Fans at Argentina’s opening match against Algeria might have felt transported to iconic football venues like La Bombonera or El Monumental. Kansas City Stadium, drenched in the Albiceleste’s colors, echoed with the cheers of nearly 70,000 Argentine supporters celebrating their team and their star on Tuesday night.
And there was much to celebrate.
Argentina performed brilliantly, with Lionel Messi shining brightly. In his 200th international appearance, he scored three remarkable goals, equaling Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the all-time World Cup goal record at 16. This achievement came shortly after France’s Kylian Mbappé surpassed him with 14 goals.
Messi also made history as the first male player to feature in six World Cups, a record that Cristiano Ronaldo is poised to match when Portugal begins its campaign. Following a recent muscle injury, doubts surrounded Messi’s fitness, but they were quickly laid to rest when he was included in Lionel Scaloni’s starting lineup, and those concerns vanished as soon as the match kicked off.
Just five minutes into the game, Messi nearly scored the opener, receiving a through-ball at the edge of the box. His shot was expertly placed, but assistant referee Tomasz Listkiewicz flagged him offside by a narrow margin. Similarly, Algeria’s Farès Chaïbi had a well-executed finish disallowed for being offside moments later.
Messi wasted no time in giving Argentina the lead, netting his first goal in the 17th minute. After receiving a pass from his Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, Messi took three touches towards goal from 40 yards out. With no defenders in sight, he unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box that deflected off Algeria’s goalkeeper Luca Zidane and into the net.
One blemish on an otherwise stellar performance came during the first half when Messi was fortunate not to receive a card for a reckless challenge on Algerian defender Aïssa Mandi. He appeared to warrant at least a yellow card, if not a red, but no action was taken, and the incident went unreviewed.
Messi’s second goal was even more straightforward, as he capitalized on Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister’s long-range effort, which Zidane could only deflect into Messi’s path. He calmly slotted it home from close range in the 60th minute, with Algeria’s defense nowhere to be found. Conversely, Argentina showcased impressive defensive capabilities throughout the match.
Completing his hat-trick, Messi scored again in the 76th minute with a classic finish, skillfully threading his shot through three defenders and just beyond Zidane’s reach before exiting the match shortly thereafter.
Both teams had strong fan representation leading up to the match in Kansas City and the nearby Lawrence, where Algeria will stay for the tournament. Thousands of Argentine fans gathered in a local park for a banderazo on Monday night, filled with singing, chanting, and dancing well into the night. The festivities shifted to the stadium hours before kickoff on Tuesday.
Algerian supporters, though outnumbered, created vibrant pockets of green among the sea of blue and white, urging their underdog team on, adding an element of excitement to the atmosphere.
Ranked 28th, Algeria aimed for a triumphant return to the World Cup stage after a 12-year hiatus, having rejuvenated their squad under head coach Vladimir Petković. Their qualifying campaign highlighted their energetic style, which was evident in fleeting moments on Tuesday, particularly in the first half’s closing stages. However, their inability to convert chances meant they never looked truly competitive.
Algeria’s next match against Jordan is now a must-win, as they see themselves as more evenly matched with Austria.
Scaloni had managed expectations leading up to the match, stating on Monday that a win against the Desert Foxes was far from critical. He surely remembers the shock of Argentina’s group stage opener loss to Saudi Arabia in 2022.
Despite the cautious approach, Scaloni will be pleased with the three points gained, bringing Argentina closer to the knockout phase. They will face Austria in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, where Messi is expected to continue making history.
