Lionel Messi Shines with Hat Trick in Argentina's World Cup Opener
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On a humid Midwestern night, thousands came to see whether Lionel Messi still had another World Cup in his legs. He answered with a hat trick and a record in his sights.
Argentina’s captain struck three times in a 3-0 win over Algeria in Kansas City on Sunday, launching the holders’ title defense with a performance that felt both familiar and historic.
By the final whistle at Arrowhead Stadium, the 38-year-old had drawn level with Miroslav Klose on 16 career World Cup goals, sharing the all-time mark and positioning himself to stand alone in the coming days. Group J dates with Austria and Jordan now offer him that chance.
No repeat of 2022 nerves
Argentina arrived here with the scars of their last World Cup opener, that stunning defeat to Saudi Arabia in 2022 that briefly rocked their campaign before they recovered to lift the trophy. There was no such stumble this time.
From the start, the world champions played with a sharper edge. Messi dropped deep to knit play, Rodrigo De Paul snapped into tackles and dictated tempo, and Algeria quickly found themselves pinned back.
The breakthrough came in the 17th minute and, fittingly, it was vintage Messi. After a neat exchange with De Paul, he drifted into space outside the penalty area, set the ball onto his left foot and ripped a shot into the top corner. One touch to set, one swing to silence any early nerves.
Argentina pushed for a second before the break. Thiago Almada sliced one promising opening wide, then Lautaro Martínez forced Luca Zidane into action, the Algeria goalkeeper—son of France legend Zinedine Zidane—sprawling to keep his team in touch.
Messi turns the screw
Algeria emerged from halftime with a bit more ambition, but the gulf in quality remained obvious. Each Argentine attack seemed to bend towards Messi.
Just after the hour, the pressure finally told. Alexis Mac Allister burst into the box and drew a save from Zidane, but the rebound spilled into danger. Messi reacted first, pouncing to steer the ball home and double the lead. Goal No. 16 on the World Cup stage, and Klose’s record had company.
Arrowhead rose, sensing another. It nearly came almost instantly. Slipped through on goal, Messi faced Zidane one-on-one, only for the keeper to stand tall and block his effort. Moments later, the Argentina captain tumbled under contact in the area and appealed for a penalty, but the referee waved play on.
Argentina never lost control. De Paul kept the ball moving, Mac Allister and Almada rotated between the lines, and Algeria chased shadows.
The hat trick and the ovation
The third goal felt inevitable. It arrived in the 76th minute, crafted with the kind of simplicity that only great sides manage.
Nicolás González threaded a pass into Messi’s path. No flourish, no need. Messi opened his body and slid a low shot into the corner, beyond Zidane’s reach, completing his hat trick and underlining the gulf between champion and challenger.
By then, Algeria were beaten. Argentina shifted down a gear, content to manage the game and conserve energy for what lies ahead in Group J.
Messi’s night ended not with drama, but with appreciation. When his number went up late on, the stadium rose to its feet. Fans in sky blue and white, neutrals, even a few in green—all stood to salute a player still bending tournaments to his will at 38.
Argentina walked off with three goals, three points, and no hint of the chaos that marked the start of their last world title run. Messi walked off level with a World Cup legend, with at least two more group games to chase history alone.
