Argentina's World Cup Journey Begins with Messi's Hat-Trick Against Algeria
Argentina's Impressive Start in Kansas City
In Kansas City, the reigning champions Argentina kicked off their World Cup journey with a spectacular performance. Captain Lionel Messi showcased his extraordinary talent by scoring a remarkable hat-trick, leading his team to a 3-0 victory over Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium. Messi's goals came at the 17th, 60th, and 76th minutes, marking the first hat-trick of his World Cup career.
A Historic Milestone for Messi
This match added another illustrious chapter to Messi's already legendary career. At 38 years old, he made history by becoming the first male player to participate in six different World Cups.
VAR Drama and Early Goals
The match began with both teams aggressively seeking to score. In the 6th minute, Messi found the back of the net, but a VAR review ruled it offside. Just moments later, Algeria's Fares Chaibi scored, only for the referee to disallow it for offside as well, intensifying the early excitement.
Messi's First Goal Sparks Celebration
The crowd erupted in the 17th minute when Messi finally scored. Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul delivered a precise through-pass, allowing Messi to evade the Algerian defense and strike a stunning shot into the top right corner, past goalkeeper Luka Zidane. With this goal, Messi became the youngest and oldest player to score for Argentina in World Cup history.
Messi's Dominance Continues in the Second Half
Argentina quickly extended their lead in the second half. Messi capitalized on a defensive error to net his second goal, solidifying Argentina's control of the match at 2-0. He completed his hat-trick with a low shot from outside the box, bringing his World Cup goal tally to 16, tying him with Germany's Miroslav Klose for the all-time record. Additionally, Messi set a new record as the oldest player to achieve a hat-trick in World Cup history.
Algeria's Efforts Fall Short
Despite Algeria's valiant efforts, they struggled to match Messi's brilliance and the outstanding saves from goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. Argentina's defense was equally impressive, with Thiago Almada and Rodrigo De Paul dominating the midfield. Although Algeria had more possession (53%) and completed more passes (583), they were unable to score.
Interestingly, the referee did not issue any cards during the match. With this victory, Lionel Scaloni's Argentina has taken a significant step towards potentially becoming the third nation to win consecutive World Cups, following Italy and Brazil.
Official Recognition for Messi
OFFICIAL: Lionel Messi wins FIFA Man of the Match against Algeria. pic.twitter.com/1bFJA58XRD
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 17, 2026