Argentina opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group J campaign with a 3-0 victory over Algeria on Wednesday (June 17), with captain Lionel Messi scoring a hat-trick in another record-breaking appearance on football's biggest stage.
The 39-year-old forward started the match as captain in what marked his sixth World Cup appearance, extending his own tournament record.
Argentina made an aggressive start to the match. Lautaro Martínez rose to meet a cross and directed a header toward goal, but Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane gathered the ball comfortably.
In the fifth minute, Messi broke down the right flank and found the back of the net, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside. Algeria responded moments later when Farès Chaïbi beat the Argentine defence and scored, but his goal was also disallowed for offside.
The opening stages were played at a high tempo, with both sides seeing goals ruled out within minutes of each other. Although listed on the right wing, Messi frequently drifted into central areas in search of space and possession.
Argentina eventually broke the deadlock in the 17th minute. Messi burst through the middle of the Algerian defence, collected the ball and fired a shot into the top-right corner to give the defending champions a 1-0 lead.
Algeria began the second half on the front foot. In the 48th minute, Chaïbi drove down the left wing and delivered a cross into the penalty area, but Cristian Romero cleared the danger. The North African side maintained their attacking pressure and continued searching for an equaliser.
Argentina doubled their lead in the 59th minute. An attack from the left resulted in a cross into the box, and Messi reacted quickest to score from close range, making it 2-0.
The goal was Messi's 15th in World Cup competition, drawing him level with Brazilian legend Ronaldo in second place on the tournament's all-time scoring chart.
Messi completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute to put Argentina 3-0 ahead and seal the result.
The strike was his 16th World Cup goal, allowing him to equal Miroslav Klose's tally and join the German striker at the top of the tournament's all-time scoring list.
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