For the First Time in His Career, Messi Scores a Hat Trick at a World Cup

Argentina vs. Algeria: A Thrilling 2026 World Cup Clash

According to Главком: The 2026 World Cup continues to deliver excitement for fans worldwide. On Wednesday, June 17, Argentina faced Algeria in Group J, securing a dominant 3-0 victory. Lionel Messi netted a hat trick during the match, marking the first time he has achieved this feat in a World Cup tournament. This edition of the competition is the sixth World Cup of his illustrious career.

Match Highlights

The encounter between Argentina and Algeria was fast-paced and intense. The first half ended with Argentina leading 1-0, thanks to Messi's opening goal in the 23rd minute, assisted by Rodrigo De Paul. Two goals were disallowed during the game:

• A goal by Lionel Messi in the 5th minute was ruled out for offside.
• Algeria's Farès Chaïbi also had a goal disallowed for offside just three minutes later.

Argentina's second goal came in the 60th minute when Messi slotted home a rebound after a shot from Alexis Mac Allister. Messi completed his hat trick in the 76th minute, sealing his dominance on the pitch. With this win, Argentina continues to defend the world champion title they claimed in 2022 in Qatar.

Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane fought hard to counter the attacks but could not prevent the defeat. Algeria's coach, Vladimir Petković, faced a tough challenge as he watched Argentina's powerful performance unfold.

Match summary: Argentina 3-0 Algeria (1-0). Goals: 1-0 Messi (23'), 2-0 Messi (60'), 3-0 Messi (76').

This victory highlights Argentina's strength and their continued high level of play at the World Cup, driven largely by Lionel Messi's contributions. His hat trick not only showcases his individual brilliance but also plays a key role in the team's overall strategy. Although Algeria lost, they have the opportunity to analyze their mistakes and refine their game in upcoming matches to improve their chances in the tournament.

As Argentina continues to showcase their dominance in the tournament, it's worth recalling Messi's impressive return after injury in a previous match against Iceland, where he played a crucial role in leading his team to a convincing victory. For a detailed look at how his comeback impacted the team's performance, check out our coverage of that match here.