Argentina opened their World Cup defence with a confident 3-0 victory over Algeria, driven by a historic display from Lionel Messi in Group J. Playing his 200th match for Argentina, Messi struck a hat-trick at Kansas City Stadium and became the first player to appear at six different World Cup tournaments.
Messi’s goals in the United States also pulled the Argentina captain level with Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup strikes. The occasion drew major attention, with NFL star Patrick Mahomes among those in the stands, as Argentina began the 2026 campaign with a result that underlined their status as leading contenders.
Messi’s performance added several new entries to the record books. At 38 years and 357 days, Messi became the oldest player to score
a hat-trick in a World Cup match, and has now scored 10 World Cup goals after turning 35. He also moved within one goal of owning the outright all-time World Cup scoring record.
Another milestone fell as Messi became the first Argentine player to find the net in five consecutive World Cup games, moving ahead of Hernan Crespo and Guillermo Stabile, who both managed scoring streaks of five. This hat-trick was Messi’s 11th for Argentina and the 61st of a long senior career for club and country.
Kansas City, often highlighted as a major football centre in the United States, provided an appropriate stage. Messi led Argentina with six shots, more than in the 2022 final, when Messi scored twice. Messi also created two chances, the highest tally for any player on either side, as Argentina showed control in both attack and possession.
At this World Cup, Messi is also competing with other elite forwards. Earlier the same day, Kylian Mbappe had gone ahead of Messi in the all‑time World Cup scoring chart with a double for France against Senegal. Erling Haaland began Norway’s first match with two goals as well, yet Messi’s treble quickly shifted attention back to Argentina’s captain.
2 - At 38 years, 357 days old, Lionel Messi is the oldest player to score multiple goals in a FIFA World Cup match, surpassing Roger Milla (38y 34d) in 1990. Eternal. pic.twitter.com/45K7TFiBu9OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 17, 2026
Earlier in the match, Messi had a finish ruled out for a marginal offside decision. Soon after, Fares Chaibi saw a goal disallowed for Algeria at the other end, while star forward Riyad Mahrez started among the substitutes. Those early swings hinted at a balanced contest before Argentina’s captain imposed control on the scoreboard.
Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute, collecting Rodrigo De Paul’s accurate pass on the edge of the box and sending a powerful left‑foot strike into the top‑right corner. Messi’s second came on the hour, when Luca Zidane, son of Zinedine, pushed out Alexis Mac Allister’s low shot and Messi reacted quickest to finish with the right foot.
The third goal arrived in the 76th minute after another spell of pressure. Not long after Zidane had denied Messi from close range, Messi exchanged passes with Nico Gonzalez on the left side, then guided a curled shot into the bottom‑left corner, a finish that reflected many of Messi’s trademark efforts across international and club football.
200 - In what is his 200th senior appearance for Argentina, Lionel Messi becomes the first ever man to play in six different editions of the FIFA World Cup. Icon. pic.twitter.com/L2KamlBZYAOptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 16, 2026
The result also highlighted continuity in Lionel Scaloni’s selection. Ten players in Argentina’s starting XI had been part of the 2022 World Cup‑winning squad, and nine featured in that final against France, with six starting it. While other leading teams have needed time to find rhythm, Argentina looked settled and organised from the opening group match.
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-178166759676559960.webp)
