Messi Delivers Hat Trick Masterclass as Argentina Thrash Algeria 3-0 in World Cup Opener

Right from the start, you could feel the tension and excitement in the air. Argentina came out firing, and Messi wasted no time. He got on the end of a neat pass from Rodrigo De Paul, his buddy from Inter Miami, and tucked it away nice and calm. That first goal hit different though. After sliding it in, Messi pulled up his jersey to wipe tears from his eyes. It wasn’t just about football. Later he mentioned some tough personal days off the field, but didn’t go into details.

But he didn’t stop there. Early in the second half, Messi pounced on a rebound and made it 2-0. Then, towards the end, he unleashed a crisp strike for his third. The crowd gave him a standing ovation as he came off the field. It was one of those nights where everything clicked.

This hat trick tied him with Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the all-time men’s World Cup goals record at 16. Crazy to think he’s done it across six different World Cups now, and he’s only the second player ever to score in five separate tournaments. Twenty years ago to the day, a young Messi made his debut and scored against Serbia and Montenegro. Feels like full circle.

What makes this even more special is how he’s shaking off doubts. That minor hamstring issue from club duty had everyone second-guessing. But after a solid cameo against Iceland last week, where he scored from the spot, Messi looked sharp and hungry. “This is my sixth World Cup, and I still feel like I’m in good shape,” he said after the match.

His coach, Lionel Scaloni, was glowing. “At a loss for words about Leo,” he told the media. “He’s incredible.” Teammates feel the same. De Paul pointed out how Messi keeps the whole group motivated without chasing personal glory. “He doesn’t care about individual records. He prioritizes the team, and that’s huge for us.”

Even the opposition coach, Vladimir Petkovic of Algeria, had nothing but respect. “Class is permanent,” he said. “The whole Argentina team works for him, and he’s been doing incredible things for decades.” This wasn’t just any opener. Argentina is chasing history as one of the few teams trying to win back-to-back World Cups.

Messi’s 200th cap for the national team came in this game too. Only a couple of guys like Cristiano Ronaldo and Bader al-Mutawa have more. And speaking of Ronaldo, he’s set to hit another milestone soon. The two of them are the only ones who’ve scored in five World Cups. Legends.

The vibe around Kansas City has been wild ever since Argentina set up camp there. Fans in Messi No. 10 jerseys flooded the streets and the stadium. On the same day, Kylian Mbappé scored twice for France in their 3-1 win against Senegal. Erling Haaland also grabbed two for Norway in a 4-1 thrashing of Iraq. Haaland even posted during Argentina’s game saying “Messi is a madman.”

For Argentina, three points in the bag is massive. World Cup groups can be tricky, and getting that first win takes pressure off. Messi talked about enjoying the moment with this group of players and staff. “What I’m living now is the cherry on top,” he shared. After all the trophies at club level and that emotional World Cup win in 2022, he’s still out here making magic at nearly 39.

Algeria played decent in patches but couldn’t match the quality. They’ll regroup, but for Argentina, momentum is everything. Messi’s fifth straight World Cup game with a goal shows he’s still peaking at the right times. The hat trick was his 61st overall and first in World Cup action. Numbers like that don’t lie.

Messi Hat Trick Leads Argentina to 3-0 Win Over Algeria in World Cup Opener

Lionel Messi delivered a stunning hat trick as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in their 2026 World Cup opener in Kansas City, tying the all-time World Cup goals record.

At 38 years old, Messi silenced doubters with an emotional performance, helping Argentina start their title defense on a high note.