national team
Argentina 3–1 Algeria: Messi conducts the World Cup opener
Lionel Messi orchestrated a polished 3–1 win over Algeria as Argentina opened their 2026 World Cup defence in Atlanta.
Lionel Messi orchestrated a polished 3–1 win over Algeria as Argentina opened their 2026 World Cup defence in Atlanta.
Atlanta turned silver under the floodlights, and once again the night belonged to one man.
Lionel Messi delivered 90 minutes of cold-blooded brilliance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, lifting Argentina to a 3–1 win over Algeria in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Julián Álvarez opened the scoring on 18 minutes after a slick one-two with Messi, before the captain himself doubled the lead from the penalty spot just before the break.
Algeria pulled one back through Riyad Mahrez early in the second half — a curling effort that briefly hushed the travelling Albiceleste support — but Messi struck again on 71 minutes, dispatching a low shot into the corner after another patient build-up. With three points secured in Group A, Scaloni's squad now turn their attention to Austria.
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