Argentina beats Algeria 3-0 with Messi hat trick in 2026 World Cup opener

Defending champion Argentina opened its 2026 World Cup campaign with a 3-0 win over Algeria in the group stage. Lionel Messi gave Argentina the lead in the 17th minute before adding two more goals in the second half, in the 60th and 76th minutes, to complete a hat trick. The match at times tested the officials, with a Messi goal ruled out for offside in the eighth minute and an Algeria strike by Ibrahim Mazza disallowed for the same reason in the 13th. Argentina then controlled the remainder of the contest as Messi completed his three-goal haul. The victory lifted Argentina to the top of its group, which also includes Jordan and Austria, with three points from the opening round of fixtures. Algeria, Jordan and Austria are each still seeking their first points of the tournament.