Kansas City, MO — Defending champions Argentina kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 title defense with a statement 3-0 victory against Algeria at the packed Kansas City Stadium. On a historic night, 38-year-old captain Lionel Messi stole the show by scoring a spectacular vintage hat-trick. With this performance, Messi officially equalled Germany's Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading goalscorer in men's World Cup history with 16 goals.
Determined to avoid a repeat of their shocking opening match defeat to Saudi Arabia in 2022, La Albiceleste dominated possession and put on a clinical display in their Group J opener.
A Drama-Filled First Half and the Breakthrough
Algeria entered the match on a four-match unbeaten run and looked dangerous early on. The African side almost stunned the stadium in the 7th minute when Farès Chaïbi found the back of the net. However, the goal was overturned by a VAR review for offside, sending a wave of relief through the Argentinian side.
Just ten minutes later, Argentina asserted their authority:
- The Opener (17'): Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul found Lionel Messi just outside the 18-yard box. Messi curled a trademark, brilliant left-footed strike into the top right corner, leaving Algerian keeper Luca Zidane with no chance.
Argentina controlled the remainder of the first half with compact, rondo-style passing, heading into the locker room with a 1-0 lead.
Messi Magic Dominates the Second Half
Algeria's head coach Vladimir Petković tried to inject fresh energy into his attack by substituting in veterans like Riyad Mahrez in the 63rd minute. However, Argentina's seasoned backline, marshaled by Cristian Romero and Lisandro MartÃnez, completely stifled the Desert Foxes.
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| Messi Magic |
- The Second Goal (60'): Messi doubled the cushion in the 60th minute, reacting sharply to poke home a loose ball in the penalty box after a defensive error.
- The Hat-Trick (76'): In the 76th minute, substitute Nicolás González provided a precise assist to Lionel Messi, who slotted a pinpoint finish into the bottom corner to complete his first-ever World Cup hat-trick.
Shortly after making history, Messi left the pitch to a thunderous standing ovation in the 79th minute as he was replaced by Nico Paz.
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| The Hat-Trick |
Key Match Statistics
| Statistic | Argentina | Algeria |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 3 | 0 |
| Shots (On Target) | 9 (6) | 6 (0) |
| Possession (%) | 47% | 53% |
| Passing Accuracy | 90% | 93% |
| Fouls Committed | 12 | 8 |
What’s Next in Group J?
With this comfortable victory, Argentina moves straight to the top of Group J alongside Norway, who earlier defeated Iraq 4-1. Algeria will now face a must-win situation in their upcoming fixtures against Austria and Jordan to keep their knockout stage dreams alive.