With a stunning strike, Lionel Messi opened the score for Argentina against Algeria in the 2026 World Cup. Defending champions Argentina and Algeria clashed Tuesday night at Kansas City Stadium for a highly anticipated Matchday 1 Group J showdown at the 2026 World Cup. In another masterclass, Lionel Messi tied the competition’s scoring record with his first hat trick in the competition. The historic breakthrough began with Rodrigo De Paul, who threaded a pinpoint, line-breaking through ball to find Messi in the attacking third. Seizing the pocket of space, the Inter Miami superstar drove forward and unleashed a ferocious strike from just outside the 18-yard box; though Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane managed to get a hand on the ball, the sheer power carried it into the back of the net to ignite the stadium in the 17th minute. MESSI SCORES ARGENTINA’S FIRST GOAL OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP! 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/JyNwqGCaFU— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 17, 2026 The reigning champions doubled their advantage in the 60th minute following a chaotic sequence in the Algerian box. Alexis Mac Allister collected a deflected cross from Nicolas Gonzalez and unleashed a thunderous strike from well outside the box; though Luca Zidane managed to parry the initial blast, he spilled the rebound directly into the danger zone. With Algerian defender Aissa Mandi completely blowing the offside trap by sitting too deep, Messi easily stepped up to slide home a right-footed tap-in and secure his brace. IT’S A LIONEL MESSI BRACE IN THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP! 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/UySEduMBpo— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 17, 2026 Messi capped off his historic night in the 76th minute, putting the exclamation point on a lethal Argentine counterattack. Nicolas Gonzalez spearheaded the break before cutting a precise pass back to Messi, who cleanly controlled the ball and curled a clinical, pinpoint finish into the back of the net from just outside the 18-yard box to secure his first career World Cup hat trick. Then, head coach Lionel Scaloni immediately subbed his captain off to allow Nico Paz some minutes, triggering a deafening standing ovation from the Kansas City crowd as Messi walked off the pitch. FIFA WORLD CUP HAT TRICK FOR MESSI! 🇦🇷Lionel Messi ties Miroslav Klose for the most goals in Men’s FIFA World Cup history with 16 🐐 pic.twitter.com/vw6bl65w7s— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 17, 2026 The match opened at a breathless pace, and Argentina nearly took the lead even earlier. Just five minutes into the contest, Lautaro Martinez held up play brilliantly and laid the ball off for Messi to smash it home, but the referee quickly waved off the opening tally due to a slight offside call against the No. 10. A nearly identical drama unfolded on the opposite end just moments later, this time breaking the hearts of the Algerian fans. In the 8th minute, Fares Chaibi exploited a gap in the backline, burst into the Argentine penalty box, and cleanly beat Emi Martinez, but the linesman’s flag went up immediately, keeping the African side off the scoreboard. The Group J clash against Algeria marks a monumental 200th international appearance for Messi in the Argentina kit, a staggering benchmark that distances him from any other player in the rich history of the Albiceleste. With his first-half breakthrough, the captain elevates his international production to 118 goals and 64 assists, concurrently logging the 912th and 913th official goal of his career for club and country. Messi temporarily matches Cristiano Ronaldo record Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are rewriting the history books together at the 2026 World Cup, becoming the first players in soccer history to feature in six different editions of the tournament since their shared debuts back in 2006. While Portugal has yet to kick off its Group K campaign against Congo DR on Wednesday, Messi’s opening-half goal against Algeria allowed him to temporarily draw level with his long-time rival in a highly exclusive
Full preview of Argentina for the 2026 World Cup, including squad breakdown, key players, and tactical analysis of their chances. The reigning champions Argentina arrive in North America looking to accomplish a feat not seen since 1962: defending their global crown. Argentina enters the 2026 World Cup as a resilient, battle-tested squad. Under head coach Lionel Scaloni, the South American giants have transformed from a team carrying the weight of historical expectations into a ruthless winning machine. While Lionel Messi remains the focal point, the Argentina 2026 World Cup squad boasts impressive depth and tactical flexibility. Expectations are sky-high following their dominant qualifying campaign. This World Cup 2026 team preview breaks down the tactical approach, coaching philosophy, and overall squad depth that could define their title defense. Team profile CoachLionel ScaloniCaptainLionel MessiNicknameLa Selección, La AlbicelesteFIFA ranking3rdConfederationCONMEBOLGroupGroup JBest World Cup resultWinners (1978, 1986, 2022)World Cup appearances19Last World Cup appearance2022 (Winners) How Argentina play Our Argentina tactical analysis reveals a fluid side that adapts seamlessly to the opponent. The Argentina formation frequently shifts between a 4-3-3 and a 4-4-2, depending on the game state.In possession, the team relies on a compact, highly technical midfield to control the tempo. Argentina key players like Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, and Rodrigo De Paul dictate the rhythm, allowing Messi the freedom to drift into dangerous pockets of space. Defensively, the squad is exceptionally disciplined. During their recent qualifying campaign, they restricted opponents to an average of just 6.56 shots per match. That defensive solidity resulted in just 10 goals conceded across 18 games. When transitioning into the attack, La Albiceleste utilizes the pace of Julián Alvarez and the finishing instincts of Lautaro Martínez. Their ability to strike quickly on the counter makes them dangerous against high-pressing teams. However, coach Scaloni does not usually play them together. This balanced tactical approach ensures the team remains difficult to break down while possessing the firepower to punish any mistakes. Lionel Scaloni: The coach behind Argentina Lionel Scaloni took charge of the national team in 2018 under heavy skepticism due to his lack of senior coaching experience. Since then, he has orchestrated one of the most successful eras in the country’s soccer history. The former right-back guided his nation to three major international trophies, ending a 28-year drought. His leadership style is grounded in emotional intelligence and pragmatism. Rather than forcing players into a rigid system, the Argentina coach builds his setup around the squad’s strengths. He has successfully fostered a relaxed, unified locker room, removing the intense pressure that previously hindered the team. Scaloni’s ability to manage egos and adapt his strategy mid-game will be crucial for navigating the challenges of the 2026 tournament. Key player: Lionel Messi Messi remains the heartbeat of the national team. Now operating primarily as a playmaker, the Inter Miami star continues to dictate the flow of the game in the final third. Despite stepping away from European club soccer, the veteran forward has maintained exceptional form. He tallied eight goals and three assists during the South American qualifiers, proving his decisive edge remains intact. Lionel Messi of Argentina (Getty Images). Entering the tournament with 117 international goals in 199 appearances, his experience and composure are irreplaceable. The team’s tactical setup is explicitly designed to maximize his creative output. If Messi suffers an injury, Scaloni would be forced to adjust his approach, either by replacing the captain with Nicolás Paz in a similar role or by tweaking the system to accommodate both Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez in the starting lineup. Argentina’
EXCLUSIVE: England 1966 legend Terry Paine has recalled his win bonus after winning the World Cup, and said he still dreams of the Three Lions winning football's top competition 60 years later
Forward Toyosi Olusanya is "buzzing to be back" at Aberdeen after agreeing a two-year deal at Pittodrie. The former St Mirren attacker, 28, had a loan spell at the Dons from Houston Dynamo last season and leaves the Major League Soccer outfit at the end of his contract. Englishman Olusanya scored twice in 18 Aberdeen appearances between January and May.
