Argentina opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 3-0 victory over Algeria in the first match of Group J, making a strong start to their title defence.
Lionel Messi was the standout performer, scoring all three goals and leading his team to their first three points of the tournament.
The Argentine captain found the net in the 17th, 60th and 76th minutes. According to the reported figures, the hat-trick took his World Cup tally to 16 goals, drawing level with the record attributed to Germany’s Miroslav Klose.
The match also marked Messi’s 200th international appearance for Argentina. Meanwhile, Algeria began their World Cup journey with a defeat and will look to respond in their upcoming group-stage fixtures.