WorldBrief සිංහල
Sport

Messi rewrites history with hat trick, England shines, but hydration breaks spark backlash

The World Cup sees Lionel Messi achieve a historic hat trick, England deliver impressive performances, while FIFA's mid-half hydration breaks draw criticism from fans and players.

By World Brief · 2026-06-18
Messi rewrites history with hat trick, England shines, but hydration breaks spark backlash

Image is an AI-generated illustration, not a real photograph.

The ongoing World Cup has seen a spectacular start, captivating fans with historic performances. Lionel Messi delivered an unforgettable display for Argentina, achieving his first-ever World Cup hat trick in a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria. This remarkable feat not only made him the oldest player to score a hat trick in the tournament's history but also saw him equal the all-time World Cup goal-scoring record with 16 goals.

Meanwhile, England also commenced their campaign with a strong showing, defeating Croatia 4-2 in a thrilling encounter. Captain Harry Kane contributed two goals, while Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford sealed the victory with second-half strikes, demonstrating England's potent offensive capabilities. The opening matches have set an electrifying tone for the tournament, promising more excitement for football enthusiasts worldwide.

What each outlet emphasizes

Read it at the source

foxsports.com ↗ aljazeera.com ↗ pbs.org ↗ si.com ↗ timesnownews.com ↗

↗ Open the live World Brief site