Lionel Messi's hat trick leads Argentina to a 3-0 win over Algeria in its World Cup opener

Lionel Messi scored a hat trick to lead Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Algeria in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener, played in Kansas City on June 17, 2026. The performance puts Messi in position to potentially break Miroslav Klose's record for most goals scored in World Cup history. The result marks a dominant start for Argentina in the tournament.