Lionel Messi announced himself at a sixth World Cup in the most emphatic fashion possible, scoring a hat-trick as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in their Group J opener in Kansas City on 17 June 2026. In doing so, he drew level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in men’s World Cup history with 16 goals.
Yet the night was not without controversy. A challenge on Algeria captain Aissa Mandi, in which Messi caught his opponent on the right calf and Achilles tendon with studs raised, went unpunished by Polish referee Szymon Marciniak, who awarded only a free kick. The incident, which came between Messi’s first and second goals, drew sharp reactions online, with many fans arguing it warranted at minimum a yellow card and possibly a red. VAR did not intervene, and Messi remained on the pitch to complete his hat-trick.
On the field, however, it was a performance that silenced any doubts about whether the 38-year-old still had the quality and intensity to dominate at this level. From the opening minutes he was pressing, winning the ball back in his own half and driving Argentina forward with a urgency that belied his age. His first goal came from a move he himself initiated, driving through Algeria’s defensive shape before finishing past Luca Zidane. His second arrived after a goalkeeping error from the Algeria stopper, and his third was a trademark finish whipped into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Zidane, son of France legend Zinedine, had a night to forget on his World Cup debut. Playing with a mask to protect a broken jaw suffered in the spring, he should have done better with the first goal and was badly at fault for the second, with the third offering him little chance.
Argentina, meanwhile, made history of their own. This was the third occasion they have entered the World Cup as defending champions, and the first time they have avoided defeat in their opening game as holders, having lost to Belgium in 1982 and Cameroon in 1990. With Austria and Jordan to come in Group J, Lionel Scaloni’s side are well placed to advance with minimum fuss.
In a tournament where other favourites, including Brazil and Spain, have made unconvincing starts, Argentina looked every bit the team to beat. Questions about over-reliance on Messi will persist, but on a night like this, they are difficult to take seriously.
