Argentina vs Algeria, 2026 FIFA World Cup, Group Stage
· FIFA World CupLionel 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.
Match Timeline
- 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
- 0': First Half begins.
- 1': Foul by Enzo Fernández (Argentina).
- 1': Anis Hadj Moussa (Algeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 4': Offside, Argentina. Lautaro Martínez is caught offside.
- 5': Offside, Argentina. Lionel Messi is caught offside.
- 8': Offside, Algeria. Farès Chaïbi is caught offside.
- 8': GOAL OVERTURNED BY VAR: Farès Chaïbi (Algeria) scores but the goal is ruled out after a VAR review.
- 9': VAR Decision: No Goal Argentina 0-0 Algeria.
- 10': Aïssa Mandi (Algeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 10': Foul by Lautaro Martínez (Argentina).
- 11': Rayan Aït-Nouri (Algeria) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 11': Foul by Gonzalo Montiel (Argentina).
- 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.
- 25': Delay in match for a drinks break.
- 28': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 31': Foul by Lionel Messi (Argentina).
- 31': Aïssa Mandi (Algeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 34': Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 34': Foul by Amine Gouiri (Algeria).
- 36': Foul by Rafik Belghali (Algeria).
- 36': Thiago Almada (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 37': Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the left from a direct free kick.
- 37': Aïssa Mandi (Algeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 37': Foul by Facundo Medina (Argentina).
- 39': Offside, Argentina. Thiago Almada is caught offside.
- 40': Corner, Algeria. Conceded by Emiliano Martínez.
- 41': Attempt missed. Farès Chaïbi (Algeria) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Hicham Boudaoui with a cross following a corner.
- 42': Attempt missed. Thiago Almada (Argentina) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Enzo Fernández.
- 43': Foul by Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina).
- 43': Ibrahim Maza (Algeria) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 44': Attempt missed. Farès Chaïbi (Algeria) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Aïssa Mandi.
- 45': Attempt missed. Farès Chaïbi (Algeria) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Anis Hadj Moussa.
- 45': Foul by Lautaro Martínez (Argentina).
- 45': Ramy Bensebaini (Algeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 45'+1': Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
- 45'+1': Corner, Algeria. Conceded by Lisandro Martínez.
- 45'+4': Attempt blocked. Anis Hadj Moussa (Algeria) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rafik Belghali.
- 45'+4': Foul by Rafik Belghali (Algeria).
- 45'+4': Facundo Medina (Argentina) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 45'+5': Attempt missed. Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Lionel Messi with a cross following a set piece situation.
- 45'+5': First Half ends, Argentina 1, Algeria 0.
- 45': Substitution, Argentina. Nahuel Molina replaces Gonzalo Montiel.
- 45': Second Half begins Argentina 1, Algeria 0.
- 48': Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 48': Foul by Hicham Boudaoui (Algeria).
- 51': Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Nahuel Molina.
- 51': Foul by Cristian Romero (Argentina).
- 51': Ibrahim Maza (Algeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 54': Attempt saved. Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Luca Zidane (Algeria). Assisted by Lionel Messi with a through ball.
- 55': Amine Gouiri (Algeria) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 55': Foul by Cristian Romero (Argentina).
- 55': Substitution, Argentina. Nico González replaces Thiago Almada.
- 55': Substitution, Argentina. Julián Alvarez replaces Lautaro Martínez.
- 57': Attempt blocked. Ibrahim Maza (Algeria) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Farès Chaïbi.
- 59': Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Aïssa Mandi.
- 60': Attempt saved. Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Luca Zidane (Algeria).
- 60': Goal! Argentina 2, Algeria 0. Lionel Messi (Argentina) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
- 63': Foul by Hicham Boudaoui (Algeria).
- 63': Enzo Fernández (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 64': Substitution, Algeria. Houssem Aouar replaces Hicham Boudaoui.
- 64': Substitution, Algeria. Mohammed Amoura replaces Amine Gouiri.
- 64': Substitution, Algeria. Riyad Mahrez replaces Anis Hadj Moussa.
- 64': Cristian Romero (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 64': Foul by Mohammed Amoura (Algeria).
- 66': Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Luca Zidane (Algeria). Assisted by Alexis Mac Allister.
- 66': Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Luca Zidane.
- 69': Attempt missed. Houssem Aouar (Algeria) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Mohammed Amoura.
- 69': Delay in match for a drinks break.
- 71': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 75': Foul by Farès Chaïbi (Algeria).
- 75': Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 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.
- 78': Delay in match because of an injury Ibrahim Maza (Algeria).
- 79': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 80': Substitution, Argentina. Nico Paz replaces Lionel Messi.
- 80': Substitution, Argentina. Nicolás Otamendi replaces Cristian Romero.
- 81': Substitution, Algeria. Adil Boulbina replaces Ibrahim Maza.
- 82': Substitution, Algeria. Ramiz Zerrouki replaces Nabil Bentaleb.
- 83': Foul by Facundo Medina (Argentina).
- 83': Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 83': Foul by Julián Alvarez (Argentina).
- 83': Aïssa Mandi (Algeria) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 85': Houssem Aouar (Algeria) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 85': Foul by Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina).
- 86': Attempt blocked. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
- 90'+1': Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time.
- 90'+5': Ramy Bensebaini (Algeria) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 90'+5': Foul by Nico Paz (Argentina).
- 90'+6': Handball by Rayan Aït-Nouri (Algeria).
- 90'+7': Second Half ends, Argentina 3, Algeria 0.
- 0': Match ends, Argentina 3, Algeria 0.
Statistics
 ALG |
ARG |
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Game Information
Competition: FIFA World Cup
Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
Location: Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Attendance: 69,045
Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
Location: Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Attendance: 69,045
FIFA World Cup Table
| # | TEAM | GP | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | 3 | +7 | 9 |
| 2 | Austria | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Algeria | 3 | -2 | 4 |
| 4 | Jordan | 3 | -5 | 0 |
Line-Ups
Argentina (4-4-2)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 23 | Emiliano Martínez (GK) |
| 6 | Lisandro Martínez |
| 13 | Cristian Romero |
| 25 | Facundo Medina |
| 4 | Gonzalo Montiel |
| 24 | Enzo Fernández |
| 20 | Alexis Mac Allister |
| 16 | Thiago Almada |
| 7 | Rodrigo De Paul |
| 22 | Lautaro Martínez |
| 10 | Lionel Messi |
Algeria (4-3-3)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 23 | Luca Zidane (GK) |
| 21 | Ramy Bensebaini |
| 2 | Aïssa Mandi |
| 15 | Rayan Aït-Nouri |
| 17 | Rafik Belghali |
| 19 | Nabil Bentaleb |
| 22 | Ibrahim Maza |
| 14 | Hicham Boudaoui |
| 9 | Amine Gouiri |
| 10 | Farès Chaïbi |
| 11 | Anis Hadj Moussa |
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