Messi Hat Trick Lifts Argentina over Algeria in Kansas City

After a three-hour drive from the Northland to Kansas City Stadium, the KC Soccer Journal made it to the press box in time for the national anthem of both nations and just in time for kickoff. Argentina rolled out a lineup that appeared to be a 4-4-2 with Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez up top.

On the other side of the pitch, the Lawrence, Kansas based Algerian National Team came out in a 4-2-3-1 with their biggest name, Riyad Mahrez, on the bench.

In the fifth minute it looked like Argentina was breaking through but Messi’s goal was called back for offside. It took the crowd a bit to realize it through all the noise.

In the eighth minute Algeria appeared to shock the heavily Argentine crowd when a slipped through ball found Chaibi wide left and he beat Martinez near post. After a delay, offside was given.

In the 17th minute, VAR or an AR finally couldn’t take one away. Messi had a ball slipped to him in the midfield. Three touches later he unleashed from distance, and Zidane got his hand to it, but it wasn’t strong enough and Argentina were on top 1-0!

In the 32nd minute it looked like Messi was going to get himself sent off. After a turnover, he was out to win the ball back and came in with a wild challenge and put his studs into the calf of Mandi. Somehow, it wasn’t even a yellow and only a common foul was given. Imagine if Messi gets sent off in the World Cup and missed the second group stage game. There may have been a riot.

That's a red card for anyone else. Studs to the calf. Only a common foul given. #ARGvALG #WorldCup

— Chad Smith (@chadcsmith.bsky.social) 2026-06-17T02:02:16.208Z

The rest of the half played out without any big chances in either direction and Argentina would go into the half up 1-0. According to Fotmob, they won the possession battle 56-44, expected goals (xG) 0.19 to 0.10, and both teams were level on shots (4) and pass completion percentage (92).

Argentina made a sub at the half, bringing off Montiel for Nahuel Molina. The second half got underway and it stayed about as chippy as it was in the first half, but the refs continued to let them play. Algeria probably had two yellows for dragging down attackers and they weren’t given in the first. And how could they after that Messi stomp? In the 56th, Argentina went to their bench Lautaro Martinez and Thiago Almada were replaced by Julian Alvarez and Nicolas Gonzalez.

In the 60th minute, Messi struck again. Emilliano Martinez played a long ball out to Messi up on the left wing. After an attempt to get the ball into the box, it was cleared. It fell kindly to Alexis Mac Allister who drilled a laser that the keeper couldn’t handle. Somehow, Messi ghosted in behind the defense for a tap in to make it 2-0!

Messi nearly had a hat trick in the 66th when a ball was slipped through to him, but enough defensive pressure forced a tough shot, and it was pushed over the bar.

In the 73rd, there was a PK shout when there was contact to Messi in the box, but the ref waived play on.

It wouldn’t be long before he got his hat trick. Three minutes later, he was played a ball in the midfield which he held until he slipped a ball to Gonzalez wide left. He pinged it back to Messi who cut it back and placed it perfectly in the corner. 3-0 Argentina!

Shortly after the goal, Messi made way to a raucous applause and was replaced, along with Romero, by Nicolas Otamen and Nico Paz.

From there, it was a matter of killing the clock. Algeria couldn’t put together any sustained offense and Argentina didn’t look interested in going forward. The game would end 3-0 with Messi collecting his first World Cup hat trick in his record setting sixth World Cup that he played in. The win put Argentina at the top of Group J with Jordan and Austria yet to play later tonight at 11:00PM CST.