Argentina 3-0 Algeria: Messi Hat-Trick Ties Goals Record

Six World Cups. Twenty-seven matches. Never once a hat-trick — until Tuesday night in Kansas City.

Lionel Messi scored three times as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 in their Group J opener, claiming the first World Cup hat-trick of his career and moving level with Germany's Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals.

How Messi Dismantled Algeria in Three Acts

The first goal arrived in the 17th minute. Messi received from Rodrigo De Paul, turned on the edge of the box, and drove his left foot through the ball — the power too much for Algeria keeper Luca Zidane.

According to the AP, Messi had already been denied in the eighth minute when his close-range finish was ruled offside. He was not to be denied twice.

The second came in the 60th minute — not elegant but clinical. Alexis Mac Allister tested Zidane from distance; the rebound fell to Messi, who tapped in with his right foot.

Sixteen minutes later, he collected from Nico González, shifted, and placed his third into the bottom-left corner. He was substituted off to a standing ovation.

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The Goalkeeper He Scored Past

There is a detail in this result the scoreline alone doesn't carry.

The Algeria goalkeeper was Luca Zidane — son of Zinedine Zidane, who won the 1998 World Cup with France.

Al Jazeera confirmed Messi scored all three past the younger Zidane to tie a record his father's generation once competed to reach.

It was also Messi's 200th international cap for Argentina — marked with the first World Cup hat-trick of his career at 38 years old.

Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic was candid: "We're not talking about any old footballer. Unfortunately we afforded him the opportunity with the first and second goal. But Messi, with his clear thinking in crucial stages, is able to do things that much more easily."

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Algeria Had the Ball — Argentina Had the Goals

The full match stats from Kansas City tell a sharp story.

Algeria finished with 53% possession, 583 passes at 93% accuracy, and 8 fouls committed — marginally better numbers than Argentina across most categories.

They managed zero shots on target from 6 total attempts. Argentina had 9 shots and 6 on target.

Yahoo Sports reported that Argentina frequently capitalised on the space Algeria's defence left behind transitions — producing 3 offsides to Algeria's 1, and committing 12 fouls to Algeria's 8 as the game became increasingly stretched.

Both sides finished with 2 corners each and no cards across 90 minutes.

The absence of cards is notable — no cynical defending, no time-wasting. Algeria simply could not manufacture a chance. The same possession-without-penetration pattern has defined this tournament's opening days, from Spain's goalless draw with Cape Verde to Belgium's share of points with Egypt.

The difference here was Messi on the end of it.

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What the Record Means — And What Comes Next

Klose's 16-goal record has stood since 2014.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni kept his focus measured: "The first match is always tricky. We had stumbled in the last World Cup and we needed to have a good debut today."

Argentina have two group games remaining. Messi needs one goal to stand alone at the top of the all-time World Cup scoring list — a record that, by every reasonable expectation, is his before the group stage ends.

Key Takeaways

• Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 in Group J on June 16, 2026, in Kansas City.

• Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick — his first in a World Cup across 6 tournaments and 27 matches.

• Goals: 17' (De Paul assist), 60' (Mac Allister rebound), 76' (Nico González assist).

• Messi is now tied with Miroslav Klose at 16 World Cup goals — the all-time record.

• It was Messi's 200th cap for Argentina, played at age 38.

• Algeria: 53% possession, 583 passes (93% accuracy), 6 shots, 0 shots on target, 8 fouls, 2 corners, 1 offside, 0 cards.

• Argentina: 47% possession, 555 passes (90% accuracy), 9 shots, 6 shots on target, 12 fouls, 2 corners, 3 offsides, 0 cards.

• Group J standings: Argentina and Austria both on 3 points after matchday one.

Sources

• Associated Press / TSN

• Al Jazeera

• Yahoo Sports

• Bolavip US

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