Lionel Messi scored a stunning hat-trick to power Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Algeria in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group J opener at Kansas City on Tuesday, 17 June, with coach Lionel Scaloni admitting the captain continues to leave even his own teammates in disbelief. The win handed Argentina a commanding start to their title defence at the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

A Hat-Trick for the Ages

Messi's treble against Algeria was not merely a match-winning performance — it was a rewriting of the record books. The 38-year-old equalled Germany's Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals, surpassing Brazilian legend Ronaldo, who stands at 15, to become the highest-scoring South American in the tournament's history.

At 38 years and 357 days, Messi also became the oldest hat-trick scorer in World Cup history, eclipsing the previous mark held by Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, who was 33 years and 130 days old when he netted a treble against Spain at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Scaloni's Tribute: 'You Don't Have to Be an Argentina Fan'

'It's hard to explain. We're still amazed by him, even though we see him every day. He's been the best for 20 years, and he still delivers in every match. You don't have to be an Argentina fan to admire what he's done at his age,' Scaloni told reporters after the match.

The Argentina manager went further, hinting at the intangible quality Messi brings to the squad's environment. 'I could stay here talking about him for an hour, but you have to be there to understand the atmosphere he creates,' Scaloni said. 'One day it will come to an end, so we have to enjoy it while we can,' he added.

A Sixth World Cup — History in Real Time

The Kansas City clash also marked Messi's appearance in a record sixth FIFA World Cup — making him the first footballer in history to achieve that milestone. Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to match the record when Portugal play later on Wednesday, 18 June. Previously, the six-tournament record was shared by Antonio Carbajal, Lothar Matthäus, Rafa Márquez, and Andrés Guardado.

Scaloni Flags Algeria's Threat, Warns Against Complacency

Despite the scoreline, Scaloni acknowledged that Algeria caused Argentina genuine problems in the first half. 'Algeria caused us problems today. They counterattacked, and we had to do the same. That's not usually our trademark, but we managed to do it and come through,' he said.

The coach was measured in his assessment going forward, cautioning against any sense of invincibility. 'This team knows that anyone can beat us. If we do what we have to do and play the way we did today, it will be difficult for other teams to beat us,' Scaloni concluded.

What's Next for Argentina

The Albiceleste will face Austria at Dallas Stadium on Monday, 23 June, before concluding their Group J campaign against Jordan at the same venue on 27 June. With 3 points secured and Messi in record-breaking form, Argentina are well-placed to advance — though Scaloni's warnings suggest the camp is taking nothing for granted.