Lionel Messi scored three goals as Argentina kicked off their 2026 World Cup campaign with a victory over Algeria in Kansas City. This match marked the start of Argentina's title defense after winning the 2022 World Cup.
Key points
Lionel Messi scored three goals in the match
Argentina played against Algeria in Kansas City
This match began Argentina's defense of their 2022 title
Mentioned in this story
Lionel Messi
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Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates scoring his team's second goal during their 2026 World Cup game against Algeria at the Kansas City Stadium. Messi would add a third as Argentina began defense of its 2022 title.
Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates scoring his team's second goal during their 2026 World Cup game against Algeria in Kansas City, Mo. Messi would add a third as Argentina began defense of its 2022 title.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images
In the lead-up to this World Cup, some people whispered:
On Tuesday, as Argentina began defense of its World Cup championship, the doubters are no longer doubting.
Messi scored not one, not two, but three goals against Algeria in a 3-0 victory in the opening match of Group J in front of a capacity crowd of nearly 70,000 at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium.
In a remarkable career, Messi managed to do something that he'd not done before at the World Cup: a hat-trick. Twenty years to the day he scored his first World Cup goal, he moved into a tie for the all-time goal scoring lead with 16 (even with Germany's Miroslav Klose).
Messi's three goals set up what's expected to be a thrilling subplot to this World Cup: Who will win the Golden Boot award, given to the top goal scorer at every World Cup.
Like Messi, French superstar Kylian Mbappé had a standout day Tuesday, scoring twice in France's 3-1 win over Senegal (he now has 14 World Cup goals overall, surpassing Brazilian great Pele, and tying for third place). Erling Haaland also tallied two goals in Norway's 4-1 victory against Iraq. Other players with notable performances so far include Folarin Balogun of the U.S., New Zealand's Elijah Just, and Germany's Kai Havertz, who each have scored twice.
Several other stars are hoping to add their names to the Golden Boot scoreboard on Wednesday. Cristiano Ronaldo leads Portugal's World Cup tournament opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo. At 41, it's unclear how much playing time he'll see. Also on Wednesday, Harry Kane of England and Croatia's Luka Modrić square off in a Group L match of heavyweights.
If the opening days of the 2026 World Cup are any indication, the goal scoring and records will keep getting broken.
