The Argentine National Team began the defense of its world title with a resounding 3-0 victory against Algeria in its debut in Group J of the FIFA World Cup 2026. In a stadium filled with thousands of Argentine fans in Kansas City, the team led by Lionel Scaloni showed authority from the beginning and had as an exclusive figure Lionel Messi, who signed a historic performance that once again placed him at the center of the world football scene.
The Argentine captain opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a precise definition inside the area and, from there, he managed the timing of the game with the naturalness that characterizes him. In the second half he extended the lead after capturing a rebound and sealed the win with a third goal in the 76th minute, thus completing the first hat trick of his career in a World Cup. The National Team controlled the development of the match from start to finish, with defensive solidity and a midfield that accompanied Messi’s football leadership. Algeria, which returned to the World Cup finals after a twelve-year absence, could barely trouble the reigning world champions.
The Rosario’s performance had a historical dimension. With his three goals he reached 16 goals in World Cups and equaled the German’s mark Miroslav Klose as the top scorer in the history of the men’s World Cup. In addition, he became the first footballer to compete in six World Cups, an unprecedented number that reinforces his status as a sports legend. The match also represented his 200th appearance with the Argentine shirt, another milestone in a career that seems to never end in records.
The list of marks that Messi accumulates with the Argentine National Team is extraordinary. He is the Albiceleste’s all-time top scorer with more than 115 official achievements, the footballer with the most international appearances, the top assister in the team’s history and the Argentine player with the most matches played in World Cups. He also holds the record for World Cup assists for Argentina and shares with other big names in international football several marks related to participations, goals and assists in FIFA tournaments.
At a collective level, Messi led Argentina to winning the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar and the 2024 Copa América. His consecration in Qatar consolidated a career that already included multiple international titles and individual recognitions, including several Ballon d’Ors, distinctions for the best player in the world and scoring records for both clubs and the national team.
Messi’s popular dimension far transcends sports. A recent survey by the consulting firm Giacobbe Public Opinion showed that it maintains a positive image of more than 90 percent, with minimal levels of rejection. The study also reflected that Argentines mainly identify him with expressions such as “Genio”, “Crack”, “El Mejor” and “GOAT”, an acronym in English that means “the best of all time.” He is also the Argentine personality with the best positive image currently, reaching 90.9%, in a study in which 2,500 cases were surveyed on mobile devices. In that same item, the personality with the worst image is the leader Claudio Chiqui Tapia, president of the AFA, with only 14% of positive image.
Public opinion specialists point out that this exceptional assessment is based on several factors. On the one hand, the emotional identification generated by his long career with the Argentine shirt and for having led the conquest of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, an achievement that put an end to a 36-year wait. On the other hand, his public profile away from political and media controversies, added to an image associated with effort, perseverance and a sense of national belonging. The combination of sporting successes, perceived humility and continuity in high performance made him one of the most valued public figures in Argentina.
The debut against Algeria seemed to sum up all those attributes. At 39 years old and in what will probably be his last World Cup, Messi once again assumed the leading role, scored his team’s three goals, reached new records and confirmed why he continues to occupy a privileged place in the Argentine collective imagination. For a generation that saw him grow from a teenager to a world champion, the night in Kansas City offered new proof that his story with the National Team still has chapters to write.
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