TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Argentina opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion, defeating Algeria 3-0 in their Group J opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
Lionel Messi starred for the reigning world champions, scoring all three goals in a performance that saw him equal Miroslav Klose's record as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.
Early Drama and Argentina's Opening Goal
The match began at a high tempo, with Argentina appearing to take the lead just five minutes after kickoff through Messi. However, referee Szymon Marciniak ruled the goal out for offside.
Algeria briefly stunned their opponents in the eighth minute when Fares Chaibi converted a pass from Ibrahim Maza to put the North African side ahead. Their celebrations were short-lived, though, as a VAR review determined that the goal should also be disallowed for offside.
Argentina eventually broke the deadlock in the 17th minute. Messi combined with Rodrigo De Paul during a swift attacking move before unleashing a shot from the edge of the penalty area that curled into the top-right corner, giving Argentina a 1-0 lead.
With the advantage secured, Argentina continued to dominate possession and dictate the pace of the game. Messi threatened again from a free kick in the 37th minute, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.
Algeria nearly found an equalizer before halftime. In the 40th minute, Chaibi was presented with a golden opportunity, but Argentina's goalkeeper produced a crucial save to preserve the lead. The first half ended with Argentina holding a narrow 1-0 advantage.
Messi Extends Argentina's Advantage
After the break, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni made several adjustments to maintain his side's momentum, including introducing Nahuel Molina early in the second half.
The South Americans continued to press forward and almost doubled their lead in the 54th minute when Lautaro Martinez tested goalkeeper Luca Zidane, who responded with an important save.
Messi eventually found Argentina's second goal in the 60th minute. Alexis Mac Allister's initial effort was blocked by Zidane, but the rebound fell kindly to the Argentine captain, who calmly slotted the ball into the net to make it 2-0.
Seeking a way back into the contest, Algeria introduced Houssem Aouar, Mohamed Amoura, and Riyad Mahrez midway through the second half. Aouar came close to reducing the deficit in the 69th minute, but his shot drifted narrowly wide of the left post.
Messi continued to threaten the Algerian defense throughout the second half. One powerful effort in the 66th minute was denied by Zidane, but the veteran forward would not be denied for long.
Hat-Trick Seals Victory and Historic Record
Argentina's third goal arrived in the 76th minute. Nicolas Gonzalez delivered a precise pass to Messi just outside the penalty area.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner maneuvered past several defenders before firing a powerful shot into the bottom-left corner. Zidane was unable to reach the effort as Messi completed his hat-trick and extended Argentina's lead to 3-0.
Following the goal, Scaloni made further substitutions, including replacing Cristian Romero with Nicolas Otamendi. Messi remained the focal point of the match as the crowd celebrated his historic achievement and dominant display.
Algeria struggled to mount a response in the closing stages, and Argentina comfortably saw out the remainder of the match. When the final whistle sounded, the Albiceleste had secured a convincing 3-0 victory and a perfect start to their World Cup campaign.
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