A straight red card is actually just an automatic one-match ban in this World Cup, but that punishment can be increased depending on the severity of the incident,

Image source, Getty Images

A number of our readers have pointed to Lionel Messi's first-half tackle on Algeria's Aissa Mandi, suggesting the Argentina great was lucky not to see red.

Video replays don't look great - Messi seems to rake his studs down the calf of Mandi's standing leg as he attempts to tackle him from behind.

He may have argued it was a clumsy tangle of legs, but Messi was quite a way from the ball and would have had to go through the Algerian's legs to get to it.

Some readers are suggesting there was a clear intent in the tackle - yet Messi escaped any punishment from Polish referee Szymon Marciniak.

• Do you agree with the referee's decision? Thumbs up for yes, down for no.

Lionel Messi is the oldest player to score more than once in a Fifa World Cup match, aged 38 years and 357 days, surpassing Roger Milla’s previous record of 38 years and 34 days.

These supporters in the Argentina capital will certainly spend a lot of time thinking about Lionel Messi.

After unrivaled scenes of joy on the streets of Buenos Aires heralded the return of their hero from Qatar four years ago, fans are preparing themselves again for another Messi-inspired tilt at the title.

They couldn't do it again, could they?

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Rick Edwards
Presenter on Football Daily

Image source, Getty Images

My favourite thing about the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry is that I honestly think that it eats away at Ronaldo.

He wants to be the best player in the world. He certainly regards himself as the best player in the world - ever.

And I think Messi doesn't care. I do not believe that he thinks a lot about Ronaldo, I do think Cristiano Ronaldo spends a lot of time thinking about Lionel Messi.

BBC iPlayer

Cristiano Ronaldo has been the counterpoint to the Lionel Messi "Greatest Of All Time" argument throughout their careers.

But Messi stole a march on his great rival by leading Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar four years ago.

This will more than likely be the final World Cup for both legends of the modern game.

Ronaldo begins his final campaign with Portugal this evening, against Congo DR.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward knows this is his last chance to join Messi as a World Cup winner.

• Watch Rivals: Messi v Ronaldo on iPlayer

Image source, Getty Images

Cris, meet Wazza...

• 16 - Miroslav Klose (Germany), Lionel Messi (Argentina)
• 15 - Ronaldo (Brazil)
• 14 - Gerd Muller (West Germany), Kylian Mbappe (France).

Image source, Getty Images

Leon Osman
Former Everton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

The only surprise around Messi is that is his first ever hat-trick at the World Cup.

Kylian Mbappe looked set to be the story overnight after scoring twice in a 3-1 win over Senegal to become France's all-time leading goalscorer.

Norway's Erling Haaland tried gazump him by scoring his first two goals at a World Cup in a 4-1 victory against Iraq.

But Lionel Messi was not about to be overshadowed.

"Hold my coat lads, I've got this..."

The World Cup winner scored his first World Cup hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria to move level with Germany's Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer at a World Cup.

We will bring you the highlights of Austria's win over Jordan as soon as we get them.

Right, let's get back to the morning's hot topics.

We are currently running two polls:

• Is Lionel Messi the greatest footballer of all time?
• Which player will score the most goals at World Cup 2026?

We also want to hear your thoughts on both these topics, just click the 'Get Involved' button in the summary on this page to have your say...

Ralf Rangnick and Austria will be relieved to have got three points on the board before facing Argentina next...

Remaining matches in Group J:

Monday, 22 June

• Argentina v Austria (18:00 BST)

Tuesday, 23 June

• Jordan v Algeria (04:00 BST)

Sunday, 28 June

• Algeria v Austria (03:00 BST)
• Jordan v Argentina (03:00 BST)

Andy Reid
Former Republic of Ireland midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think the scoreline flatters Austria and maybe Jordan were a little bit unlucky.

Ralf Rangnick and Austria won't care - three goals and three points in your first game.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport reporter

Austria have won a match at the World Cup finals for the first time since 1990 as they beat debutants Jordan in San Francisco.

The European side took the lead with a stunning 21st-minute strike from Romano Schmid but Jordan equalised five minutes into the second half thanks to a curled effort from Ali Olwan.

Former Stoke and West Ham forward Marko Arnautovic thought he had restored Austria's lead when he finished a loose ball after Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila had failed to deal with a corner.

However, following an intervention from the video assistant referee, the goal was disallowed as television replays showed the ball had hit the arm of Stefan Posch.

But it did not matter as Austria, managed by former Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick, went back in front in the 76th minute as Yazan Al Arab flicked the ball into his own net after a corner.

Arnautovic then sealed the win when he converted a penalty in the 12th minute of injury time after Saleem Obaid handled the ball.

• Click here for live reaction and the full match report

Lionel Messi should get the chance to claim the outright record for goals scored in a World Cup in Argentina's next match, against Austria on Monday (18:00 BST).

The Austrians will be buoyed though by their first win at a World Cup since 1990...

Image source, Getty Images

Three goals:

Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Two goals:

Folarin Balogun (USA)

Yasin Ayari (Sweden)

Kai Havertz (Germany)

Elijah Just (New Zealand)

Erling Haaland (Norway)

Kylian Mbappe (France)

So 2022 Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland score two goals apiece in opening wins for France and Norway, respectively.

While Lionel Messi trumps them both with his first hat-trick at a World Cup in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria.

Messi's great rival Cristiano Ronaldo enters the fray tonight for Portugal, as does England's 2018 Golden Boot winner Harry Kane.

So we want to know which player you think will score most goals at the 2026 World Cup?:

With France, Norway and Senegal battling it out, Group I was regarded by many as the "Group of Death" at this World Cup.

Senegal had their chances against France in a competitive opening match in New York before the quality of Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise tipped the balance in France's favour.

Mbappe's two goals in their 3-1 win - the first set up by a superb pass from Olise and the second an absolute thunderbolt - saw him become France's all-time leading goalscorer.

Meanwhile, Erling Haaland announced his arrival with his first two goals at a World Cup to help push Norway top following their 4-1 win over Iraq.

Remaining matches in Group I:

Monday, 22 June

• France v Iraq (22:00 BST)

Tuesday, 23 June

• Norway v Senegal (01:00 BST)

Friday, 26 June

• Norway v France (20:00 BST)
• Senegal v Iraq (20:00 BST)

We are going to come back to that Lionel Messi chat in a moment.

But believe it or not, the Argentine great is not the only story in time.

Two of his biggest rivals for this tournament's Golden Boot also made quite the impression in the latest round of matches.

Click on the links to read the full match reports:

Group I

• France 3-1 Senegal
• Iraq 1-4 Norway

Group J

• Argentina 3-0 Algeria
• Austria 3-1 Jordan