The 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially underway, and the defending champions, Argentina, sent a clear message to the rest of the world. In a dominant 3-0 performance against Algeria at Kansas City Stadium, Lionel Messi once again proved why he remains the king of the pitch, netting a historic hat-trick to kick off Argentina’s Group J campaign.

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A Night of Records

The match, held on June 16, 2026, was a historic affair. Lionel Messi became the first man to play in six different World Cup tournaments. To commemorate the occasion—which also marked exactly 20 years since his World Cup debut—the 38-year-old superstar delivered a vintage performance:

• 17th Minute: Messi opened the scoring with a brilliant solo effort, curling a shot past Algeria’s goalkeeper, Luca Zidane.

• 60th Minute: After an Alexis Mac Allister strike was spilled by the keeper, Messi was in the perfect position to poke home the rebound.

• 76th Minute: Completing his first-ever World Cup hat-trick, Messi tucked away a trademark curling finish from the edge of the area.

With these three goals, Messi brought his career World Cup tally to 16, equalling the all-time tournament scoring record previously held solely by Miroslav Klose.

Tactical Context

Argentina controlled the tempo throughout the match. While Algeria showed resilience early on, the experience and clinical nature of the Albiceleste proved too much. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni praised the squad’s unity and sharpness after the match, noting that the team is focused on taking the tournament one game at a time.

For Algeria, the focus now shifts to their upcoming match against Jordan. Meanwhile, Argentina looks ahead to their next Group J fixture against Austria on June 22, where Messi will have the opportunity to claim the all-time World Cup scoring record outright.