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ARG Argentina Argentina - ALG Algeria Algeria

Kansas City Stadium(69,045 Spectators)
whistleSzymon Marciniak
camera-photo

Messi equals Klose's record

Lionel Messi bagged his first World Cup hat-trick to go level with Miroslav Klose as the tournament's all-time record goalscorer with 16 strikes each. He got all three goals against Algeria in Kansas City as the defending champions kicked off in style. Bayer Leverkusen's Equi Fernández started in midfield for the Albiceleste, with club teammate Exequiel Palacios an unused sub. Fellow Leverkusen man Ibrahim Maza started for Algeria alongside Ramy Bensebaini (Dortmund) and Farès Chaïbi (Frankfurt), who had an early goal ruled out for offside, while Wolfsburg's Mohamed Amoura got half an hour off the bench.
© Michael Steele
End of second half
Full-time
82'

Substitution

sub
Ramiz Zerrouki
Ramiz Zerrouki
sub
Nabil Bentaleb
Nabil Bentaleb
82'

Substitution

sub
Adil Boulbina
Adil Boulbina
sub
Ibrahim Maza
Ibrahim Maza
80'

Substitution

sub
Nicolás Otamendi
Nicolás Otamendi
sub
Cristian Romero
Cristian Romero
80'

Substitution

sub
Nico Paz
Nico Paz
sub
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
76'

Lionel Messi

GOAL!

3:0
Nico González
Assist:N. González
Lionel Messi
Goal probability
info-small
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
11 %
Distance to Goal
info-small
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
17.15 m
64'

Substitution

sub
Riyad Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez
sub
Anis Hadj Moussa
Anis Hadj Moussa
64'

Substitution

sub
Mohamed Amoura
Mohamed Amoura
sub
Amine Gouiri
Amine Gouiri
64'

Substitution

sub
Houssem Aouar
Houssem Aouar
sub
Hicham Boudaoui
Hicham Boudaoui
60'

Lionel Messi

GOAL!

2:0
Lionel Messi
Goal probability
info-small
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
36 %
Distance to Goal
info-small
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
7.29 m
55'

Substitution

sub
Nico González
Nico González
sub
Thiago Almada
Thiago Almada
55'

Substitution

sub
Julián Álvarez
Julián Álvarez
sub
Lautaro Martínez
Lautaro Martínez
Kick-off!
45'
+ 5

Substitution

sub
Nahuel Molina
Nahuel Molina
sub
Gonzalo Montiel
Gonzalo Montiel
Half-time
17'

Lionel Messi

GOAL!

1:0
Rodrigo de Paul
Assist:R. de Paul
Lionel Messi
Goal probability
info-small
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
5 %
Distance to Goal
info-small
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
21.09 m
Kick-off!
10:02
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Best of Ibrahim Maza

Having shone in both the Bundesliga and Champions League for Bayer Leverkusen in 2025/26, Maza will look to bring his magic to the world stage.
2:56
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The best of Bensebaini

Dortmund's defensive rock will look to lead his country to World Cup success after an impressive campaign at club level.
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How they got here: Argentina

With defending champions no longer receiving an automatic spot, Argentina sailed through their World Cup qualifiers, nine points clear of next best Ecuador. Inter Miami's Lionel Messi - who will look to lead his nation to successive triumphs - finished the league phase as top scorer in South America with eight goals.
© Todd Kirkland
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How they got here: Algeria

Vladimir Petković's Algeria finished comfortably top of their qualifying group, seven points clear of Uganda, having won eight of their ten games to secure a first World Cup berth since 2014 when they made it to the round of 16.
© IMAGO/Bouhara Hamza/ABACA
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Impressive representatives

Bayer Leverkusen's Exequiel Palacios will be looking to help Argentina retain their crown, but they'll have to overcome a strong Bundesliga contingent in the Algeria squad. Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund) is expected to play a big role for the African nation alongside Farès Chaïbi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen) and Mohamed Amoura (Wolfsburg).
© IMAGO/Sergei Bobylev/IMAGO/ITAR-TASS

Welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Group J encounter between Argentina and Algeria at the Kansas City Stadium, USA, on Wednesday 17 June (kick-off 3am CEST).