Soccer's premier goal scorers, led by Lionel Messi, show up to the World Cup with a bang

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup Group J match at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium in front of a capacity crowd of nearly 70,000, on June 17, 2026. The performance came as Argentina began their defense of the 2022 World Cup title. On the same day, France's Kylian Mbappé also impressed by scoring two goals, highlighting a strong start for elite goal scorers at the tournament.