Messi's Hat-Trick Fuels Argentina's Dominant World Cup Start
June 17, 2026 ยท By yayscore Newsroom
Updated:
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Lionel Messi scored a sensational hat-trick to lead Argentina to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Algeria in their opening World Cup group stage match.
Argentina kicked off their World Cup campaign in style, securing a convincing 3-0 win against Algeria. The match initially saw Algeria have a goal disallowed for offside by F. Chaibi in the 8th minute, a moment that proved to be a critical turning point as Argentina quickly seized control thereafter through their talismanic captain.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute with an assist from R. de Paul, setting the tone for a dominant performance. He then extended Argentina's lead in the 60th minute with his second goal of the night. Algeria, despite enjoying more possession with 52%, struggled to convert it into meaningful chances, failing to register a single shot on target throughout the match.
Messi completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute, assisted by N. Gonzalez, cementing a stellar individual display. This impressive performance highlights Argentina's strong offensive capabilities and signals their intent for the tournament, while Algeria will need to regroup and find their scoring touch in subsequent group matches.