Messi hat trick powered Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Algeria in the opening match of Group J at the 2026 World Cup, with captain Lionel Messi scoring all three goals and rewriting several World Cup records, according to FIFA.
Argentina controlled much of the first half and opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Rodrigo De Paul threaded a diagonal pass down the right flank, finding Messi near the edge of the penalty area.
Messi drifted past a defender and struck a curling shot that flew into the top corner, giving Argentina a 1-0 lead, according to the FIFA match report.
Algeria, guarded in goal by Luca Zidane, steadied after the opener and defended with disciplined shape, snuffing several promising attacks from Lautaro Martínez and Thiago Almada.
Coach Lionel Scaloni made attacking changes in the second half, bringing on Julián Álvarez and Nicolás González as Argentina hunted a second goal.
The match then became Messi’s stage. At the 60th minute, Messi capitalized on a loose save by Luca Zidane and calmly poked the ball into the net to make it 2-0, FIFA’s report said.
Messi hat trick secures a decisive finish
As Argentina pressed, Messi found space at the top of the box and, in the 76th minute, produced a clinical finish to complete his hat trick and seal the 3-0 win.
Scaloni said after the game that the team executed the game plan and that Messi was in exceptional form, turning a tight contest into a comfortable win.
Records and milestones after Messi hat trick
FIFA statistics show Messi became the first player in history to appear at six World Cup final tournaments, a milestone he reached by entering the field for Argentina in this match.
The three goals also moved Messi’s career World Cup total to 16, a figure FIFA lists as tying the tournament record held by Miroslav Klose and surpassing the totals of Pelé and Gerd Müller, the governing body said.
At 38 years, 357 days, Messi also became the oldest player to complete a hat trick in a World Cup match, according to FIFA, underscoring his longevity at the international level.
Argentina will next face its Group J opponents as the group stage continues; FIFA’s schedule lists Argentina as among the favorites after the opening-round result.