Messi At 200: Argentina Legend Celebrates Historic Outing With A Sublime Hat-Trick Against Algeria
ARG Vs ALG Match Photos, FIFA World Cup 2026: Argentina began their title defence with a sensational 3-0 victory over Algeria at the Kansas City Stadium on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. The match, of course, became a Lionel Messi show. Celebrating his landmark 200th international cap, the soon-to-be-39 maestro from Rosario scored a spectacular hat-trick -- his first-ever at a World Cup -- a beautiful long-ranger, followed by two clinical finishes. This historic feat elevated him to 16 World Cup goals, equalling German legend Miroslav Klose as the joint highest goal scorer in tournament history. The Inter Miami and former Barcelona superstar also became the first male player to feature in six World Cups. With this win, La Albiceleste took early control of Group J, also featuring Austria and debutants Jordan. Up next, Lionel Scaloni's team will travel to Dallas to face Austria, while Algeria move to Santa Clara for a meeting with Jordan on June 22. Here are the best pics from the match.
Argentinian fans react ahead of the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Fans cheer before the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) waves before the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann
Mascots portraying soccer stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi pose for a group photo with passersby in the historic center of Mexico City, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Marco Ugarte
Algeria players warm up before the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann
Argentinian fans react ahead of the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Argentina players warmup ahead of the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
General view during the pregame ceremony before the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann
Argentina's Lionel Messi gestures ahead of the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) and Algeria's Aissa Mandi (2) shake hands before the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann
Argentina supporters react during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Argentina pose for a team photo ahead of the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Algeria players pose for a group photo before the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Ed Zurga
Argentina's Lionel Messi and Algeria's Rayan Ait-Nouri battle for the ball during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Argentina's Thiago Almada (16) challenges for the ball with Algeria's Aissa Mandi (2) during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) shoots against Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane (23) during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) battles for the ball with Algeria's Fares Chaibi (10) during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, center, waves from the tribune during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Ed Zurga
Argentina's Lionel Messi is congratulated by teammate Cristian Romero, left, as Rodrigo de Paul, right, watches after scoring his team's first goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Fans celebrate Argentina's first goal as they watch the World Cup soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni reacts during the hydration break during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Argentina's Thiago Almada (16) challenges for the ball with Algeria's Aissa Mandi (2) during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann
Argentina's Alexis Mac Allister, centre, falls as Algeria's Amine Gouiri, left, and Hicham Boudaoui watch during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Argentina fans cheer before the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Ed Zurga
Algeria's Anis Hadj Moussa, left, and Argentina's Lisandro Martinez battle for the ball during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Argentina's Rodrigo de Paul falls as he chases the ball during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane, from right, Argentina's Lionel Messi, Algeria's Aissa Mandi and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez shake hands before during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Ed Zurga
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) battles for the ball with Algeria's Nabil Bentaleb (19) and Algeria's Hicham Boudaoui (14) during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Ed Zurga
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany Mahomes stand on the sidelines before the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Ed Zurga
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) shoots against Algeria's Nabil Bentaleb (19) and Hicham Boudaoui (14) during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann
Algeria's Nabil Bentaleb (19) plays the ball against Argentina's Lautaro Martinez (22) during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Ed Zurga
General view during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann
Argentina's Lionel Messi is shown on a screen as fans watch the World Cup soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd
Fans celebrate Argentina's second goal as they watch the World Cup soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) celebrates after scoring a goal with teammate Lisandro Martinez (6) during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Ed Zurga
Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane (23) clears the ball against Argentina's Julian Alvarez (9) during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann
Argentina's Alexis Mac Allister (20) plays the ball against Argentina's Valentin Barco (8) during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Ed Zurga
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) celebrates after scoring his second goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Ed Zurga
Algeria head coach Vladimir Petkovic reacts during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Ed Zurga
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) celebrates after scoring his third goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Ed Zurga
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) celebrates after scoring his third goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Ed Zurga
Argentina's Lionel Messi, left, reacts as he is substituted during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Fans react during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
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