Argentina 3-0 Algeria

Lionel Messi lit up his last World Cup with a hat-trick, and the champions looked exactly like the number 1 team in the world.

Full time · Half-time 1-0

How the match went

This is Lionel Messi's last World Cup, and he kicked it off with a night nobody here will forget.

Messi struck in the 17th minute, and from there Argentina ran the whole show.

Algeria gave it everything, but they barely got near the Argentina goal.

It was still 1-0 at the break, and Argentina never looked rushed or worried.

After half-time, Messi simply took over.

He grabbed his 2nd in the 60th minute to make it 2-0.

Then he finished his hat-trick in the 76th minute for 3-0, and the game was done.

What a way to start his farewell tournament, and the rest of Group J just got the message.

Goals in the order they were scored.

Argentina play Austria on June 22, their 2nd game in Group J.

Austria just beat Jordan 3-1, so they turn up with 3 points and plenty of confidence.

After a start like that, Argentina will fancy their chances of winning the group and going far in this World Cup.

Algeria play Jordan on June 22, and they badly need to bounce back.

Algeria now have to pick up points to stay in the race.

It is a game they can win, and a big response would get their World Cup back on track.

The match was played on Tuesday June 16, 2026 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. It was a Group J opener in front of 69,045 fans.

Argentina won 3-0. It was 1-0 at half-time, and Argentina pulled away after the break.

Lionel Messi scored all 3 goals, a hat-trick in the 17th, 60th, and 76th minutes. It was a perfect start to his final World Cup.

No, Algeria did not score. Argentina kept a clean sheet and never let Algeria get close to a goal.

Argentina play Austria on June 22 in their 2nd Group J game. Algeria play Jordan on the same day, looking for a response after this defeat.