Lionel Messi began what could be his final World Cup with another night that belonged entirely to him. The Argentina captain scored a hat trick Tuesday as the defending champions opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 3-0 win over Algeria in Group J. It was a commanding start for Argentina, but the result quickly became part of a larger story: Messi, at 38, is still shaping World Cup history.
Messi entered the match already carrying two major milestones. It was his 200th appearance for Argentina and his sixth World Cup, making him the first male player to reach that mark. By the end of the night, he had added another record chase to the list, moving level with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose on 16 career World Cup goals.
Argentina did not need long to take control. Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute, giving Lionel Scaloni’s side the early goal it needed against an Algeria team trying to stay compact and frustrate the defending champions.
The goal changed the match. Argentina began to move the ball with more freedom, while Algeria struggled to find enough possession to put pressure on the back line. Every Argentine attack seemed to bring the crowd back to Messi, who continued to drift into space and punish Algeria whenever the match opened up.
His second goal came in the 60th minute, a finish from close range after Algeria failed to clear danger inside the box. It was a classic Messi moment, less about power than timing, positioning and calm. Sixteen minutes later, he completed the hat trick with another clean finish, sending the Argentina supporters into full voice.
The performance was Messi’s first hat trick in a World Cup match and one of the most emphatic individual displays of the tournament’s opening week. It also eased any doubts over his condition after recent concerns about whether he could still carry Argentina through another long international campaign.
Argentina looked like a team comfortable with the burden of defending a title. The midfield controlled the tempo, the defense limited Algeria’s chances, and the attack flowed through Messi without becoming predictable. Algeria had brief moments going forward, but not enough to turn the match into a real contest.
For Latin American football, the night gave the region its first defining image of the tournament: Messi celebrating in Argentina colors, still breaking records 20 years after his first World Cup appearance.
That longevity is now part of the story as much as the goals. Messi first appeared at the tournament in 2006 as one of football’s great young talents. He returned in 2010, came painfully close in 2014, endured disappointment in 2018, and finally lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022. In 2026, he is no longer chasing the validation that followed him for much of his international career. He is adding to a legacy that already seemed complete.
Argentina will next face Austria as it looks to strengthen its position in Group J. Tougher matches will come, and the demands of a month-long World Cup will test a squad trying to become the first repeat champion since Brazil in 1962.
For now, Argentina has the start it wanted. Messi has the record books within reach. And once again, the World Cup has a familiar center of gravity.
