Defending champions Argentina commenced their 2026 World Cup campaign with a resounding 3-0 victory over Algeria at the Kansas City Stadium. The opening group-stage encounter was entirely dominated by captain Lionel Messi, who delivered a masterclass performance to secure maximum points for his nation. By netting a brilliant hat-trick, the 38-year-old forward not only sealed the win but also marked his record sixth World Cup appearance and 200th international cap in spectacular fashion.

The match began with immediate drama as both sides saw early efforts ruled out for offside, including an 8th-minute strike from Messi and a 9th-minute response from Algeria’s Fares Chaibi. However, the Argentine talisman soon broke the deadlock properly, embarking on a trademark mazy run before unleashing a powerful drive from the edge of the penalty area that beat Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane. The opening goal set the tone for the remainder of the contest, as the South American titleholders seized absolute control over the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations winners.

Argentina sustained their relentless attacking pressure into the second half, doubling their advantage right on the 60-minute mark. Messi capitalised on a loose rebound following a powerful drive from Alexis Mac Allister, applying a simple tap-in to extend the lead. Sixteen minutes later, the legendary forward completed his historic hat-trick by drilling a precise, low shot past Zidane from just outside the box. The sensational third strike officially took Messi to 16 career World Cup goals, tying him with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose as the joint-highest goalscorer in the history of the tournament.

The monumental performance saw Messi eclipse Martin Palermo to become Argentina’s oldest ever World Cup goalscorer, arriving exactly 20 years after his very first tournament goal in 2006. With the match comfortably secured, head coach Lionel Scaloni substituted his captain in the 79th minute, allowing him to receive a thunderous standing ovation from the crowd of nearly 70,000 supporters. The emphatic 3-0 triumph ensures there was no opening-game upset for the reigning champions, who now turn their attention to their next group fixture against Austria, following the European side’s 3-1 victory over Jordan.