Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to equal the all-time World Cup scoring record as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in Group J. Messi's three goals took his World Cup tally to 16, matching Miroslav Klose's record. The Argentine captain opened the scoring in the 34th minute, added a second just before halftime, and completed his hat-trick with a penalty in the 72nd minute. Argentina controlled possession throughout, while Algeria defended resolutely but could not contain Messi's creativity. This win puts Argentina top of Group J with three points, sending a strong message to the rest of the tournament. Messi's performance, at 38 years old, demonstrated why he remains one of football's greatest-ever players.
Match Overview
Argentina dominated possession with 62% of the ball, completing 548 passes compared to Algeria's 233. The match took place at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, where the pro-Argentina crowd created an electric atmosphere. Algeria set up in a 4-5-1 defensive shape, looking to frustrate Argentina and hit on the counter. This approach worked for 30 minutes as Algeria kept Argentina at bay with organized defending. However, Messi's movement between the lines eventually created space, and his first goal opened the floodgates. Algeria goalkeeper Rais M'Bolhi made several saves to keep the score respectable, including a spectacular stop from a Julian Alvarez volley in the 55th minute.
Argentina's midfield, anchored by Rodrigo De Paul and Alexis Mac Allister, controlled the tempo and fed balls into Messi in dangerous areas. Enzo Fernandez made several driving runs from deep, stretching Algeria's defensive shape. On the wings, Angel Di Maria and Julian Alvarez pinned back Algeria's full-backs, forcing their defenders to stay narrow and creating channels for Messi to exploit. Algeria created two chances on the counter-attack, the best falling to Youcef Belaili in the 63rd minute, but his shot sailed wide. Overall, this was a professional performance from Argentina, who will face tougher tests against Austria and Jordan in their remaining Group J matches.
Messi Masterclass
Messi's first goal came from a well-rehearsed move. De Paul found Di Maria on the right wing, who cut inside and played a reverse pass to Messi on the edge of the box. Messi took one touch to set himself, then curled a left-footed shot into the bottom corner. M'Bolhi got a hand to it but could not keep it out. Messi's second goal was even better. He received the ball 25 yards from goal, turned past a defender, and unleashed a dipping shot that sailed over M'Bolhi and into the top corner. The crowd erupted, recognizing this as a moment of pure class.
The hat-trick goal came from the penalty spot after Algeria defender Ramy Bensebaini brought down Alvarez in the box. Messi stepped up and sent M'Bolhi the wrong way, scoring to his left. This was Messi's first World Cup hat-trick, a remarkable achievement considering this is his sixth tournament. He also had two other chances saved by M'Bolhi, including a free-kick in the 58th minute that the goalkeeper tipped over the bar. Messi created five chances for teammates and completed 58 of 62 attempted passes, demonstrating not only his finishing but also his playmaking ability. His movement between Algeria's midfield and defensive lines was impossible to track, creating pockets of space that Argentina repeatedly exploited.
At 38 years old, Messi is playing in his sixth and likely final World Cup. His record now stands at 16 goals in 26 World Cup matches, averaging 0.62 goals per game. This puts him level with Klose, who played in four tournaments between 2002 and 2014. Messi has the opportunity to break the record in Argentina's remaining group stage matches. What makes this achievement even more impressive is that Messi plays as a false nine, dropping deep to create for others rather than playing as a traditional striker. His hat-trick against Algeria showed his complete skill set: clinical finishing, creative passing, and intelligent movement. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni built his entire system around Messi, and this match proved why that is the right approach.
Argentina Dominance
Beyond Messi's individual brilliance, Argentina produced a composed team performance. The defense, marshaled by Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi, kept Algeria quiet. Algeria managed only three shots on target all game, all easily saved by Emiliano Martinez. The full-backs, Nahuel Molina and Marcos Acuna, pushed high up the pitch to support attacks but tracked back diligently when Algeria countered. Martinez in goal was largely untroubled, dealing comfortably with crosses and claiming every Algeria set-piece that entered his area.
The midfield battle was won by De Paul and Mac Allister, who completed a combined 128 passes at 89% accuracy. They protected the back four and provided the platform for Messi to orchestrate attacks. Enzo Fernandez, starting as an attacking midfielder, grew into the game as Algeria tired, completing several driving runs that stretched the opposition defense. Fernandez's energy and ball-carrying ability added a different dimension to Argentina's attack, allowing Messi to drop deeper and pick up possession in space.
In attack, Julian Alvarez worked tirelessly, pressing Algeria's defenders and making runs to create space for Messi. He had two good chances saved by M'Bolhi, including a volley in the 55th minute that required a spectacular save. Angel Di Maria, playing on the right wing, provided width and delivery. His cross for Alvarez's penalty was inch-perfect, forcing Bensebaini into a panicked challenge. Di Maria also tracked back, winning the ball back five times in defensive areas. Argentina's substitutions, including the introduction of Giovani Lo Celso and Paulo Dybala in the final 15 minutes, kept the intensity high and prevented Algeria from pushing for a consolation goal.
Algeria Resistance
Algeria can take positives from their performance despite the defeat. They defended resolutely for long periods and frustrated Argentina in the opening 30 minutes. Their 4-5-1 shape was well-drilled, with midfielder Ismael Bennacer dropping deep to screen passes into Messi. Center-backs Bensebaini and Djamel Benlamri won most aerial duels and made several important clearances. However, Algeria's compact defending created a dilemma: playing so narrow meant Argentina could use the width, and eventually Messi found the space between the lines to exploit.
On the rare occasions Algeria attacked, they looked dangerous. Youcef Belaili and Riyad Mahrez provided width on the flanks, while Islam Slimani held the ball up as a lone striker. Algeria's best chance came in the 63rd minute when Belaili found space on the right but shot wide from 20 yards. Overall, Algeria managed only 40% possession and six shots, with three on target. This reflects a team that set out to defend and counter, a strategy that works against some opponents but struggles when the opposition has the quality to break down deep defenses.
Goalkeeper Rais M'Bolhi was Algeria's standout performer. He made six saves, including spectacular stops from Alvarez's volley and Messi's free-kick. His distribution was excellent, often finding Algeria's wingers quickly to launch counter-attacks. Algeria will need M'Bolhi to maintain this form in their remaining matches against Austria and Jordan. Both those teams play a more open style than Argentina, which should give Algeria more opportunities to counter-attack. With zero points from their opener, Algeria must win at least one of their remaining two matches to have a realistic chance of reaching the knockout stage.
Group J Standings
Argentina's win puts them top of Group J with three points and a goal difference of +3. Algeria is bottom with zero points and a goal difference of -3. Austria and Jordan played later on June 17, and their result will determine whether either can challenge Argentina for top spot. The top two teams in each group qualify for the knockout stage, plus the eight best third-placed teams. With Argentina holding a strong goal difference, they are in a commanding position to advance regardless of results in their remaining matches.
Argentina's next match is against Austria on June 22 at a venue to be determined. Austria is expected to be a tougher test than Algeria, with a squad featuring players from the German Bundesliga and English Premier League. However, Argentina's performance against Algeria suggested they are finding their rhythm at the right time. Messi's form is excellent, and the supporting cast is performing well around him. A win against Austria would effectively seal Argentina's qualification for the knockout stage, allowing Scaloni to rotate his squad for the final group match against Jordan.
For Algeria, the road to the knockout stage is now much harder. They must win at least one of their remaining matches, ideally both, to finish in the top two. Their attacking output must improve, as they created very little against Argentina. However, Algeria's defensive organization showed they can frustrate teams. If they can take their chances against Austria and Jordan, qualification remains possible. The expanded World Cup format, with 48 teams and 12 groups, means more third-placed teams advance than ever before. This keeps Algeria's hopes alive even after a defeat in their opener.
Sources
API-Football World Cup 2026 live match data. FIFA World Cup 2026 official match reports. BBC Sport tournament analysis. Cloudbet live odds data. Opta tournament analytics.
Related: Argentina World Cup 2026 Profile | Algeria World Cup 2026 Profile | World Cup 2026 Group J Breakdown
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