Algeria suffered a bruising start to their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign on Tuesday night, beaten 3-0 by defending champions Argentina in Group J at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, as Lionel Messi scored a historic hat-trick to equal the all-time World Cup scoring record.
The Desert Foxes, who had qualified for their second successive World Cup on the back of a strong CAF campaign, were outclassed from start to finish by an Argentine side of a different quality entirely — and were made to pay the heaviest of prices by the greatest player the game has ever seen.
The occasion itself carried enormous weight. It was Messi’s 200th appearance for Argentina, and he became the first man in history to appear in six FIFA World Cups. On a stage he has graced like no other, he delivered like only he can.
The first goal arrived on 17 minutes — a long-range screamer that left the Algerian goalkeeper with no chance. Algeria tried to respond and showed brief moments of organisation, but found themselves unable to live with Argentina’s fluid movement and Messi’s slick one-touch exchanges in the final third.
The second arrived early in the second half, Messi turning home a parried effort from Alexis Mac Allister on 60 minutes — and with it, any lingering Algerian hopes of a comeback were extinguished.
The crowning moment came on 76 minutes. A low, bending strike from the edge of the area curled into the bottom corner to complete the hat-trick and send the heavily pro-Argentina crowd into raptures. Messi was substituted shortly after to a standing ovation from all corners of Arrowhead Stadium.
The numbers behind the performance were staggering. The goals took Messi to 16 World Cup goals, drawing level with Miroslav Klose’s all-time scoring record — a mark he had started the day three goals adrift of. He also brought up his 24th goal contribution at the World Cup, surpassing Pelé’s all-time record of 21.
Even those of an Algerian persuasion inside the stadium, the report noted, will have been quietly delighted to witness the magician up close — such was the quality of what they saw.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni acknowledged his side had been made to “suffer” at moments against a “difficult” Algeria side, but said the win gave his defending champions a sense of calm ahead of the remaining group games.
