Messi Sets World Cup Records as Moscow Faces Drone Attacks; US-Iran Deal Details Emerge

Lionel Messi etched his name further into World Cup history during Argentina's opening match, scoring a hat-trick in their decisive 3-0 victory over Algeria.

With this performance, the 38-year-old captain not only secured a win for Argentina as they defend their 2022 title but also reached a significant milestone. Messi became the first footballer ever to compete in six World Cups, a record that Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa may also achieve. His three goals against Algeria brought him level with Germany's Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.

This match marked Messi's 200th appearance for the Argentine national team, during which he has scored 120 goals. Argentina is competing in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.

In separate developments, Moscow reported that Ukrainian drones attacked the capital for the second consecutive night. The city's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, stated that 12 drones were intercepted on the approaches to Moscow on the night of June 16-17. The drone activity led to temporary operational restrictions at the Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports and a brief closure of the Crimean Bridge to vehicle traffic. Additionally, reports surfaced regarding preliminary details of a US-Iran agreement, which reportedly includes the establishment of a $300 billion private Reconstruction and Development Fund to support investments in Iran, as an alternative to war reparations.