FIFA World Cup

FT Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Algeria WDWWL 0
–
Argentina WWWWW 3
1st2ndT
ALG000
ARG123
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium · 69,045 att. · FOX

Match Report

Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images

Lionel Messi equals World Cup scoring record with hat trick against Algeria

Lionel Messi equalled Miroslav Klose's record of 16 World Cup goals with a hat-trick as Argentina began their title defence with a 3-0 win over Algeria in Kansas City.

Full story at ESPN →

Team Stats

8
Fouls
13
0
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
1
Offsides
3
2
Corner Kicks
2
3
Saves
0
52.2
Possession
47.8
7
SHOTS
10
1
ON GOAL
6
0.0
On Target %
0.6
0
Penalty Goals
0
0
Penalty Kicks Taken
0
563
Accurate Passes
504
609
Passes
561
0.9
Pass Completion %
0.9
1
Accurate Crosses
1
9
Crosses
6
0.1
Cross %
0.2
25
Long Balls
32
15
Accurate Long Balls
17
0.6
Long Balls %
0.5
3
Blocked Shots
1
10
Effective Tackles
19
17
Tackles
27
0.6
Tackle %
0.7
8
Interceptions
10
12
Effective Clearances
17
12
Clearances
17

Highlights

02:14 Moreno: There is no argument against Messi being the GOAT Watch on ESPN 01:53 '100% a red card' Should Lionel Messi have been on the pitch for his hat trick? Watch on ESPN 01:59 Was Lionel Messi lucky to avoid a red card during Argentina's opener vs. Algeria? Watch on ESPN 02:56 Is Lionel Messi still the best footballer in the world? Watch on ESPN

Head to Head

ARG leads series 1-0

Lineups

ARG · 4-4-2

  1. 23Emiliano MartínezG
  2. 6Lisandro MartínezCD-L
  3. 13Cristian RomeroCD-R
  4. 25Facundo MedinaLB
  5. 4Gonzalo MontielRB
  6. 24Enzo FernándezCM-L
  7. 20Alexis Mac AllisterCM-R
  8. 16Thiago AlmadaLM
  9. 7Rodrigo De PaulRM
  10. 22Lautaro MartínezCF-L
  11. 10Lionel MessiCF-R

Substitutes

  1. 3Nicolás TagliaficoSUB
  2. 11Giovani Lo CelsoSUB
  3. 1Juan MussoSUB
  4. 17Giuliano SimeoneSUB
  5. 5Leandro ParedesSUB
  6. 8Valentín BarcoSUB
  7. 9Julián ÁlvarezSUB
  8. 15Nico GonzálezSUB
  9. 26Nahuel MolinaSUB
  10. 18Nico PazSUB
  11. 21José Manuel LópezSUB
  12. 2Marcos SenesiSUB
  13. 12Gerónimo RulliSUB
  14. 19Nicolás OtamendiSUB
  15. 14Exequiel PalaciosSUB

ALG · 4-3-3

  1. 23Luca ZidaneG
  2. 21Ramy BensebainiCD-L
  3. 2Aïssa MandiCD-R
  4. 15Rayan Aït-NouriLB
  5. 17Rafik BelghaliRB
  6. 19Nabil BentalebCM
  7. 22Ibrahim MazaLM
  8. 14Hicham BoudaouiRM
  9. 9Amine GouiriF
  10. 10Farès ChaïbiLF
  11. 11Anis Hadj MoussaRF

Substitutes

  1. 7Riyad MahrezSUB
  2. 12Nadhir BenboualiSUB
  3. 13Jaouen HadjamSUB
  4. 5Zineddine BelaïdSUB
  5. 1Melvin MastilSUB
  6. 25Farès GhedjemisSUB
  7. 4Mohamed Amine TougaiSUB
  8. 8Houssem AouarSUB
  9. 24Yassine TitraouiSUB
  10. 20Adil BoulbinaSUB
  11. 26Samir CherguiSUB
  12. 3Achraf AbadaSUB
  13. 18Mohamed AmouraSUB
  14. 16Oussama BenbotSUB
  15. 6Ramiz ZerroukiSUB

Timeline

  1. 9'
  2. 9'
  3. 17' Goal! Argentina 1, Algeria 0. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Rodrigo De Paul.
  4. 25' Delay in match for a drinks break.
  5. 25'
  6. 28' Delay over. They are ready to continue.
  7. 28'
  8. 45' Substitution, Argentina. Nahuel Molina replaces Gonzalo Montiel.
  9. 55' Substitution, Argentina. Nico González replaces Thiago Almada.
  10. 55' Substitution, Argentina. Julián Alvarez replaces Lautaro Martínez.
  11. 60' Goal! Argentina 2, Algeria 0. Lionel Messi (Argentina) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
  12. 64' Substitution, Algeria. Houssem Aouar replaces Hicham Boudaoui.
  13. 64' Substitution, Algeria. Mohammed Amoura replaces Amine Gouiri.
  14. 64' Substitution, Algeria. Riyad Mahrez replaces Anis Hadj Moussa.
  15. 69' Delay in match for a drinks break.
  16. 69'
  17. 71' Delay over. They are ready to continue.
  18. 71'
  19. 76' Goal! Argentina 3, Algeria 0. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Nico González.
  20. 78' Delay in match because of an injury Ibrahim Maza (Algeria).
  21. 78'
  22. 79' Delay over. They are ready to continue.
  23. 79'
  24. 80' Substitution, Argentina. Nico Paz replaces Lionel Messi.
  25. 80' Substitution, Argentina. Nicolás Otamendi replaces Cristian Romero.
  26. 81' Substitution, Algeria. Adil Boulbina replaces Ibrahim Maza.
  27. 82' Substitution, Algeria. Ramiz Zerrouki replaces Nabil Bentaleb.

FIFA World Cup News

All news
ESPN ESPN Messi tracker: Goals, assists, key moments in 2026 ESPN provides game-by-game analysis of Lionel Messi's performances for Inter Miami and Argentina. News Adriana Garcia Lionel Messi: Argentina's 2026 World Cup final heartbreak "part of my football journey" Lionel Messi has accepted that Argentina's 2026 World Cup extra-time defeat to Spain was a part of his football journey. News Associated Press Asian football chief backs Gianni Infantino for another term as FIFA president The Asian Football Confederation endorsed Gianni Infantino on Friday for a fourth term as FIFA president. News Associated Press AFC president unclear on backing for Infantino's FIFA reelection The president of the AFC gave no hint Thursday about the body's support or opposition to the reelection of Gianni Infantino as FIFA president.