Argentina 3-0 Algeria: Messi plays hat-trick; Argentina enjoy big win

The Night of the LEGEND! Messi scored a hat-trick against Algeria, grabbing a fabulous winning start for the team.

Match Highlights ↓

https://www.fifa.com/en/watch/7w5eTQ8xbmnSNHypyuYhdG   

Match Report

If this truly is the final World Cup chapter of Lionel Messi, he appears determined to make it unforgettable.

The 38-year-old captain delivered a vintage masterclass on Tuesday night, scoring all three goals as defending champions Argentina national football team opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria national football team in Group J. The result immediately places Lionel Scaloni's side atop the group and sends a warning to the rest of the tournament: Argentina's title defense is very much alive.    

Playing in his 200th international appearance and a record sixth World Cup, Messi once again became the center of the footballing universe. The opener arrived in the 17th minute when he collected possession in midfield, drove forward into space and unleashed a powerful strike from roughly 25 yards that beat goalkeeper Luca Zidane despite getting both hands to the ball.    

Argentina controlled possession for long stretches and rarely looked troubled, but Algeria remained within touching distance until Messi struck again after the interval. Capitalizing on a rebound inside the penalty area, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner doubled the advantage and effectively ended the contest.    

The signature moment came in the 76th minute. After combining with teammates around the edge of the box, Messi produced one final burst of brilliance, curling home his third goal of the night to complete a memorable hat trick. The Kansas City crowd, heavily dominated by Argentine supporters, erupted as hats rained onto the field and chants echoed around the stadium.

   

Beyond the result, the performance carried historical significance. Messi's treble moved him level with Miroslav Klose as the leading scorer in Men's World Cup history with 16 goals, another remarkable milestone in a career already overflowing with them.    

For Algeria, the evening was a frustrating reminder of the gap that still exists between talented challengers and tournament favorites. The Desert Foxes showed flashes of ambition but struggled to convert possession into meaningful chances, while Argentina's defense remained organized and largely untested.    

Argentina now turn their attention to a crucial second Group J fixture against Austria national football team, while Algeria face Jordan national football team knowing that anything less than victory could leave their World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.    

For one night, though, the story belonged entirely to Messi.

Twenty years after his first World Cup appearance and on the occasion of his 200th cap, football's most enduring superstar once again illuminated the grandest stage. Age may have slowed many legends before him. Messi, somehow, still seems to be operating on his own timeline.

Line-ups

Argentina XI: Messi, E. Martinez, De Paul, Lautaro, Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Mac Allister, Facundo Medina, Lisandro Martinez, Thiago Almada, Enzo

Subs: Otamendi, Tagliafico, Gerónimo Rulli, Paredes, Musso, Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Marcos Senesi, Molina, N. Gonzalez, Alvarez, José Manuel López, Giuliano Simeone, Valentín Barco, Nico Paz

Algeria XI: Mandi, Bentaleb, Bensebaini, Luca Zidane, Gouiri, Hicham Boudaoui, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Anis Hadj Moussa, Rafik Belghali, Farès Chaïbi, Ibrahim Maza

Subs: Mahrez, Aouar, Samir Chergui, Zineddine Belaid, Mohamed Amine Tougai, Ramiz Zerrouki, Mohamed Amoura, Jaouen Hadjam, Nadhir Benbouali, Melvin Mastil, Yassine Titraoui, Adil Boulbina, Oussama Benbout, Achref Abada, Farès Ghedjemis