The Match
They said it could not get more historic than 2022. They were wrong. Lionel Messi, on his 200th appearance for Argentina and playing in his sixth World Cup, produced a performance at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on June 17 that will be discussed in the same breath as the greatest individual displays in the tournament's history. Three goals — the 17th, 60th, and 76th minutes — a hat-trick at a World Cup, and suddenly Messi sits level with Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals, jointly the most any player has ever scored at the finals. Argentina won 3-0, comfortably, deservedly, but the scoreline barely tells the story of what Messi delivered on a remarkable Tuesday evening in Missouri.
Algeria, ranked 28th in the world and appearing at their first World Cup in eight years, set up in a compact 4-5-1 that was disciplined for forty minutes but could not withstand the relentless quality of the reigning champions. Messi opened the scoring with a long-range effort of breathtaking precision in the 17th minute — a left-footed strike from fully 30 metres that curled beyond goalkeeper Raïs M'Bolhi before the goalkeeper could react. The second goal was a contrast in styles: a tap-in from close range after a devastating Argentine combination put Álvaro Morata's cross through the box and Messi arrived at the back post unmarked. The third was pure artistry — a curling effort into the bottom corner with Messi barely seeming to look before delivering a finish of such precision that even Algeria's players paused to appreciate it.
There was controversy between the first and second goals when Messi lunged clumsily into a challenge that several commentators immediately flagged as a potential red card. The referee showed only a yellow — a decision that will be debated — but by that point, Argentina's grip on the match was such that the incident barely affected the outcome.
Standout Performers
Lionel Messi. The conversation begins and ends there. His first goal was a technical masterpiece from distance. His second demonstrated the poacher's instinct that sets great strikers apart. His third showed that even at 38 years old, his technique and composure in front of goal remain peerless. That he scored his first-ever hat-trick at a World Cup on the same night he reached his 200th appearance for Argentina, and equalled the all-time scoring record, transforms this match into one of football's landmark occasions.
Rodrigo De Paul was superb in midfield, controlling the tempo and setting the platform from which Messi's genius flourished. His ability to win the ball, distribute quickly, and press Algeria's midfielders into errors gave Argentina the foundation they needed. Julián Álvarez was energetic and selfless in the number nine role, holding up play and combining with Messi in ways that consistently opened Algeria's defence.
Tactical Picture
Lionel Scaloni deployed Argentina in a 4-3-3 that pressed high and used Messi's freedom to roam across the front third to maximum effect. Algeria's defensive structure held reasonably well for the first quarter, but Messi's first goal changed the entire tactical dynamic — Algeria were forced to open up to chase the game, and each time they did, Argentina punished them with clinical efficiency. The defending champions' ability to mix incisive combinations with direct long balls gave Algeria two entirely different problems to solve simultaneously, and they solved neither convincingly.
Group Implications
Argentina sit top of Group J with three points after the opening round, joined only by Austria on the same tally following their win over Jordan. The three-goal margin means Argentina's goal difference is already superior to the rest of the group, putting them in an extremely strong position to advance from a section they were always expected to top. Algeria find themselves at the bottom of the group with zero points and must win their next match to keep their tournament alive. For the watching world, Argentina's next two fixtures will now be watched with the anticipation of what further records Messi might break.
One to Watch Next
Lionel Messi, standing level with Klose on 16 World Cup goals, is now just one strike from outright ownership of the greatest individual scoring record in the tournament's history. In a squad full of world-class performers — Álvarez, De Paul, Mac Allister — it is Messi who carries both the record and the weight of a nation's expectations. Whether he breaks the record in Argentina's next match or waits for a later occasion, the football world will be watching every touch, every run, and every shot with the kind of attention reserved for history being made in real time.
