17/06/2026 03:13 - Deportes
Un jugador de fútbol con la camiseta albiceleste número 10 celebra un gol levantando los brazos en un estadio repleto bajo la luz de los reflectores, con confeti cayendo del cielo y la afición enardecida en las tribunas pintadas de azul y blanco.
The Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City was electric on the night of Tuesday, June 16, 2026, as Lionel Messi delivered a masterclass performance. The Argentine captain scored a hat-trick (goals at 16', 59', and 75') that propelled him to 16 World Cup goals, matching German striker Miroslav Klose as the tournament's all-time leading scorer. Messi also became the first player in history to appear in six different World Cups, a record that Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo could equal in the coming hours.
For context: Miroslav Klose scored 16 goals across four World Cups (2002-2014) for Germany. Messi's achievement spans six tournaments from 2006 to 2026. The previous record before Klose was held by Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário with 15 goals.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Final Score | Argentina 3 - Algeria 0 |
| Scorer | Lionel Messi (16', 59', 75') |
| Stadium | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| Referee | Szymon Marciniak (Poland) |
| Attendance | 70,000 spectators |
| Group J | Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan |
The defending champions started with intensity. Messi opened the scoring at 16 minutes following an excellent pass from Rodrigo De Paul, just as Argentina recovered from a scare when Fares Chaibi had a goal disallowed by VAR. In the second half, the Argentine legend sealed the night: at 59 minutes, he capitalized on a rebound from goalkeeper Luca Zidane (son of French icon Zinedine Zidane) after a shot from Alexis Mac Allister, and at 75 minutes, he completed his hat-trick with a low left-footed strike following a pass from Nicolás González.
Algeria, who never stopped attacking, created chances but couldn't beat goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. Argentina's midfield, with Enzo Fernández as the standout conductor, controlled the tempo. Manager Lionel Scaloni made substitutions, bringing on Julián Álvarez, Nicolás González, Nahuel Molina, and Nico Paz, while Messi left the field to a standing ovation in the 79th minute.
Argentina aims to become only the third nation to win consecutive World Cups, a feat achieved only by Italy (1934-1938) and Brazil (1958-1962). Scaloni's squad retains 17 players from the Qatar 2022 championship team. With this victory, Argentina took a significant step toward the Round of 32, the new knockout stage introduced in this expanded 48-team World Cup format.
Note: The 2026 World Cup marks the first time 48 teams participate, up from 32 in previous tournaments. This expansion adds an extra knockout round.
Group J consists of Argentina, Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Argentina's upcoming fixtures are: June 22 vs Austria in Dallas, and June 27 vs Jordan also in Dallas.
Lionel Scaloni (Argentina Head Coach): "It was an extremely difficult match. The final result came from Leo's brilliance and the team's ability to suffer through difficult moments. As long as he wants to play, he'll be the best. We must enjoy him because we'll miss him when he's no longer on the pitch."
Rodrigo De Paul (Midfielder): "Messi remains the greatest. For us, having him on the pitch is an advantage, and off the pitch, he's a luxury because of how he leads the group."
Alexis Mac Allister (Midfielder): "We have the best player in the world. Starting with a win is always important, but we also need to keep improving."
The Argentine national team, nicknamed "La Albiceleste" (The White and Sky Blue), is one of football's most successful programs. They won their third World Cup in 2022 under captain Messi. The team plays in iconic blue and white striped jerseys. Messi, born in Rosario, Argentina, made his national team debut in 2005 and has been captain since 2011.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
