SI:AM | Messi Stuns Again With Hat Trick vs. Algeria

DAN GARTLAND 

Good morning, I’m Dan Gartland. I just know Cristiano Ronaldo hated seeing Lionel Messi add another chapter to his World Cup legend.  

In today’s SI:AM:

🇦🇷 Messi puts on a show

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England’s new Golden Generation

🇵🇹 Portugal looks to win for Ronaldo 

Messi’s incredible World Cup encore

Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images

Lionel Messi’s still got it. 

The 38-year-old GOAT added another line to his already unrivaled résumé last night with a hat trick in Argentina’s World Cup openeragainst Algeria in Kansas City. He sniped one into the upper corner in the 17th minute, cleaned up a rebound in the 60th minute and drove home a low shot from the top of the box in the 76th minute.

“Messi doing Messi things,” Algeria midfielder Ibrahim Maza said of the legend’s performance. “I think I don’t need to explain. You just have to watch the game, you know it when you see it, Messi things.”

It was a hell of an encore for Messi after he led Argentina to victory at the last World Cup in 2022. He had his doubters ahead of that tournament in Qatar. His first season with Paris Saint-Germain in ’21–22 had been underwhelming, as he scored just 11 goals in 34 matches. But he reminded people at that World Cup that he was still among the best players alive, scoring seven goals in seven games, including one in extra time in the final. Messi was similarly dismissed when he moved to MLS, which had long been considered a retirement league for European greats, but once again he showed he’s still capable of greatness on the international stage. CONTINUE DAN’S COLUMN ON SI 

 

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Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images

👀 The top five …

… non-Messi goals from Tuesday’s World Cup games: 

5. A well-executed corner kick for Austria. 

4. Erling Haaland’s sliding effort for his first goal. (Here’s another angle that better shows how tough it was to get a boot on it.)

3. Leo Østigård’s soaring header to give Norway a cushion over Iraq. 

2. Romano Schmid’s shot into the top cornerto give Austria the lead over Jordan. 

1. Ali Olwan’s shot that glanced perfectly off the inside of the post for Jordan’s equalizer against Austria. (A Jordan own goal put Austria back ahead in the second half, and Austria put it away with a penalty late in stoppage time.) 

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Published by RJ Hamster

I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis. I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God. I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree. Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons. I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA. While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon.. In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God. We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987). From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting. Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982. I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects. In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston. In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018. Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia. In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey. As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova. Love and God Bless, Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi

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