Lionel Messi scores hat trick in Argentina victory over Algeria

On June 17, 2026, Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in their World Cup opener held at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas. Lionel Messi, appearing in his record-breaking sixth World Cup tournament, scored all three goals for his team in the 17th, 60th, and 76th minutes. With this performance, Messi reached 16 total World Cup goals, tying Miroslav Klose for the all-time record. The match also marked Messi's 200th appearance for the Argentine national team. Following the game, Algerian officials expressed frustration with referee Szymon Marciniak for not penalizing a challenge by Messi on Madi. Argentina is scheduled to play Austria on June 22, while Algeria will face Jordan on June 23. This victory maintains Argentina's momentum in the tournament as they aim to defend their title.