FIFA World Cup 2026: Argentina's Title Defence Begins with a Familiar Truth - Messi Still Decides Games

Defending champions Argentina launched their FIFA World Cup 2026 title defence spectacularly with a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria in their Group J opener at Kansas City Stadium on 16 June. The night belonged entirely to captain Lionel Messi, whose brilliant hat-trick carried the reigning champions to victory and placed him alongside Miroslav Klose as the joint-highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history with 16 goals.

A crowd of more than 69,000 spectators created a vibrant atmosphere, with the majority backing the South Americans. The occasion was historic even before kickoff as Messi made his 200th appearance for Argentina and became the first male footballer to appear in six FIFA World Cups. By the final whistle, he had added another

remarkable chapter to an already legendary career.

Argentina started confidently, dominating possession through the midfield trio of Enzo Fernández of Chelsea, Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool and Rodrigo De Paul of Inter Miami. Algeria, led by coach Vladimir Petković, attempted to remain compact and looked to exploit the pace and creativity of Riyad Mahrez of Al Ahli and Ismaël Bennacer of Olympique de Marseille on the counterattack.

The opening goal arrived in the 17th minute. Rodrigo De Paul threaded a clever pass into space on the edge of the penalty area where Messi collected the ball. With a trademark touch to create room, the Inter Miami star unleashed a precise left-footed strike that flew beyond goalkeeper Luca Zidane and into the corner of the net. The finish immediately settled Argentina and ignited celebrations among their supporters.

Algeria responded positively after falling behind. Mahrez produced several dangerous deliveries from the right flank and Amine Gouiri of Olympique de Marseille looked lively whenever he received possession in advanced areas. However, Argentina's defensive pairing, marshalled by Cristian Romero of Tottenham Hotspur and Lisandro MartÍnez of Manchester United, remained composed and prevented any clear breakthrough.

The defending champions nearly doubled their advantage before halftime. Lautaro MartÍnez of Inter Milan forced the Algerian defence into hurried clearances while Julián Álvarez of Atletico Madrid repeatedly found dangerous pockets between the lines. Despite Argentina's territorial dominance, Algeria reached the interval trailing by only a single goal and remained within touching distance of an upset.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Argentina controlled possession while Algeria searched for opportunities in transition. The decisive moment came in the 60th minute. Alexis Mac Allister struck a powerful effort from distance that was spilled by Luca Zidane. Reacting quicker than anyone else inside the penalty area, Messi pounced on the rebound and calmly slotted the ball home to make it 2-0. The goal effectively removed any lingering uncertainty about the outcome.

With confidence flowing through the Argentine side, spaces began to appear across the pitch. Fernández dictated the tempo while De Paul continued to provide energy and creativity. Algeria fought bravely but struggled to sustain pressure against a team determined to make a statement at the beginning of its World Cup campaign.

Messi completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute. After receiving a pass near the edge of the area, he shifted the ball onto his left foot and curled an excellent finish into the corner. The strike was greeted by thunderous applause and ensured that his first-ever World Cup hat-trick would be remembered as one of the defining moments of the tournament's opening week.

The Argentine captain was substituted in the 80th minute to a standing ovation. Young midfielder Nico Paz, currently with Como, entered the match for the closing stages as coach Lionel Scaloni preserved his star player's energy for the challenges ahead. The young Nico became the latest member of a proud footballing family to grace the World Cup stage, following his father, Pablo Paz, who represented Argentina at the 1998 tournament.

Algeria may have left the field empty-handed, but their performance instils hope for their fans as their league games against Jordan and Austria can spring them back into contention in this group stage.

The win places Argentina in a commanding position in Group J. For the defending champions, however, the headline belonged to one man. Exactly twenty years after scoring his first World Cup goal as a teenager in Germany in 2006, Lionel Messi delivered a performance that reminded the football world why he remains one of the sport's greatest figures. At 38, the Argentine captain became the oldest player to score a FIFA World Cup hat-trick and moved level with Miroslav Klose atop the tournament's all-time scoring charts with 16 goals. Brazil's Ronaldo Nazário remains in second spot just behind on 15, while France's Kylian Mbappe is third and has already amassed 14 goals and continues his pursuit of football's most coveted scoring record.