Argentina opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a victory over Algeria, with captain Lionel Messi scoring a hat-trick in his 200th international appearance to give his side an early advantage in Group J.
Messi registered the first World Cup hat-trick of his career in the match. With the three goals, his tally in World Cup finals reached 16, drawing level with Miroslav Klose as the joint all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.
The match at Kansas City Stadium began at a high tempo, with both teams creating attacking opportunities. Goals from both sides were disallowed in the opening stages, with attempts ruled out for offside or fouls within a three-minute span.
Messi scored the opening goal in the 17th minute. After receiving a pass from Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, he controlled the ball and curled a shot past Algeria goalkeeper Luka Zidane to give Argentina the lead.
Argentina extended their lead in the second half. In the 60th minute, Messi capitalised on a mistake by goalkeeper Luka Zidane, who inadvertently directed the ball into his path. Messi converted from close range to score his second goal of the match.
Messi completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute. Receiving a pass from Nicolas Gonzalez, he struck a powerful shot from outside the area that found the net, securing Argentina's control of the contest.
According to reports, Messi became the first player to appear in six different World Cup editions. He also became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo in that category.
The victory gave Argentina a winning start in Group J. The team will next face Austria and Jordan in its remaining group-stage fixtures as it continues its World Cup campaign.
In addition to his goals, Messi provided leadership throughout the match and contributed across midfield and attack. The coaching staff believes his experience and composure could prove important in major matches.
Algeria created several opportunities during the match but was unable to convert them into goals. Defensive errors proved costly, and the team will now turn its attention to its next fixture against Jordan.
