KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Lionel Messi scored three goals as defending champion Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 on Tuesday in its opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, tying Miroslav Klose’s men’s World Cup record of 16 career goals.

The 38-year-old captain scored in the 17th, 60th and 76th minutes to record his first World Cup hat trick. The result gave Argentina three points in Group J and marked a milestone in Messi’s record sixth World Cup appearance.

Messi opened the scoring with a left-footed finish in the first half. He added a second goal after Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane parried an initial effort from Alexis Mac Allister. Messi completed the hat trick with a strike from the edge of the penalty area in the 76th minute.

The match also marked Messi’s 200th international appearance and came 20 years after his World Cup debut in 2006 against Serbia and Montenegro, when he also scored.

Argentina controlled possession throughout the match, with Rodrigo De Paul and Alexis Mac Allister leading the midfield. Algeria created limited scoring opportunities and was unable to break through Argentina’s defense, anchored by goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.

Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic said defensive mistakes allowed Messi too much space, which proved decisive.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised Messi’s consistency and influence over the past two decades.

“He has had us used to witnessing stuff like this for 20 years, and he inspires everyone who watches him play,” Scaloni remarked.

Messi said he was pleased to share the achievement with his family and teammates.

“To celebrate this with my family, with my teammates, the ones who are always there, is a truly lovely moment,” he remarked. “I am happy.”

Argentina will face Austria on June 22, when Messi could become the outright leader in men’s World Cup scoring. Algeria will play Jordan in its next Group J match.

Match Overview

In a dominant start to their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 at Kansas City Stadium. The match was defined by a historic performance from captain Lionel Messi, who scored all three goals for the defending champions.

Key Highlights

• • Historic Milestone: With his 16th career World Cup goal, Messi tied the all-time scoring record previously held solely by Germany’s Miroslav Klose.

• • Hat-Trick: This performance marked Messi’s first-ever hat-trick in a World Cup tournament.

• • Milestone Appearance: The match was Messi’s 200th for the Argentina national team, arriving exactly 20 years after his World Cup debut in 2006.

Official Match Report

For full details, statistics, and highlights of the match, you can view the official report here: FIFA Match Report – Argentina vs. Algeria