World Cup Desk: Lionel Messi started the 2026 World Cup journey exactly where he left off at the Qatar World Cup final. In his record-breaking historic appearance, the Argentine captain illuminated the pitch with a magnificent hat-trick.
Driven by Messi’s magical football at Kansas’ Children’s Mercy Park, defending champions Argentina crushed Algeria 3-0 to launch their title defense in style.
The match kicked off at 7:00 AM Bangladesh Time on Wednesday at the Kansas Stadium, with Messi commanding the spotlight from the very first whistle.
Argentina created their first major opportunity in the 4th minute when a long pass from Cristian Romero found Lautaro Martinez via Thiago Almada and Facundo Medina, though Martinez’s header went straight into the gloves of Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane.
Shortly after, an offside drama unfolded on the pitch. Following a brilliant build-up by Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro, Messi found the back of the net with a stunning header.
However, after a VAR review, the goal was ruled out for offside. Just two minutes later, Algerian forward Farès Chaïbi slotting the ball into Argentina’s net on his first touch, but the referee blew the whistle for offside, cutting the celebrations short.
There was no mistake in the 17th minute for Lionel Messi, who was playing his landmark 200th international match. Controlling a pass from midfield just outside the box, the maestro dismantled the Algerian defense and curled a brilliant shot into the back of the net to make it 1-0.
Lionel Scaloni’s men maintained their attacking dominance in the second half. In the 60th minute, Alexis Mac Allister collected a long goal-kick from custodian Emiliano Martinez.
Mac Allister unleashed a low drive from outside the box, which Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane costlily fumbled. Spotting the loose ball, Messi pounced like a hawk to poke it home, momentarily equaling Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário’s tally of 15 World Cup goals.
The magician, however, was not done yet. The historic moment arrived in the 76th minute. Messi initiated an attack from outside the box, picking out Nico Gonzalez on the left flank.
Gonzalez fired a return pass into the box, where Messi outsmarted the Algerian defenders with his first touch to slot it home, completing his first-ever World Cup career hat-trick.
The Argentine wizard could have easily had four goals to his name had his early header not been chalked off by VAR. Nevertheless, with this hat-trick, he surpassed Ronaldo Nazário and equaled Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the joint-highest goal scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals. Just one more goal will place him at the absolute top.
Three minutes after completing his hat-trick, coach Lionel Scaloni substituted Messi, bringing on young talent Nico Paz. As Messi walked off towards the touchline, thousands of fans in the gallery stood up to give the football icon a thunderous standing ovation.
While the ultimate dream was fulfilled in Qatar, the world champions proved their hunger for glory remains intact, sending a clear warning to rivals by crushing Algeria.
History shows that defending champions often struggle to win their opening match in the subsequent World Cup. By blowing Algeria away, Messi and Scaloni have effortlessly shattered that old curse.