Argentina began its World Cup 2026 campaign with a striking 3-0 victory over Algeria, highlighted by a hat-trick from Lionel Messi. The match took place at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, underscoring Messi’s ongoing legacy as he equaled the record for the most goals in World Cup history.
During a moment of celebration, Messi jokingly commented on a curious exchange with AFA president Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia, who was seen carrying the match ball after the game. Messi quipped, “I don’t know if that’s the ball Chiqui has,” as he addressed the media following the match.
The game also featured a controversial moment in the first half of the France versus Senegal match, where Senegalese player Ismaila Sarr was injured after a challenge from French defender William Saliba, which went unpunished by the referee. The new regulations state that players receiving medical attention must remain off the field for one minute once the match resumes. 
Argentina’s victory was met with excitement, particularly from the fans, including the family of Messi, who attended the match. Notably, Antonela Roccuzzo, Messi’s wife, was present with their children and relatives.
Messi opened the scoring with a remarkable long-range shot, which caught the attention of both fans and analysts, especially due to the new FIFA camera technology that captured the moment from the referee’s perspective, quickly gaining traction on social media.
With the win, Argentina claims the lead in the group stage, showcasing their potential as defending champions. The match was a gathering of notable personalities, including former Argentine President Mauricio Macri, who shared the pre-game atmosphere with FIFA president Gianni Infantino in a VIP box.
Reflecting on his emotional performance, Messi revealed he had experienced difficult days leading up to the match. He expressed gratitude to his teammates for their support, mentioning, “It was a matter unrelated to sports. I went through some tough and complicated days.” His goal celebration affirmed his resilience and ability to inspire on the field.
As the match concluded, the nearly 70,000 fans acknowledged Messi’s outstanding performance with chant-filled applause, as he broke records and demonstrated that he remains a pivotal figure in the tournament. Although the match was not entirely comfortable for Argentina, they managed to score three times, with Messi making history once again in the World Cup.
Джерело: www.lanacion.com.ar
