The Argentine national team successfully began their performance at the 2026 World Cup, defeating Algeria in the first round of Group J with a 3:0 score..
The main hero of the team was Lionel Messi, who was recognized as the greatest football player of the match. The 38-year-old forward scored a hat-trick, finishing in the 17th, 60th and 76th stages.
The Argentine scored his first goal after an assist from Rodrigo De Paul, and in the episodes with the other two goals he was assisted by Nicolas Gonzalez.
The match against Algeria became the captain of Argentina's jubilee, the 200th, in the national team's football. In addition, Messi played his 27th match at the world championships and became the first football player in history to take part in six world championships.
In the upcoming rounds of the group stage, the world champions will play against the teams of Austria and Jordan.