Overview
- Argentina opened its World Cup title defense with a 3-0 win over Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, with all three goals scored by Lionel Messi.
- Messi’s goals were a long-range strike, a finish from a goalkeeper rebound, and a placed left-foot shot, and the hat-trick brought his World Cup total to 16 goals, level with Miroslav Klose.
- Early in the match VAR overturned tight offside calls to disallow one goal for each side, shaping a contentious opening before Messi’s breakthrough.
- Messi told reporters he had faced 'difficult days' before the game and publicly thanked teammates and the delegation for their support after being named man of the match.
- The result puts Argentina atop Group J and keeps the defending champions on course in the expanded 48-team tournament, with a next group fixture against Austria on June 22 that will further shape qualification hopes.