Hat-Trick Heroics Send Argentina Past Algeria in Opener

You could feel it building with every touch. The Lionel Messi hat-trick wasn't just a football story; it was the moment thousands of fans inside the stadium realised they were watching another chapter of history unfold. Every time he received the ball, phones came out, voices rose and social media started predicting what was coming next. By the final whistle, those predictions looked conservative.

Argentina began their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Algeria knowing that three points would immediately strengthen their position in the group. The defending champions eventually secured a 3-0 victory, but the scoreline only tells part of the story. For long stretches, Algeria competed aggressively and asked difficult questions of Argentina's defence. Then Messi took control of the answers.

The opening stages carried plenty of tension despite Argentina's dominance in possession. Algeria stayed compact, pressed aggressively and tried to disrupt the rhythm that usually powers Argentina's attack. But how long could they keep Messi quiet? Not long. The captain opened the scoring and immediately changed the atmosphere inside the ground, giving Argentina the breakthrough their patient build-up play deserved.

Algeria briefly threatened to make a contest of it after finding a route back into the match. For a few minutes, fans sensed the possibility of an upset. But could Algeria really stop Argentina once Messi found space between the lines? They couldn't. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner added two more goals to complete his hat-trick and remove any doubt about the outcome.

That's what makes Messi different even at this stage of his career. Plenty of players can influence a match for 20 minutes. Very few can dictate the entire narrative of a World Cup fixture. His three goals arrived at the moments Argentina needed them most, and each strike triggered another wave of celebration across the stands and online. By the end, the discussion wasn't whether he had played well. It was where this performance ranked among his many World Cup highlights.

Three points place Argentina in a strong early position within their group. Just as importantly, the reigning champions avoided the slow start that has troubled several favourites in previous tournaments. A positive goal difference and an opening victory provide breathing room before the tougher fixtures arrive. Algeria, meanwhile, may need points from their next match to keep qualification hopes firmly in their own hands.

Attention now shifts to Argentina's second group-stage fixture, where expectations will be even higher after this performance. Opponents will spend the next few days searching for ways to contain Messi, but that's been football's most difficult puzzle for nearly two decades. Fans are already counting down to his next appearance, and if this opener is any indication, the tournament's biggest moments might still be ahead of him.