Catch up on everything that happened when Argentina faced Algeria in the World Cup
Lionel Messi proved that he is still among the world’s best players with an outstanding performance in his first World Cup clash in 2026.
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In his 200th cap, in what is undoubtedly his last World Cup final, the Argentina captain delivered a hat-trick of outstanding quality that crushed Algeria and brought him up alongside Miroslav Klose as the all-time highest-scoring player in World Cup history.
Algeria, back in the World Cup for the first time since 2014, did the best they could in the first half.
But in the end, Messi’s class and the ruthless machinery of the reigning champions became too much for the desert foxes.
Offside drama gave way to Messi magic
The opening minutes offered drama from both ends before a single ball had crossed the goal line. After six minutes, Lautaro Martínez turned around and volleyed the ball into Messi’s path, and the captain placed the finish in the near corner – but the linesman’s flag cut off the cheers, as it was offside in the build-up.
Two minutes later, Algeria had their own goal nullified, when Chaibi finished smartly, but was caught offside after a beautifully weighted pass from Maza through the defensive lines.
Of course, it was Messi who broke the deadlock. After 17 minutes, De Paul split the Algerian defence with a perfectly weighted through pass, and Messi only needed one touch to place the ball before hammering in a venomous left-footed shot into the far corner.
Although goalkeeper Luca Zidane got a hand on the ball, the raw power of the shot was enough to send it into the goal.
Argentina spent the rest of the half controlling possession and played 107 passes in the opponent’s half of the field, compared to Algeria’s 41.
Scaloni’s crew was never going to give the desert foxes room to breathe. The referee blew off the half with the champions in the lead, and the result already felt inevitable.
Messi made history – twice
The second half barely lasted 15 minutes before Messi made the game decided. Mac Allister’s powerful long-range shot was saved by Zidane, but the ball bounced into a dangerous area where Aïssa Mandi couldn’t keep the offside trap.
Messi stepped forward and slid a composed finish into the bottom corner. Two goals in his 200th cap, and his 15th World Cup goal – which thus surpassed Kylian Mbappé’s record set just hours earlier in New Jersey.
The hat-trick came with 14 minutes left, and it was a worthy way to complete the treble. Substitute Nicolás González drifted into the Algerian half of the field and laid the pass back to the captain, who took the ball down, dragged it over to his left foot and curled a clinical finish into the goal.
It was Messi’s first World Cup hat-trick and his 16th World Cup goal, bringing him up alongside Klose at the top of football’s most famous scoring list.
Scaloni immediately took out his captain to a standing ovation. Every soul inside Kansas City Stadium stood up, and Nico Paz came in to play the remaining ten minutes.
Argentina sent a clear signal
Algeria was not humiliated. Riyad Mahrez came on with half an hour left to make his World Cup comeback as captain, and the former Manchester City and Leicester winger tried to give his team momentum, with a free-kick that went just over the wall late in the game and clever interplay with his midfielders.
But Algeria couldn’t find their way past an Emiliano Martínez who was hardly challenged all evening.
For Argentina, the title defense is underway with maximum points and minimal problems. For Messi, the record that has haunted him since 2014 is now within reach.
He only needs one more goal to stand alone as the all-time greatest World Cup scorer in football history.
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