Lionel Messi once again etched his name into football folklore with a stunning hat-trick as Argentina demolished Algeria 5-0 in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Argentine captain delivered a masterclass at the Lusail Stadium, scoring three goals and providing an assist to lead his team to a resounding victory.
Messi's Record-Breaking Performance
The 39-year-old forward opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a trademark free-kick that curled over the wall and into the top corner. He doubled the lead in the 35th minute, slotting home from close range after a brilliant team move. Messi completed his hat-trick in the 67th minute with a clinical finish from outside the box, becoming the oldest player to score a hat-trick in World Cup history.
Argentina Dominates from Start to Finish
Argentina controlled the game from the first whistle, with Messi pulling the strings in attack. Julian Alvarez added a fourth goal in the 52nd minute, while Lautaro Martinez rounded off the scoring in the 81st minute. Algeria struggled to cope with Argentina's relentless pressure and failed to register a single shot on target.
Historic Milestone for Messi
With this hat-trick, Messi became the first player to score hat-tricks in four different World Cups, surpassing the previous record held by Just Fontaine and Sandor Kocsis. He also extended his record as the top scorer in World Cup history, now with 18 goals.
Reaction from the Camp
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised Messi's performance, calling it 'unbelievable' and 'a joy to watch.' Messi himself said, 'I'm happy to help the team start the tournament with a win. We know there's a long way to go, but this is a great start.'
The victory puts Argentina top of Group A, with their next match against Saudi Arabia on June 22. Algeria will look to bounce back against Poland in their second group game.
