Lionel Messi reminded the world why he is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, delivering a record-tying masterclass as defending champions Argentina opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria in Group J at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
The 38-year-old superstar scored the first World Cup hat-trick of his illustrious career, matching German legend Miroslav Klose’s all-time tournament record of 16 goals and putting Argentina firmly on course for another deep World Cup run.
After Argentina’s shocking opening defeat to Saudi Arabia in the 2022 tournament before eventually lifting the trophy, there would be no such stumble this time. Instead, Messi turned the spotlight squarely on himself with a performance that will be remembered as one of the defining moments of the early stages of the 2026 World Cup.
Messi’s second goal of the evening moved him level with Brazilian icon Ronaldo on 15 World Cup goals before his third brought him alongside Klose atop the all-time scoring charts. With group matches still to come against Austria and Jordan, Messi now has every opportunity to become the tournament’s outright leading scorer.
The Argentine captain nearly got off to a dream start after just five minutes when he calmly slotted home, only for a tight offside decision to deny him. Moments later, Algeria thought they had taken the lead when Ibrahim Maza set up Farès Chaïbi, who beat Emiliano Martinez with a low finish. However, VAR intervened and overturned the goal for offside.
That proved to be the closest Algeria came all night.
Messi finally broke the deadlock in the 17th minute. Combining brilliantly with his Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, he unleashed a stunning 20-yard strike that flew into the roof of the net, giving Argentina a deserved advantage.
Algeria had a chance to respond when Chaïbi found space in the penalty area, but he failed to capitalize. Argentina continued to dominate possession and chances, with Thiago Almada firing over before halftime.
The second half followed a similar pattern as Argentina controlled the match. Lautaro Martínez tested goalkeeper Luca Zidane, the son of French football legend Zinedine Zidane, while Alexis Mac Allister forced another excellent save just after the hour mark. When Zidane parried Mac Allister’s effort, Messi reacted quickest to bury the rebound and double Argentina’s lead.
The Argentine legend looked destined to complete his hat-trick moments later when Mac Allister’s perfectly weighted pass sent him clear through on goal. Zidane denied him in a one-on-one situation, and referee Szymon Marciniak waved away strong penalty appeals after Manchester City defender Rayan Aït-Nouri brought Messi down in the area.
But Messi would not be denied for long.
In the 76th minute, Nicolás González found the captain in space, and Messi calmly guided a low finish into the bottom corner to complete his historic treble. The goal sparked celebrations throughout the stadium as fans recognized they were witnessing another chapter in one of football’s greatest careers.
Shortly afterward, Messi was substituted for Nico Paz and received a standing ovation from the Kansas City crowd. The applause echoed around Arrowhead Stadium as Argentina comfortably closed out the victory.
For Algeria, the defeat was a disappointing start, especially after manager Vladimir Petković surprisingly left veteran star Riyad Mahrez on the bench. The Desert Foxes managed only one shot on target and struggled to create meaningful opportunities against Argentina’s disciplined defense.
For Argentina, however, the night belonged entirely to Messi.
At an age when most players have long retired from international football, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner continues to redefine greatness. With three goals, a record equaled, and a title defense underway, Messi once again proved that the world’s biggest stage remains his playground.
As Argentina look ahead to matches against Austria and Jordan, the football world will be watching closely to see whether Messi can surpass Klose’s record and further cement his status as the greatest World Cup player in history.
