Messi’s Hat-Trick Secures Victory For Argentina

Defending champions Argentina commenced their 2026 World Cup campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria. The fixture marked Algeria’s first appearance in the global tournament since 2014. Under the tactical guidance of manager Lionel Scaloni, the South American side secured all three points courtesy of a clinical hat-trick from captain Lionel Messi, who opened his tournament tally in spectacular fashion.

Match Timeline and Key Moments

The match began at a high tempo, with Argentina adopting a flexible formation. Although listed as a 4-3-3 on paper, Thiago Almada frequently dropped deeper, transforming the shape into a 4-4-2 to solidify the midfield. Lautaro Martínez registered the first shot on target after connecting with an Almada cross, though his header was comfortably saved by Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane.

In the 4th minute, Lionel Messi thought he had opened the scoring after converting a pass from Lautaro Martínez, but the linesman promptly flagged for offside. Algeria responded swiftly and briefly startled the reigning champions in the 12th minute when winger Farès Chaïbi found the back of the net from the left side of the penalty area; however, this effort was also ruled out for offside.

Argentina broke the deadlock in the 16th minute. Finding a pockets of space in ‘Zone 14’ outside the penalty box, Messi unleashed a powerful strike that beat Zidane to make it 1-0. Following a brief hydration break, Algeria struggled to regain their initial momentum, whilst Argentina dictated possession.

Algeria gradually grew back into the contest before the interval. Midfielder Nabil Bentaleb forced a save from Emiliano Martínez, and in the 42nd minute, Chaïbi missed the target from a promising position outside the box. Shortly before half-time, Anis Hadj Moussa created an opening from the right flank, but his deflected shot was safely gathered by the Argentine goalkeeper, ensuring Scaloni’s men entered the break with a 1-0 lead.

Second Half and Messi’s Hat-Trick

Argentina maintained their pressure in the second half. In the 51st minute, Messi narrowly missed doubling the lead from his preferred position on the right side of the penalty area. He made amends in the 65th minute, reacting quickest to slot home a rebound after Zidane had initially saved an effort from Alexis Mac Allister.

Although Zidane denied Messi a third goal in the 69th minute with a fine save in a one-on-one situation, the Argentine captain would not be denied his milestone. In the 81st minute, Messi navigated past two Algerian defenders and the goalkeeper inside the penalty area to complete his first-ever World Cup hat-trick, extending the lead to 3-0.

With the victory secured, Scaloni substituted Messi in the 78th minute to afford him rest ahead of the upcoming fixtures, introducing young midfielder Nico Paz in his stead. The Argentine defense held firm in the closing stages to conclude the match with a clean sheet.

Match Summary Table