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Lionel Messi scored three goals as defending champions Argentina began their 2026 World Cup title defence with a 3-0 victory over Algeria in Group J at Arrowhead Stadium.
The 39-year-old forward opened the scoring in the 17th minute, added a second in the 60th minute, and completed his first World Cup hat-trick in the 76th minute. The result gives Argentina three points from their opening match in a competitive group that also includes Austria and Jordan.
Messi’s performance included several notable milestones. The first goal made him only the second player after Cristiano Ronaldo to score in five different World Cups and the first to feature in six editions. His second goal brought him level with Brazil’s Ronaldo Nazário on 15 World Cup strikes, while the third took him to 16 career World Cup goals, equalling the record held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose. The hat-trick also marked his 200th international appearance for Argentina.
The opening goal came when Messi received a pass, turned away from defenders, and curled a left-footed shot into the top corner past Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane. Argentina maintained control for much of the first half, though Algeria had a goal ruled out for offside.
The second goal arrived after Alexis Mac Allister struck a long-range shot that Zidane parried; Messi reacted quickly to score from close range. For the third, Messi received the ball on the edge of the box following build-up play involving substitute Nico González and again found the bottom corner with a precise left-footed finish.
Manager Lionel Scaloni’s side controlled possession and tempo throughout much of the match. The midfield, featuring players such as Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández, helped dictate play, while the defence remained largely solid. Substitutions, including Julián Álvarez and Nico González, maintained Argentina’s intensity in the second half.Algeria showed moments of threat on the counter-attack, particularly in the first half, and goalkeeper Zidane made several saves. Riyad Mahrez came off the bench, but the North African side struggled to break down Argentina’s structure. Late introductions of Houssem Aouar and Mohamed Amoura did not produce a comeback.
The match was played in front of a crowd dominated by Argentina supporters. Messi was substituted shortly after his third goal to a strong ovation from the stands and replaced by Nico Paz.
The victory extends Argentina’s strong record in recent World Cup campaigns and positions them well in Group J ahead of their next fixture against Austria on June 22 in Dallas. Algeria, returning to the tournament, faces a difficult path but demonstrated resilience in patches against the defending champions.