Messi thanks – Lionel Messi fired home three times for a first-ever World Cup hat trick as Argentina began their 2026 title defense with a 3-0 win over Algeria, and afterward he credited the fans for keeping the nation “always behind” the team.
Lionel Messi felt the night from the stands before he ever lifted it onto the pitch. Tuesday’s World Cup opener in Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium arrived packed with baby blue. the Argentine faithful filling a venue famous for its red. and the captain made sure the message didn’t get lost once the final whistle blew.
Argentina opened their 2026 campaign looking to defend the World Cup title they won in 2022 in Qatar. and they did it with a statement: a historic 3-0 victory over Algeria that put them on top of Group J. The scoreline wasn’t the only headline. Messi delivered the kind of landmark moment that can reset a tournament—his first-ever World Cup hat trick.
After the match, Messi made a direct shoutout to the fans for turning the opener into a special environment. “I’m grateful to the people. because once again it shows that Argentina is always behind us. ” Messi said (translated from Spanish). “We came back, we filled the stadium again. I don’t know if there were 80,000 people or more. Just thankful for all the effort they make, wherever we are they’re always there.”.
The goals were just as emphatic as the sentiment. Messi opened the scoring with an incredible strike in the 17th minute. finding the top right corner to send Argentina in front. He then added two more in the second half—one coming off a rebound. and another coming from a sharp finish to the left corner to complete his hat trick.
That third goal carried its own weight in football history. Messi tied the all-time World Cup goal record with Miroslav Klose during the game, bringing his career total to 16 World Cup goals. With one more strike, he would take the outright record for himself.
Argentina’s next steps in Group J come fast. Messi and the squad will continue their quest through the group stage on Monday against Austria. before the finale on June 27 against Jordan. After earning three points on Tuesday. Argentina are set up as heavy favorites to top Group J and to enter the knockout stage among the tournament’s leading contenders for the trophy in New Jersey in a month.
Lionel Messi Argentina Algeria World Cup 2026 Group J hat trick Kansas City Arrowhead Stadium Miroslav Klose Qatar 2022 Austria Jordan New Jersey
Messi hat trick in Kansas City is wild, Arrowhead really was baby blue lol.
Did Algeria even show up? 3-0 is kinda embarrassing. Also why is it in Kansas City again, like… isn’t this supposed to be “Argentina fans” everywhere.
I read that Messi “tied the record” with Klose but then it says he needs one more strike to take it? So did he already break something or nah? Either way the fans thing is nice, but I’m still confused how 80,000 people was counted.
Argentina always behind them… like is that a literal thing? Because I’m pretty sure the stadium was behind the team already, unless they’re talking about like government support or something. Also “Group J” sounds fake like they just made it up for the 2026 hype. Austria and Jordan better not get steamrolled.