about four or five weeks which is too long for him [Livramento] to be here and we had to take the decision to send him home. “We called up Trevoh to free up Jarell [Quansah] at full back and Djed Spence can play both sides so we took the decision to call up a centre half." It may not have been two show-stopping strikes from Erling Haaland but he has more than matched Kylian Mbappe's showing for France at the World Cup... After the France superstar kicked off his 2026 World Cup campaign with a fantastic brace, Haaland followed suit, albeit very differently. Click here to read the full analysis. Norway grab a fourth right at the death with Kristian Thorstvedt on target (though it has gone down as an own goal). That has ended up being a routine win for Erling Haaland Co. but Iraq were impressive albeit heavily beaten. And there is that fourth goal... Leo Ostogaard rises highest from a corner to put Norway 3-1 up and that should be that with just over 10 minutes of normal time remaining. We have just had the second hydration break and thus there is about 25 minutes left of this game! Norway remain in control but the points are not quite secured just yet. Both teams have made a handful of substitutions in an attempt to grab the elusive fourth goal! Iraq certainly look capable of grabbing another equaliser and thus Norway will be keen to grab a third. Erling Haaland will of course be their most likely goal-scorer but it is Antonio Nusa that has been their attacking livewire! Some heartbreaking news to share with you from the United States with a devoted supporter of Scotland dying in Boston before even seeing his team kick a ball at the tournament. According to the Daily Record, Donny Strathie, from Grangemouth, Falkirk, passed away suddenly in Boston on Sunday, June 14, aged 76. Tributes have since been shared on social media with his family calling on the Tartan Army to unite and pay their respects during their next World Cup game against Morocco. The Iraq and Norway teams make their way out onto the pitch. National anthems will follow ahead of kick-off. Supporters attending Portugal's World Cup clash with DR Congo in Houston have been warned to remain vigilant, due to severe storm warnings. Forecasters have predicted possible flooding in areas close to the Houston Stadium. Concerns are now growing about how the weather could affect the second game to take place in the Texan city. Organisers and local officials have not revealed details of a potential match day plan, in response to the forecast. Although barricades have been put in place in areas prone to flooding, while the Houston Police and Fire departments are on red alert. Host committee chairman Chris Canetti has urged supporters to monitor safety information. He said: "We would encourage people, if going to match on Wednesday to have a plan. "To know before you go, to monitor our websites and all the different websites available for safety purposes, and arrive early to ensure the safest and best way into the match."