Argentina vs Algeria: Messi Hat-Trick Steals the Show
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Lionel Messi did not just win a football match on June 16, 2026. The Messi hat-trick against Algeria rewrote the World Cup record book in 76 minutes and gave Argentina the perfect start to their title defense. Three goals, three records, and a performance no one at Kansas City Stadium will forget.
Who Won Argentina vs Algeria?
Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J opener on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at Kansas City Stadium. Lionel Messi scored all three goals, completing the first World Cup hat-trick of his career.
Quick Facts: Argentina vs Algeria
- Final score: Argentina 3, Algeria 0
- Competition stage: FIFA World Cup 2026, Group J opener
- Venue: Kansas City Stadium
- Messi’s goal times: 17th, 60th, and 76th minute
- Milestone: Lionel Messi’s first hat-trick at a FIFA World Cup
- Record tied: 16 career World Cup goals, level with Miroslav Klose
- Cap number: Messi’s 200th appearance for Argentina
- Man of the match: Lionel Messi, by a wide margin
Argentina vs Algeria Match Information
- Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2026
- Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026, Group J, Matchday 1
- Referee: Szymon Marciniak
How the Match Unfolded
Both teams found the net early, and both goals were wiped off the board before either side could celebrate properly.
Two Early Goals, Both Ruled Out
The lead appeared to have been taken by Argentina at first. Messi put the ball into the back of the net right at the start of the game, but the referee overturned the decision after consulting the Video Assistant Referee, stating that Messi was in an offside position. Algeria were quick to respond, and Ibrahim Maza played in Fares Chaibi with an immaculate through ball but Chaibi’s goal too was ruled out for offside.
Messi Opens the Scoring
The breakthrough came in the 17th minute, when Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who plays for Inter Miami alongside Rodrigo De Paul, found space to make a great pass into the box. Lionel Messi got hold of the ball and blasted a shot past the Algerian goalkeeper into the top corner of the net.
A Let Off Before Halftime
There was controversy before halftime as well as during the game. The controversial incident occurred at the 32-minute mark, when Messi committed a challenge on Algeria’s Aissa Mandi, which the referee, Szymon Marciniak, deemed merely a foul. However, the incident sparked debate over whether it was an offense warranting a sending-off.
Messi Doubles His Tally
The Argentinians ran away with the game after halftime. This came in the 60th minute, when Messi took advantage of a blocked shot by Alexis Mac Allister to guide the ball past the goalkeeper with his less-favored right foot.
Messi DoubThe Hat-Trick Goal That Sealed Historyles His Tally
Messi was far from done. The 76th minute saw him set up by replacement Nicolas Gonzalez via a neat one-two, curling his shot into the far corner for his hat-trick. He came off the pitch in the 79th minute amid applause from the supporters.
Match Stats: Argentina vs Algeria
Stat | Argentina | Algeria |
Possession | 63% | 37% |
Total Shots | 10 | 7 |
Shots on Target | 6 | 0 |
Corner Kicks | 0 | |
Fouls Committed | 5 | 2 |
Yellow Cards | 0 | 0 |
Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
Offsides | 2 | 1 |
What the Numbers Tell You
Algeria had possession of the ball more than is indicated by the final result. The issue was failing to make use of that possession. Algeria made seven attempts to shoot at goal but hit none on target. Argentina had six out of their ten shots hit the target and managed to get three of those into the net. Both sides having zero corners proves that Argentina didn’t need set pieces to beat Algeria.
Tactical Breakdown: How Argentina Took Control
The Messi hat-trick didn’t come by chance. The primary strategic strength of Argentina came from the relationship between Rodrigo De Paul and Messi, both players of Inter Miami who collaborated to score the first goal of the game and remained connected through the whole match. Ahead of the game, Algeria’s manager Vladimir Petkovic stated that his team won’t prepare a game plan on how to contain Messi but rather concentrate on how to stop other players feeding him.
The Algeria formation faltered on the field. In post-match analyses, there were allegations that the Algerian press was missing in the first half of play, while the link up between Ibrahim Maza and Anis Hadj Moussa did not work as well as it did at the Africa Cup of Nations. Another criticism leveled against Algeria is that their defender Aissa Mandi allowed Messi to manipulate the ball easily.
The Records Lionel Messi Broke
The Messi hat-trick against Algeria was more than just three goals. It rewrote multiple pages of World Cup history in one night and left the tournament’s all-time records looking very different by the final whistle.
Messi's World Cup Goals Record: Level With Klose
These three goals helped him reach 16 World Cup goals throughout his career, an all-time record shared by Miroslav Klose. Klose achieved the record when he played for Germany in four different World Cups. It is now Messi’s turn to tie the record in his last World Cup.
A Record Sixth World Cup Appearance
It marked Messi’s sixth time playing in the World Cup, an honor that Cristiano Ronaldo would be achieving the very next day while playing for Portugal. Also, it marked the 200th time he played for the Argentine National Team, an achievement matched only by Ronaldo and Kuwait’s Bader Al Mutawa.
The Oldest Player to Score Twice in One World Cup Match
At the age of 38 years, he set a new record of becoming the oldest footballer to have scored more than one goal during a World Cup game. He is 6 days away from turning 39 at the time of writing this article.
Passing Pele on Goal Contributions
The hat trick also helped Messi surpass Pele’s record of 21 goal involvements in his career in World Cups with 24.
What Record Could Fall Next
The pure goals tally is also at stake. As reported by Goal.com after the match, Messi now only requires one goal to become the highest all-time goal scorer in the history of the World Cup, while only requiring one assist to surpass the World Cup assist record held by Diego Maradona.
Argentina vs Algeria Starting Lineups
Argentina Starting XI (4-4-2)
Position | Player |
Goalkeeper | Emiliano Martinez |
Defender | Gonzalo Montiel |
Defender | Cristian Romero |
Defender | Lisandro Martinez |
Defender | Facundo Medina |
Midfielder | Alexis Mac Allister |
Midfielder | Thiago Almada |
Midfielder | Enzo Fernandez |
Midfielder | Rodrigo De Paul |
Forward | Lionel Messi |
Forward | Lautaro Martinez |
Algeria Starting XI (4-3-3)
Position | Player |
Goalkeeper | Luca Zidane |
Defender | Aissa Mandi |
Defender | Ramy Bensebaini |
Defender | Rayan Ait Nouri |
Defender | Rayan Belghali |
Midfielder | Nabil Bentaleb |
Midfielder | Haris Boudaoui |
Midfielder | Ibrahim Maza |
Midfielder | Fares Chaibi |
Forward | Anis Hadj Moussa |
Forward | Amine Gouiri |
Player Ratings: Who Stood Out
Beyond Messi, the match gave a clear picture of where both squads stand heading into the group stage.
Argentina's Best Performers
Emiliano Martinez in goal showed great composure during passing, with one of those passes being particularly impressive as it led to a goal from Messi. Another notable player was Lisandro Martinez who played centre back and contributed four clearances, two tackles, and one interception.
One Player Who Struggled
Lautaro Martinez, who was taking the place of Julian Alvarez as the latter was still nursing injuries, seemed to be struggling to find his feet on the field for the 55 minutes he spent on the field and was unsure whether to shoot or pass.
Algeria's Bright Spots Despite the Loss
The margin of victory might have been one-sided, but Algeria didn’t seem overawed in any part of the game. Two players from the Algerian team caught the attention of the crowd for their outstanding performance.
A Tough Night for Luca Zidane
Luca Zidane, the goalkeeper and son of Zinedine Zidane, performed poorly in his game and ranks amongst the poorest performers on the field. The crowd that you have to make an impression upon is not easy at all, considering who your dad is.
What Both Coaches Said After the Match
The post-match comments from both benches told two very different stories.
Scaloni Praises His Captain
Lionel Scaloni, who manages Argentina, stated that his team gave their all and reacted well during the first half before Messi stepped up. He went on to say that even he is still amazed at what Messi can do because he sees him train every single day.
Petkovic Defends His Approach
The head coach of the Algeria national team, Vladimir Petkovic, was heard saying prior to the kick off that his team would not construct their playing strategy against one player. The coach was heard saying that he respects all his opponents, but he concentrates more on reducing those players that enable great players such as Messi to shine.
Algeria's Storylines Heading Into the Tournament
The defeat was not the only story coming out of the Algeria camp this week.
The Mazadona and Hadj Messi Nicknames
Ahead of the game, supporters of Algeria had coined some impressive nicknames for their promising players. The first one, who goes by the name “Mazadona,” is a young 20 year old player called Ibrahim Maza. This name is inspired by his technical abilities and prowess at outplaying the opponent in small areas. The other player, Anis Hadj Moussa, has the nickname “Hadj Messi” due to the way he floats in from the right flank towards his left foot.
Captain Mahrez Pushed to the Bench
Petkovic had made an interesting choice by benching his skipper Riyad Mahrez for youth, giving his place to Anis Hadj Moussa. According to the defender of Algeria Aissa Mandi in an interview with beIN Sports, the Algerian team is characterized by its spirit and confidence.
Where Algeria Goes From Here
Group J is made up of Argentina, Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Each of these teams will play the other teams in the group once. The games for Algeria in the group phase include matches with Jordan and Austria. The exact dates vary slightly from source to source, so please check the schedule at FIFA.com.
Group J and Argentina's Road Ahead
With one match played, Argentina sit on top of Group J on goal difference.
The Full Group J Picture
Austria won against Jordan 3-1 in the other game of the day in the same group, the same day Argentina beat Algeria. This means that both teams won their games in their first appearances and that their clash will determine who takes the group lead.
Argentina's Next Test
Argentina face Austria next in Group J. Confirm the exact date and kickoff time on FIFA.com before making any travel plans. If you are heading to that match, check the common travel mistakes FIFA World Cup 2026 fans make so you are not caught off guard on match day.
Group J Standings After Matchday 1
Team | Played | Won | Lost | GF | GA | Points |
Argentina | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Austria | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
Jordan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Algeria | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Why This Match Mattered Beyond the Scoreline
The Messi hat-trick was the headline of the day, but it was not the only big individual performance.
Mbappe and Haaland Also Made History
Two goals by Kylian Mbappe made France emerge victorious 3-1 against Senegal, thus making him move to fourth place in the all-time list of World Cup goal scorers with 14 goals. Meanwhile, two more goals were added by Erling Haaland for Norway that beat Iraq 4-1. Nevertheless, Messi outshone other performances of the day.
A Farewell Tour Like No Other
The World Cup is expected to be the last for Messi, and he had said prior to the World Cup that he is having fun playing in it. If his first game is anything to go by, the defending champions’ campaign will be nothing short of entertainment for football fans.
Catching Argentina's Next Match in Person
Argentina have two more matches in the group stage remaining, and millions of people are traveling between cities hosting the event in order to watch their favorite teams play. If you intend on watching the match live, the cheapest means would be taking an intercity bus to the city. Plan ahead and check out the FIFA World Cup bus routes.
If you are new to World Cup travel in the USA, the affordable FIFA World Cup 2026 travel guide walks you through costs, city by city. And if you want to know exactly how to move between host cities without overpaying, the FIFA World Cup 2026 bus travel guide covers every route and schedule in detail.
Final Thought
The Messi hat-trick against Algeria was more than just an instance of winning a game. It was a statement. Coming to the World Cup as defending champions, Argentina have used the occasion to remind everyone else of what made them champions. At age 38, Messi does not look like he is aging but is breaking records as they come. The remainder of this tournament will go down in history if only they can follow Messi’s hat-trick standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many career World Cup goals does Messi have now?
Sixteen, tying Miroslav Klose for the most in World Cup history.
Was this Messi hat-trick his first at a World Cup?
Yes, despite playing in six World Cups, this was his first tournament hat-trick.
What was the final score of Argentina vs Algeria?
Argentina won 3-0 at Kansas City Stadium.
Did Messi get a red card during the match?
No, he avoided one after a first-half challenge on Aissa Mandi, though the call was debated.
Who plays goalkeeper for Algeria?
Luca Zidane, son of former France star Zinedine Zidane.
Why is Ibrahim Maza called “Mazadona”?
Algerian fans gave him the nickname for his technical skill and dribbling, evoking Diego Maradona’s style.
Who does Argentina play next in the group stage?
Austria, in a match that could decide the top spot in Group J.
