Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Tuesday night, with Lionel Messi deciding the fixture through a superb hat-trick at 17′, 60′ and 76′. The Argentina captain once again shaped the result, and in the process added another landmark chapter to his World Cup story.
At GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Argentina were efficient rather than overwhelming early on, but they found the breakthrough in the 17th minute when Messi opened the scoring. That first goal gave the South Americans control of the rhythm and forced Algeria to chase longer spells of possession without finding enough danger in the final third.
Algeria actually finished with a slight edge in possession at 52.1 percent, but Argentina were sharper where it mattered most. Lionel Scaloni’s side produced 10 shots and put 6 on target, while Algeria managed only 1 effort on target from 7 attempts. That difference in cutting edge told the story of the match far more clearly than the possession numbers.
Argentina went into the interval 1-0 up and looked comfortable with the shape of the contest. Algeria stayed in the fixture for long stretches, competing well in midfield and matching Argentina on corners with two each, but they could not turn circulation into clear openings. Whenever the African side advanced, Argentina’s structure limited central space and protected the penalty area effectively.
Messi then took the match further away just after the hour. His second goal at 60′ gave Argentina the cushion they wanted and changed the tone of the closing stages. With the lead extended, Argentina could manage the tempo, pick their moments in transition and force Algeria to open up.
The third arrived in the 76th minute, as Messi completed his hat-trick and put the result beyond doubt. It was a clinical finish to a controlled team performance, and it also carried added historical weight: Messi moved level with Miroslav Klose’s long-standing World Cup mark of 16 career goals, underlining once more how often he has delivered on this stage.
Key performers
Messi was clearly the standout figure, scoring all three Argentina goals at 17′, 60′ and 76′ and turning a tight contest into a convincing win. Beyond the finishing, he gave Argentina calm in possession and quality in the decisive moments. Argentina were also solid as a unit, limiting Algeria to just one shot on target across 90 minutes plus stoppage time.
NerdSports Stat: Messi scored every Argentina goal and found the net once every 19.7 minutes between his opener at 17′ and his hat-trick finish at 76′.
For Algeria, the frustration will be that they saw enough of the ball to suggest a platform for more. But possession without penetration was the issue, and against a side as disciplined and clinical as Argentina, that is difficult to overcome. Their manager can point to decent buildup phases, though the lack of final-third precision proved costly.
The result strengthens Argentina’s position in Group J and gives them another major boost in a tournament they entered as one of the leading contenders. A 3-0 win, a clean sheet and a Messi hat-trick is about as authoritative as it gets at this stage. Algeria, meanwhile, now face added pressure in their next fixture as they look to stay alive in the group and recover ground in the table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lionel Messi scored for Argentina at 17′, 60′ and 76′.
Argentina 3 – 0 Algeria.
Argentina strengthened their position in Group J with three more points, while Algeria now face pressure in their next fixture to keep pace in the group.
Lionel Messi was the standout performer with a hat-trick, scoring at 17′, 60′ and 76′.
