The Argentine national team ibegan the defense of its world title with a convincing performance and a 3-0 victory over Algeria in its debut in Group J of the 2026 World Cup. The match, played in Kansas City, once again showed the validity of a generation of footballers who have dominated the international scene for more than five years and who have managed to build one of the most successful stages in the history of Argentine football. The great figure of the night was Lionel Messi, author of the three goals of the match, although the collective performance once again exhibited several of the traits that characterize the so-called Scaloneta: defensive solidity, physical intensity, tactical commitment and a strong identification between players and fans.
Messi monopolized the flashes with a historic hat trick that allowed him to equal German Miroslav Klose as the top scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals. The captain opened the scoring in the 17th minute, widened the lead in the second half and completed his first World Cup hat-trick in the 76th minute, in a performance that earned him a standing ovation from almost 70,000 spectators. In addition, the man from Rosario reached other extraordinary milestones: he played in his sixth World Cup, something unprecedented in the history of men’s football, and celebrated his 200th match with the Argentine shirt.
However, behind the captain’s performance there were outstanding performances in all lines. Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez He responded with confidence every time he was asked and once again kept the Argentine goal at zero. The central defense made up of Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez He controlled the Algerian offensive attempts, while Nahuel Molina provided depth on the sides. In midfield, Enzo Fernández managed the timing of the match and Alexis MacAllister He provided strong dynamics and circulation that allowed the captain to place the second goal on the fence controlled by Zidane.
For your partRodrigo DePaul He returned to play his traditional role of balance and pressure, functioning as one of Messi’s main football partners. In attack, Julián Álvarez, who entered in the second half, carried out the work of wearing down the rival defense, generated spaces and facilitated the freedom of movement of the Argentine captain. Various analysts highlighted that, beyond Messi’s goals, the victory was the product of a collective structure consolidated over years of work.
The performance against Algeria represented a new chapter for a team that began to consolidate after the arrival of Lionel Scaloni to the senior team in 2018. Initially appointed as interim coach after the World Cup in Russia, Scaloni opted for a profound generational renewal. He progressively incorporated football players as if building a competitive team that quickly began to obtain results.
The first great achievement came in July 2021 when Argentina defeated Brazil at the Maracaná stadium and won the Copa América after 28 years without major titles. That consecration ended a long drought and strengthened the confidence of a group that had found identity and functioning. A year later, in June 2022, the team defeated Italy at Wembley and won the Finalissima, a competition that pitted the American champion against the European champion.
The final consecration came in December 2022 in Qatar. After overcoming an unexpected initial defeat against Saudi Arabia, Argentina chained victories against Mexico, Poland, Australia, the Netherlands and Croatia until reaching the final against France. In one of the most memorable matches in World Cup history, Scaloni’s team won on penalties after a 3-3 draw and won the country’s third World Cup. Messi finally lifted the trophy he was missing, Emiliano Martínez was chosen as the best goalkeeper of the tournament and Enzo Fernández received the award for best young player.
The streak continued in 2024 with a new Copa América obtained in the United States, where Argentina was once again crowned continental champion and confirmed that it was not a circumstantially successful generation but rather a historical cycle. Under Scaloni’s leadership, the team became one of the most winning and consistent teams in contemporary international football.
The records accumulated by this generation are numerous. Messi became the all-time top scorer and the footballer with the most appearances in the Argentine national team. Emiliano Martínez established unbeatable records and established himself as one of the most decisive goalkeepers in Albiceleste history. Rodrigo De Paul became a fundamental piece of all the titles obtained during the cycle. Julián Álvarez managed to join the small group of Argentine soccer players who were champions of America and the World before turning 25, in addition to standing out in the main European competitions. Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister were protagonists of the World Cup conquest while they were still very young, later consolidating themselves as leaders of the new generation.
The enormous popular support that these footballers receive was reflected in the latest national survey by Giacobbe Public Opinion carried out within the framework of the 2026 World Cup. The survey showed exceptional levels of approval for the members of the team. Julián Álvarez topped the ranking with a positive image of 93.2%, followed by Lionel Scaloni with 92.3%, Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez with 92.2% and Lionel Messi with 90.9%. Rodrigo De Paul registered a positive rating of 63%, accompanied by a significant percentage of regular opinions, a difference attributed by analysts to his high media exposure outside the fields.
According to different public opinion specialists, the popularity of this generation is explained by an unusual combination of factors in Argentine sports history. Soccer players are perceived as close, humble and committed to the national jersey. Unlike other successful cycles, the Scaloneta managed to build a narrative of collective effort, camaraderie and improvement that transcended sporting results.
The conquest of the Copa América in Brazil, the World Cup in Qatar and a new Copa América strengthened a very deep emotional identification between the team and Argentine society. Giacobbe’s survey reflects precisely this phenomenon: beyond football or political preferences, the members of the national team appear among the public figures with the best image in the country, converted into symbols of national unity and collective pride.
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