Fans at Argentina’s opening match against Algeria might have briefly felt like they were in one of the country’s iconic football venues, such as La Bombonera or El Monumental. The atmosphere at Kansas City Stadium, filled with nearly 70,000 passionate Argentine supporters, resonated with rousing songs for their team and their star player on Tuesday night.
There was ample reason for celebration.
Argentina rose to the challenge, propelled by Lionel Messi, who marked his 200th international appearance by scoring three spectacular goals. This performance allowed him to tie Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the all-time World Cup scoring record with 16 goals, just hours after France’s Kylian Mbappé momentarily surpassed him with 14.
Messi also became the first player to participate in six World Cups, a milestone likely to be matched by Cristiano Ronaldo when Portugal begins their tournament. Despite recent concerns over a muscle injury, any lingering doubts about the Argentine captain’s fitness vanished when he was included in head coach Lionel Scaloni’s starting lineup, quickly proving himself once the game commenced.
The Argentine superstar almost netted the opener just five minutes into the match, receiving a through ball in the box. His precise shot was correctly ruled offside by assistant referee Tomasz Listkiewicz by the narrowest of margins. Similarly, Algeria’s Farès Chaïbi had a well-placed effort disallowed shortly after due to a marginal offside call.
Messi swiftly put Argentina ahead in the 17th minute after receiving a pass from his Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, 40 yards from goal. With no defenders in sight, he took a few touches before unleashing a powerful drive from the edge of the area, which slipped past Algeria’s goalkeeper, Luca Zidane, glancing off his fingertips and into the net.
One blemish on an otherwise stellar display occurred in the first half when Messi committed a reckless challenge, raking his cleats down the back of Algerian defender Aïssa Mandi’s calf. The Argentine may have warranted a yellow card, or even a red, but received neither, as the play went unreviewed.
The Argentine icon completed his hat-trick in the 77th minute with a classic finish, threading his shot between three defenders and just beyond Zidane’s reach before exiting the match shortly thereafter.
Supporters from both nations had been well-represented in Kansas City and nearby Lawrence, Kansas, where Algeria has been based during the tournament. Thousands of Argentine fans gathered at a local park on Monday night for a banderazo, singing and dancing into the night. The vibrant atmosphere continued at the stadium on Tuesday, buzzing long before kickoff.
Algerian fans garnered attention in Lawrence as local residents warmly welcomed them. Though they faced an uphill battle against the majority of Argentine supporters, pockets of green emerged amidst the sea of blue and white, rallying behind their underdog team.
Ranked 28th, Algeria had hoped for a triumphant return to the World Cup after a 12-year absence, revitalized under head coach Vladimir Petkovic, who previously managed Switzerland for seven years. During qualifying, Algeria earned a reputation for their high-energy play, which was briefly showcased on Tuesday, particularly in the closing moments of the first half. However, they struggled with finishing and never truly posed a significant threat.
Algeria’s upcoming match against Jordan is now a must-win scenario, as they appear more evenly matched against Austria.
Prior to the match, Scaloni had moderated expectations, stating that a win against the Desert Foxes was not essential. He knows the pressures, having been in charge during Argentina’s surprising loss to Saudi Arabia in the 2022 group stage, one of the World Cup’s most shocking outcomes.
Despite any tempered expectations, Scaloni will be pleased with the three points, bringing Argentina closer to qualifying for the round of 32. They are scheduled to face Austria in Arlington, Texas on Monday, where Messi will be expected to make even more historic contributions.
