Argentine fans had been eagerly waiting to see Lionel Messi light up what is expected to be his sixth and final FIFA World Cup, and he did not disappoint. Opening Argentina’s title defence in style, Messi delivered a brilliant hat-trick to inspire a commanding 3-0 win over Algeria in their Group J clash at Kansas City on June 17, 2026. It was a statement performance from Lionel Scaloni’s side, with Messi once again proving decisive on the biggest stage as Argentina began their campaign with a dominant victory.
How Argentina Defeated Algeria 3-0 with a Messi Masterclass at FIFA World Cup 2026
Lionel Messi delivered a historic World Cup night for Argentina, scoring in the 17th, 60th, and 76th minutes to register his first-ever World Cup hat-trick in what was also his 200th international appearance.
With those goals, Messi moved to 16 World Cup strikes, equalling Miroslav Klose at the top of the all-time scoring charts, while also taking his World Cup goal contributions to 24, surpassing Pelé’s previous record of 21. His finishing display had everything — a powerful long-range strike, a simple close-range tap-in, and a beautifully curled effort into the bottom corner — as he completely dictated the game and owned the spotlight on a landmark night.
What Went Wrong for Algeria in Their 3-0 Defeat to Argentina?
Algeria suffered a 3-0 defeat to Argentina in their opening Group J match at the FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 16 in Kansas City, with Lionel Messi’s historic hat-trick proving decisive. Despite enjoying 53% possession and showing control through phases of play, Algeria failed to convert their build-up into real attacking threat and did not manage a single shot on target against the reigning champions.
Messi broke the deadlock in the 17th minute after latching onto a Rodrigo De Paul pass and firing a powerful finish from the edge of the box. He doubled the lead in the 60th minute by reacting quickest to a rebound after an Alexis Mac Allister effort, before completing his hat-trick in the 76th minute with a composed team-built move finished inside the area. Algeria had brief moments of promise, including a disallowed Farès Chaïbi goal and disciplined passing spells, but their attack, led by Riyad Mahrez and Houssem Aouar off the bench, was ultimately contained by Argentina’s compact defensive setup.
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