Lionel Messi delivered a masterclass performance on his 200th appearance for Argentina, scoring three goals to lead the team to a 3-0 victory over Algeria in their 2026 World Cup opener at Kansas City Stadium. The hat-trick tied the Inter Miami midfielder with Germany's Miroslav Klose for the most goals in World Cup history, with 16.
The match showcased Messi's enduring quality despite recent muscle injuries that had raised questions about his availability. Any doubts vanished once the match began. Messi nearly opened the scoring within five minutes when a through-ball found him in the box, but assistant referee Tomasz Listkiewicz correctly flagged him offside by the smallest margin.
Messi broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul found him 40 yards from goal. After three touches toward the box, Messi unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the area that proved too strong for Algeria keeper Luca Zidane, glancing off his fingertips and into the net.
The first half contained a significant moment of controversy. Messi escaped punishment after a rash challenge in which he raked his cleats across Algerian defender Aïssa Mandi's calf. Observers felt the challenge warranted at least a yellow card, and possibly a red, but the referee issued neither and the incident was not reviewed.
Messi added his second goal in the 60th minute when Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister's speculative 30-yard effort was pushed away by Zidane directly to Messi, who coolly finished from close range. He completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute with a well-struck finish that threaded through defenders and past Zidane before leaving the match minutes later.
Argentina's defense proved equally impressive throughout, keeping Algeria at bay despite the Desert Foxes' occasional bright moments. Algeria, returning to the World Cup after a 12-year absence under head coach Vladimir Petković, struggled with finishing and never appeared particularly competitive. Their next match against Jordan now has the makings of a must-win opportunity.
Nearly 70,000 Argentinian supporters packed Kansas City Stadium, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of Argentina's major domestic stadiums. The performance represents another milestone for the 38-year-old Messi, who also became the first male player to appear at six World Cups.
Argentina's victory provides momentum heading into their next group stage match against Austria in Arlington, Texas on Monday. Coach Lionel Scaloni had downplayed expectations before the tournament began, but three points position Argentina well as they pursue another deep World Cup run.