Defending champions Argentina opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup title defence in style, brushing aside Algeria 3-0 at Kansas City Stadium on Tuesday, w
Defending champions Argentina opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup title defence in style, brushing aside Algeria 3-0 at Kansas City Stadium on Tuesday, with Lionel Messi turning back the clock to score a stunning hat-trick.
Messi found the net in the 17th, 60th and 76th minutes, becoming the first man in history to feature in six World Cups and reaching the milestone on his 200th appearance for the Albiceleste.
The treble also pulled him level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup goal-scoring record of 16, with a chance to claim the record outright awaiting him when Argentina face Austria on June 22.
Remarkably, the hat-trick arrived almost exactly 20 years after Messi’s World Cup debut as a teenage substitute against Serbia and Montenegro at the 2006 finals in Germany, underlining the longevity of a career that continues to defy time.
Lionel Scaloni’s side dominated despite seeing less of the ball, finishing with 44 per cent possession to Algeria’s 50 per cent but doubling their opponents’ shot tally, registering ten attempts to Algeria’s seven and six on target compared to just one for the North Africans.
Algeria, appearing in their first World Cup since 2014, will have been encouraged by spells of control in midfield but were ultimately undone by their inability to convert pressure into clear chances.
Algeria’s head coach Vladimir Petkovic turned to his bench in search of answers when things were difficult, introducing Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez along with Hicham Boudaoui and Amine Gouiri’s replacements just after the hour mark, but the changes came too late to alter the course of the match. Mahrez did have a free-kick chance late on, but his effort was well held by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
For Argentina, the result extends their reputation as one of the tournament favourites and sends an early statement to the rest of Group J, which also features Austria and tournament debutants Jordan.
Messi’s latest heroics add to an already remarkable individual World Cup résumé; with 24 career goal contributions at the tournament, he has now also moved past Pelé’s mark of 21.
Algeria will look to regroup quickly as they turn their attention to a must-win clash against Jordan in their next group fixture, while Argentina will fancy their chances of progressing to the knockout stages with games against Austria and Jordan still to come.
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