Postpublished at 04:15 BST
FT: Argentina 3-0 Algeria
No prizes for guessing who was awarded the player of the match for this one...
Image source, Getty ImagesSummary
Argentina beat Algeria in Group J at World Cup - listen live at top of page
BBC Radio 5 Live commentary also available via 'watch & listen'
World Cup team guides; New laws explained; Twenty new players to watch
Send us your views
Postpublished at 04:15 BST
Image source, Getty Imagesget involved Get Involvedpublished at 04:13 BST
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Image source, Getty ImagesAgainst Austria and Jordan, it will be a basketful of goals for Messi. We are not ready for this.... Extraterrestrial!
Paul
Postpublished at 04:08 BST
FT: Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Fantastic scenes from a bar in Buenos Aires as Argentina fans watched the Lionel Messi show.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 04:04 BST
FT: Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Leon Osman
Former Everton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 liveAs much as I've said Algeria were disappointing, Argentina were very good. They did everything asked of them and they kept a clean sheet after a lot of talk about them defensively.
When you are defending a trophy, you want to start your next time well and they have done that.
FULL-TIMEpublished at 04:01 BST
Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Image source, Getty ImagesA historic night as Lionel Messi, at the age of 38, draws level with Miroslav Klose in scoring the most goals at World Cup finals.
And what a way to do it, with a hat-trick as reigning holders Argentina make the perfect start to the defence as they are far too good for Algeria.
Three goals for Messi, three points for Argentina, who are up and running and looking dangerous.
'I thought Algeria would be better'published at 04:00 BST
Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Leon Osman
Former Everton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 liveThis pressure from Algeria is too little too late. I thought they would be a little bit better than I had been tonight.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 03:59 BST
Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Emiliano Martinez hasn't had a single save to make in this match.
Image source, Getty ImagesMessi's first hat-trick at a World Cuppublished at 03:53 BST
Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Leon Osman
Former Everton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 liveThe only surprise around Messi is that is his first ever hat-trick at the World Cup.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 03:52 BST
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He’s 39 nearly and he's still the best player in the world! Easily the greatest.
Jay, Midlands
If you give that amount of space at that place for Messi, there’s only going to be one outcome. Simply the best.
Ajay, Seattle
He's 38. He shouldn't be this good. If this is the level of quality he provides with the ball, of course his team-mates will do his share of running off it.
Abid, Leicester
Postpublished at 88 mins
Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Lionel Messi is the first to score a hat-trick at the World Cup finals since Kylian Mbappe did so in the 2022 final.
France v Argentina ended 3-3 after extra-time, with Messi scoring a penalty in the shootout as his country won it 4-2 on spot kicks.
Most goals scored at World Cupspublished at 03:46 BST
Argentina 3-0 Algeria
- 16 - Miroslav Klose (Germany), Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- 15 - Ronaldo (Brazil)
- 14 - Gerd Muller (West Germany), Kylian Mbappe (France).
Image source, Getty ImagesSUBSTITUTIONpublished at 79 mins
Argentina 3-0 Algeria
There will be no more goals for Lionel Messi tonight as he is substituted and replaced by Nico Paz.
That means we will have to wait until Monday when Argentina play Austria to see if Messi can get the outright record for most World Cup goals.
Postpublished at 03:43 BST
Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Leon Osman
Former Everton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 liveArgentina win the ball and the first thought is 'where is Messi?'. They give him the ball in the centre circle, he has a runner left and right he propels forward. Gonzalez gives the ball straight back to Messi and he hits it hard and low. The goalkeeper cannot get to to it at full stretch.
That is a wonderful goal to make a hat-trick with.
Lionel Messi equals record for most World Cup goalspublished at 03:40 BST
BreakingArgentina 3-0 Algeria
With 16 World Cup goals, Lionel Messi moves level with Germany's Miroslav Klose for most goals at finals.
Image source, Getty Images
GOAL - Argentina 3-0 Algeriapublished at 03:39 BST
Lionel Messi (hat-trick)
At the age of 38, Lionel Messi has his third of the night - and his 16th goal in the World Cup.
Substitute Nico Gonzalez gets the assist and it is another excellent strike from Messi. Unstoppable.
Image source, Getty Imagesget involved Get Involvedpublished at 03:39 BST
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Earlier tonight everyone was talking about Mbappe breaking the goals record, it seems people forgot about Messi. My money is definitely on Messi
Craig, Dagenham
Postpublished at 74 mins
Argentina 2-0 Algeria
Lionel Messi gets a nudge in the back from Manchester City full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, and goes down, but no penalty given, with VAR not getting involved.
Postpublished at 72 mins
Argentina 2-0 Algeria
Image source, Getty ImagesAt 38 years and 357 days old, Lionel Messi becomes the oldest player to score twice in a World Cup match.
Postpublished at 70 mins
Argentina 2-0 Algeria
Algeria substitute Houssem Aouar strikes at goal, but pulls it wide of the post and that's the last action before the next hydration break.
It is going to take some fightback for Algeria to get back into this match.
Most goals scored at World Cupspublished at 67 mins
Argentina 2-0 Algeria
- 16 - Miroslav Klose (Germany)
- 15 - Ronaldo (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- 14 - Gerd Muller (West Germany), Kylian Mbappe (France).
Lionel Messi has scored his 16th World Cup exactly 20 years after his first against Serbia and Montenegro in 2006
At a glance
Lionel Messi scores stunning hat-trick to help Argentina begin World Cup defence with a victory
The 38-year-old's treble moves him level with Miroslav Klose as the highest scorer in World Cup history
Argentina's previous two World Cup defences - in 1982 and 1990 - had both opened with defeats
ByKeifer MacDonald
BBC Sport journalist
Lionel Messi became the World Cup's joint-top all-time scorer with a hat-trick as reigning champions Argentina began their defence with a statement victory over Algeria.
Making his 200th appearance for his country, Messi scored his first treble at a World Cup.
And it created a piece of history, as the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner took his World Cup finals goal tally to 16 - moving him level with Germany's Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in the competition's history.
The three-time world champions were made to work for victory at the Kansas City Stadium as they aim to become only the third nation to successfully defend the World Cup.
It was the first time Argentina had won their opening match at a World Cup as defending champions, having suffered defeats in 1982 and 1990.
That was down to the brilliance of Messi, who curled home a wonderful opener in the 17th minute.
The 38-year-old collected the ball from Inter Miami team-mate Rodrigo De Paul before bending a strike past Luca Zidane - the son of France legend Zinedine Zidane - on his 27th World Cup appearance.
His goal arrived 12 minutes after an earlier effort had been disallowed during a breathless start, with Algeria also having a strike ruled out three minutes later as the game burst into life right from the off.
But on a night when he became the first player to appear in six World Cups, Messi was lucky to escape punishment for reckless challenge on Algeria's Aissa Mandi midway through the first half.
Argentina's second came from close range on the hour mark when Messi pounced on a mistake from Zidane, before he sealed a first World Cup treble in the 76th when he arrowed home a thunderous strike from the edge of the area after taking the ball from Nicolas Gonzalez.
Having made a winning start in Group J, Argentina next face matches against Austria and Jordan.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 for this game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle. You must be signed in to a BBC account to play.
1Give it up
10Pure perfection
Number: 23 E. Martínez
Number: 25 F. Medina
Number: 6 Lisandro Martínez
Number: 13 C. Romero
Number: 4 G. Montiel
Number: 16 T. Almada
Number: 24 E. Fernández
Number: 20 A. Mac Allister
Number: 7 R. De Paul
Number: 22 Lautaro Martínez
Number: 10 L. Messi
Substitutes
Number: 9 J. Alvarez
Number: 15 N. González
Number: 26 N. Molina
Number: 19 N. Otamendi
Number: 18 N. Paz
Number: 23 L. Zidane
Number: 15 R. Aït-Nouri
Number: 21 R. Bensebaini
Number: 2 A. Mandi
Number: 17 R. Belghali
Number: 22 I. Maza
Number: 19 N. Bentaleb
Number: 14 H. Boudaoui
Number: 10 F. Chaïbi
Number: 9 A. Gouiri
Number: 11 A. Hadj Moussa
Substitutes
Number: 18 M. Amoura
Number: 8 H. Aouar
Number: 20 A. Boulbina
Number: 7 R. Mahrez
Number: 6 R. Zerrouki
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
Related topics
- Published6 June
- Published1 April
FIFA World Cup Scores & Fixtures
FIFA World Cup Table
On Wednesday 17th June
Skip to table key
Match Participants:
Group A
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
|
Group B
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
Group C
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
|
Group D
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
|
Group E
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 0 |
|
Group F
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 0 |
|
Group G
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
Group H
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
Group I
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
|
- Argentina, Position 1, Points 3
- Algeria, Position 4, Points 0
Group J
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
Group K
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Group L
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
3rd Place Ranking
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
|
Key
- Position 1, 2: 16th Finals
- Position 3: Possible 16th Finals
Team Lineups
NEW
Select a player in the formation diagram to view detailed performance statsSelect a player to see detailed performance stats, like xG, shots on target and distance covered
home team,Argentina
Manager:Lionel Scaloni
Formation:4 - 4 - 2
Pitch Formation
Starting lineup
Substitutes
home team,Argentina
away team,Algeria
Manager:Vladimir Petkovic
Formation:4 - 3 - 3
Pitch Formation
Starting lineup
away team,Algeria
Match Officials
- Referee:
- Szymon Marciniak
- Video Assistant Referee:
- Tomasz Kwiatkowski
- Assistant Referee 1:
- Tomasz Listkiewicz
- Assistant Referee 2:
- Adam Kupsik
- Fourth Official:
- Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh
- Assistant VAR Official:
- Dennis Higler
Match momentum
Argentina
Algeria
High chance of scoring
Medium chance of scoring
Low chance of scoring
Dominant period
Match momentum measures the swing of the match by comparing each team’s threat to see who is more likely to score within that minute. The momentum value is the difference between each team’s most dangerous moment, or team threat, in that minute.
Match momentum measures the swing of the match by comparing each team’s threat to see who is more likely to score within that minute. The momentum value is the difference between each team’s most dangerous moment, or team threat, in that minute.
| Minute | Team with most threat |
|---|---|
Kick off 1' | Argentina |
2' | Algeria |
3' | Argentina |
4' | Argentina |
5' | Argentina |
6' | Argentina |
7' | Argentina |
8' | Algeria |
9' | Algeria |
10' | Algeria |
11' | Algeria |
12' | Algeria |
13' | Algeria |
14' | Argentina |
15' | Argentina |
16' | Argentina |
17' | ArgentinaGoal |
18' | Algeria |
19' | Algeria |
20' | Algeria |
21' | Algeria |
22' | Argentina |
23' | Argentina |
24' | Argentina |
25' | Argentina |
26' | Argentina |
27' | Argentina |
28' | Argentina |
29' | Argentina |
30' | Argentina |
31' | Argentina |
32' | Argentina |
33' | Argentina |
34' | Argentina |
35' | Argentina |
36' | Argentina |
37' | Argentina |
38' | Argentina |
39' | Argentina |
40' | Algeria |
41' | Algeria |
42' | Argentina |
43' | Argentina |
44' | Algeria |
45' | Algeria |
45'+1 | Algeria |
45'+2 | Algeria |
45'+3 | Algeria |
45'+4 | Algeria |
Half time 45'+5 | Argentina |
46' | Algeria |
47' | Algeria |
48' | Algeria |
49' | Algeria |
50' | Argentina |
51' | Argentina |
52' | Argentina |
53' | Argentina |
54' | Argentina |
55' | Argentina |
56' | Argentina |
57' | Algeria |
58' | Algeria |
59' | Algeria |
60' | ArgentinaGoal |
61' | Argentina |
62' | Algeria |
63' | Algeria |
64' | Argentina |
65' | Argentina |
66' | Argentina |
67' | Algeria |
68' | Algeria |
69' | Algeria |
70' | Algeria |
71' | Algeria |
72' | Algeria |
73' | Argentina |
74' | Argentina |
75' | Algeria |
76' | ArgentinaGoal |
77' | Argentina |
78' | Argentina |
79' | Argentina |
80' | Argentina |
81' | Algeria |
82' | Algeria |
83' | Algeria |
84' | Algeria |
85' | Algeria |
86' | Algeria |
87' | Algeria |
88' | Algeria |
89' | Algeria |
90' | Algeria |
90'+1 | Algeria |
90'+2 | Algeria |
90'+3 | Algeria |
90'+4 | Argentina |
90'+5 | Algeria |
90'+6 | Algeria |
Full time 90'+7 | Algeria |
Match Stats
Key, Argentina v AlgeriaBasic Stats
Overall possession
Argentina 47.9%Algeria 52.1%
xG
Argentina 1.2348Algeria 0.3078Shots
Argentina 10Algeria 7Shots on target
Argentina 6Algeria 0Total touches inside the opposition box
Argentina 12Algeria 12Goalkeeper saves
Argentina 0Algeria 3Aerial duels won
Argentina 3Algeria 5Fouls committed
Argentina 13Algeria 8Corners
Argentina 2Algeria 2In-depth match stats
Attack
Shots
Argentina 10Algeria 7Shots on target
Argentina 6Algeria 0Shots off target
Argentina 4Algeria 4Attempts out of box
Argentina 6Algeria 4Total offsides
Argentina 3Algeria 1Expected
xG
Argentina 1.2348Algeria 0.3078xG from open play
Argentina 1.1584Algeria 0.1997xG from set play
Argentina 0.0764Algeria 0.1081xA
Argentina 0.526402Algeria 0.385087Distribution
Total passes
Argentina 563Algeria 608Pass accuracy %
Argentina 89.5Algeria 91.9Backward passes
Argentina 103Algeria 103Forward passes
Argentina 160Algeria 166Total long balls
Argentina 32Algeria 24Successful final third passes
Argentina 57Algeria 117Total crosses
Argentina 5Algeria 8Defence
Total tackles
Argentina 25Algeria 16Won tackle %
Argentina 68Algeria 62.5Fouls committed
Argentina 13Algeria 8Total clearances
Argentina 15Algeria 11Season so far
FIFA World Cup
Key, Argentina v Algeria
Form guide
All competitions
Argentina won
v Iceland
3
0
Friendlies
Algeria won
v Bolivia
0
4
Friendlies
Argentina won
v Honduras
2
0
Friendlies
Algeria won
v Netherlands
0
1
Friendlies
Argentina won
v Zambia
5
0
Friendlies
Algeria draw
v Uruguay
0
0
Friendlies
Argentina won
v Mauritania
2
1
Friendlies
Algeria won
v Guatemala
7
0
Friendlies
Argentina won
v Angola
0
2
Friendlies
Algeria lose
v Nigeria
0
2
CAF Africa Cup of Nations
Previous meetings
All competitions
Argentina and AlgeriaArgentina Won 1Algeria Won 0
Played1
Draw 0
Previous scores
All competitions
Friendlies
Algeria 3 , Argentina 4 on the 5th of June 2007
Algeria
Argentina
5th of June 2007
