Lionel Messi scored a hat trick as defending champions Argentina opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 3-0 win over Algeria in Group J on Tuesday.
Messi put Argentina ahead in the 17th minute with a long range strike after an earlier goal was ruled out for offside. He added two more goals later in the match to complete his first World Cup hat trick. The 38 year old has now scored in five different World Cups.
Argentina controlled much of the game and created several chances against an Algeria side that saw an early goal disallowed by video review. The result gives the South American team a strong start to their title defense.
Algeria struggled to find a way back into the match after Messi’s opening goal. Argentina will next face Austria and Jordan in the group stage.