Messi’s Hat Trick Powers Argentina to 3-0 Win Over Algeria, Ties World Cup Scoring Record

Argentina's Start Was Uneasy Before Messi Took Control

At Kansas City Stadium, with 69,045 fans watching, Lionel Messi transformed Argentina's nervous World Cup title defense into a commanding victory. The 38-year-old superstar netted all three goals in a 3-0 triumph against Algeria. That hat trick brought Messi level with Miroslav Klose's record of 16 World Cup goals, though Klose reached the milestone in fewer games.

Early Tension and Near Misses

The match began with tension. Argentina’s counterattack initially looked promising when Messi scored, but it was ruled offside due to Lautaro Martinez’s mistimed pass. Algeria responded quickly; Farès Chaïbi broke free and scored, only for VAR to disallow it for offside as well. Both teams probed the defense lines, searching for openings that could change the game.

"They did everything they could. They reacted wonderfully in the first half," said Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni through a translator.

Messi Breaks Through and Sets Milestones

Messi’s moment came when Rodrigo De Paul slid a precise pass between two defenders. Messi calmly placed his shot in the top-right corner to give Argentina the lead. This goal marked his fifth World Cup where he found the net, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of his first World Cup goal. Alongside De Paul, who is also his teammate at Inter Miami, they became only the fifth pair of MLS players to combine on a World Cup goal. This strike was Messi’s 911th career goal for club and country.

Scaloni remarked, "It’s hard to explain. We’re amazed with him still, though we get to see him every day." Algeria’s coach Vladimir Petković added, "Class is permanent. He’s not just any player; he has eight Ballon d’Or awards. Unfortunately, we gave him chances for the first two goals. The whole Argentina team works for him."

Second Half Brilliance Seals the Win

In the second half, Messi continued to dominate. After a blocked shot by Alexis Mac Allister, Messi capitalized on the rebound. Later, thanks to a timely assist from Nicolas Gonzalez, Messi completed his first World Cup hat trick with a composed finish using his left foot. Algeria matched possession numbers but failed to threaten seriously, managing seven shots with none on target.

Player Ratings from Kansas City Stadium

Goalkeeper & Defense

• Emiliano Martinez (7/10): Calm and precise distribution eased early nerves. His long pass led directly to Messi’s second goal.
• Facundo Medina (7/10): Kept Algeria’s wingers largely quiet. Minimal attacking contribution but solid defensively.
• Cristian Romero (7/10): Untroubled as Algeria never managed a shot on target.
• Lisandro Martinez (8/10): Strong defensive work with multiple clearances, tackles, and an interception.
• Gonzalo Montiel (7/10): Effective in the first half with solid defensive stats before being subbed early in the second half.

Midfield

• Rodrigo De Paul (8/10): Displayed tenacity and vision, including the assist to Messi.
• Enzo Fernandez (7/10): Maintained clean passing and helped keep Argentina’s rhythm.
• Alexis Mac Allister (7/10): His audacious shot led to Messi’s second goal; contributed both offensively and defensively.
• Thiago Almada (6/10): Provided width and pace but lacked impact elsewhere.

Attack

• Lionel Messi (10/10): A performance worthy of legend. Tied the all-time World Cup scoring record and delivered his first World Cup hat trick.
• Lautaro Martínez (5/10): Struggled to find rhythm in his 55 minutes, appearing unsure whether to pass or shoot.

Substitutes and Manager

• Julian Alvarez (5/10): Returning from injury, had little influence on the match.
• Nicolas González (7/10): Made an immediate difference by assisting Messi’s third goal.
• Nicolas Otamendi (6/10): Came on to shore up defense effectively.
• Nico Paz (6/10): Fresh legs off the bench, maintained steady play.
• Nahuel Molina (6/10): Replaced Montiel and held his ground without making major contributions.
• Lionel Scaloni (8/10): Crafted smart substitutions and kept the team composed after a shaky start. This match showed why Argentina remains one of the top contenders.