Argentina 3-0 Algeria - 2026 World Cup Match Report and Player Ratings

Lionel Messi Nets Incredible Hat-trick in Thumping Argentina Win

The Messi show has arrived at the World Cup.

The Barcelona and Argentina legend, who led his side to the World Cup back in 2022, was at the peak of his powers on his 200th national cap by netting his first-ever World Cup hat-trick to dismiss Algeria comfortably.

It was a truly divine performance from a legendary figure of the game, getting Argentina's defence of the Jules Rimet off to the perfect start.

Argentina 3-0 Algeria As It Happened

The reigning champions had bared their teeth within the first five minutes with Lautaro Martinez aiming a powerful free header too close to goalkeeper Luca Zidane and with icon Lionel Messi firing an effort home from close range before the offside flag denied him.

Moments later, in a breathless opening ten minutes, Algeria would remind the champs of their own presence in the game with a goal of their own that too was denied by a rising flag. A sumptious ball from Leverkusen wonderkid Ibrahim Maza released fellow Bundesliga cohort Farès Chaïbi into space in the area to finish calmly, but the 23-year-old winger had got just a fraction ahead of the line as the pass came in.

But 38-year-old Messi had to have his say early doors, and he did so with a bang to open the scoring definitively. A swift pass through to the veteran from midfield allowed the Inter Miami star to stride forward into space. With Algeria making the cruel mistake of standing off him, he let fly amidst his 200th Argentina cap to beat Zidane with a powerful, curling effort from just outside the area.

The goal moved Messi level with Kylian Mbappe and Gerd Muller with 14 World Cup finals goals after the Frenchman's brace against Senegal earlier in the day, sitting two behind Klose's all-time record - surely that milestone will fall this year?

Algeria would try and bite back, with the formerly denied Chaibi calling Emi Martinez into action for the first time to deny him at the near post, before Argentina responded with another Messi-led counter-attack that led to Thiago Almada sending a ranged effort high over the bar.

Halftime Score - Argentina 1-0 Algeria

The second half began with Argentina once again on the front foot, and Algeria seemed rather unable to keep Messi contained. He got another bit of space on the top-right of the opposing box before drifting in-field and letting loose another strike, but it sailed just over Zidane's goal.

Messi would turn to his creative side just minutes later. Enzo Fernandez won the ball back industriously in the midfield before the ball broke again for the veteran, who slipped a brilliant pass in behind for Martinez to race onto. In the right-most channel, the Inter star hit a low drive towards the bottom left, but Zidane got down well to halt the attempt.

In maybe nothing more than an effort to stop me from writing about anyone else in this match, Lionel Messi would get himself onto the scoresheet once again at the expense of Zidane. Alexis MacAllister had an effort from range that went straight down the centre for the Algeria stopper, but he flapped it out into an uncomfortable area. Unfortunately for the legendary-named keeper, Messi was ready to pounce as he snapped onto the rebound and tapped it home with his weaker right foot.

Messi - f*ck's sake, again? - would get a chance to seal the hat-trick and level Klose's scoring record not long after, racing clean through on goal just minutes after his second before looking to bend one past Zidane, but this time Algeria's stopper was equal to it.

But that record would indeed be matched on this incredible opener for the Argentines. It was truly the Messi show tonight as he reminded the world of his prowess, and he wrapped up his hat-trick in style. He fed a neat one-two with substitute Nico Gonzalez, taking one extra touch near the edge of the area before emphatically stroking the ball home into the bottom-left corner. Inspiring. Incredible. Messi.

Messi was withdrawn shortly after the final goal of his treble, and the pace of the game petered out to a whipser of what it was before. Algeria threw forward no fresh responses, and Argentina simply went through the motions to round out an inspiring win led by their legend.

Full-time Score - Argentina 3-0 Algeria

Argentina Player Ratings

🇦🇷⚔️ Our warriors for the World Cup debut! pic.twitter.com/TY4DLeLpwQ

— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) June 17, 2026

• Emi Martinez (6)

• Gonzalo Montiel (5)

• Cristian Romero (7)

• Lisandro Martinez (7)

• Facundo Medina (6)

• Alexis MacAllister (8)

• Enzo Fernandez (8)

• Rodrigo de Paul (7)

• Thiago Almada (6)

• Lautaro Martinez (7)

• Lionel Messi (10)

• Julian Alvarez (7)

• Nahuel Molina (6)

• Nicolas Gonzalez (7)

• Nicolas Otamendi (N/A)

• Nico Paz (N/A)

Algeria Player Ratings

Starting XI | التشكيلة الأساسية#LesVerts ⭐️⭐️ | #123VivaLAlgérie 🇩🇿 | #WorldCup2026 | #FIFAWORLDCUP pic.twitter.com/5dTlOZoJsw

— Équipe d'Algérie de football (@LesVerts) June 16, 2026

• Luca Zidane (4)

• Rafik Belghali (6)

• Aissa Mandi (5)

• Ramy Bensebaini (7)

• Rayan Ait-Nouri (6)

• Hicham Boudaoui (6)

• Nabil Bentaleb (5)

• Ibrahim Maza (7)

• Fares Chaibi (7)

• Anis Hadj Moussa (6)

• Amine Gouiri (5)

• Riyad Mahrez (6)

• Adil Boubina (N/A)

• Houssem Aouar (5)

• Mohamed Amoura (5)

• Ramiz Zerrouki (6)

Man of the Match - Lionel Messi

Still can't get enough of that Messi goal man, he is so fucking amazing pic.twitter.com/on2V4r1IrA

— 🕊️ (@MagicalXavi) June 17, 2026

F*cking obviously.

Even at the age of 38, whilst riding off into the sunset of his career amidst his new home in MLS and his final World Cup, Lionel Messi reminds all of us mere mortals that he is still better than almost everyone on the planet.

Everything good on the Argentinian side flowed through him, and he bagged a brace for his troubles to move just two goals away from smashing Klose's record. Chances are, in form like that, he will beat it and then some.

UPDATE - I wrote this in the 70th minute, so confident was I that nobody was matching his performance. He since scored his third of the game, and is now level with Klose. Truly the GOAT of our sport, no questions asked.

Bad Day at the Office - Luca Zidane

Yeah... not quite up to his dad's level.

Zidane had a tough task today, dealing with Messi alone and an overwhelming Argentina attack in general, but he could have done better with both of the opening two goals. He should have got a hand to the first effort, powerful as it was, and he spilled an effort that was straight at him right into the path of - quite literally - the last man on earth you want to give a chance to.

A rough night for Algeria in general, and Zidane in particular.