Argentina captain Lionel Messi launched his 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in spectacular fashion, scoring the first World Cup hat-trick of his career to lead Argentina to a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria in a Group J match.
The 39-year-old demonstrated that he remains one of the world's most dangerous players, scoring all three goals in the match played in Kansas City, United States. The victory puts Argentina in a strong position to advance to the next round while sending a clear message that the defending champions remain a formidable force.
Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a powerful long-range strike that beat the Algerian goalkeeper. He later doubled Argentina’s lead after capitalizing on a defensive mistake before completing his hat-trick with a composed finish that highlighted his technical brilliance and calmness in front of goal.
The hat-trick marked a new milestone in Messi’s illustrious career, as it was the first time he had scored three goals in a single FIFA World Cup match. The achievement adds another chapter to his remarkable football legacy.
In addition to the hat-trick, Messi set another historic record by becoming the first player ever to appear in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments. The match was also his 200th appearance for Argentina, further underlining his longevity and extraordinary success at international level.
The three goals took Messi's World Cup tally to 16, drawing him level with German legend Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer. One more goal would make Messi the sole holder of that record.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni praised his team for its discipline and quality, while more than 70,000 fans in attendance witnessed another memorable performance from their captain. Algeria fought hard but struggled to cope with Argentina’s pace and superiority throughout much of the match.
Following the victory, Argentina now turn their attention to their next fixture against Austria, with Messi continuing to strengthen his case in the race for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot.
