The atmosphere at Argentina’s opening match against Algeria felt reminiscent of iconic football venues like La Bombonera or El Monumental. Kansas City Stadium buzzed with nearly 70,000 Argentine fans, who passionately supported their team and celebrated their star player on Tuesday night.
And there was much to celebrate.
Argentina delivered an impressive performance, led by Lionel Messi, who marked his 200th international appearance with a remarkable hat-trick. This feat not only highlighted his prowess but also allowed him to equal Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the all-time World Cup goal record, standing at 16 goals. This achievement came shortly after France’s Kylian Mbappé had surpassed him with 14 goals.
Messi made history as the first male athlete to participate in six World Cups, a record likely to be matched by Cristiano Ronaldo as Portugal begins their tournament. Despite a recent muscle injury, any uncertainties regarding Messi’s fitness dissipated when he was named in Lionel Scaloni’s starting lineup, and he quickly proved his readiness once the match commenced.
Just five minutes into the game, Messi nearly scored the opener when he received a through-ball inside the box. His well-aimed shot was thwarted by assistant referee Tomasz Listkiewicz’s offside call, which was determined by a razor-thin margin. Shortly after, Algeria’s Farès Chaïbi experienced a similar fate, as his goal was disallowed for offside.
Messi wasted no time in giving Argentina the lead, finding the net in the 17th minute. After receiving a pass from his Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul from 40 yards out, Messi skillfully maneuvered three touches towards the goal. His powerful shot from the edge of the box eluded Algeria’s goalkeeper Luca Zidane, glancing off his fingertips and into the net.
One blemish on an otherwise stellar performance occurred in the first half when Messi escaped punishment for a reckless challenge, where he appeared to rake his cleats across Algerian defender Aïssa Mandi’s calf. Many believed he warranted a yellow card, or possibly even a red, but the incident went unpunished and was not reviewed.
Messi’s second goal came more easily than the first. In the 60th minute, a long-range shot from Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister was parried by Zidane directly into Messi’s path, allowing him to calmly convert from close range. Argentina’s defense was solid throughout the match, while Algeria struggled to find their footing.
The Argentine icon completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute, executing a classic finish that threaded the ball past three defenders and beyond Zidane’s reach. Shortly after this, Messi exited the match.
Both fan bases have been actively present in Kansas City and nearby Lawrence, Kansas, where Algeria will be based for the duration of the tournament. Thousands of Argentine fans gathered in a local park on Monday for a banderazo, filling the night with singing, chanting, and dancing. The excitement transitioned to the stadium on Tuesday, where the atmosphere was lively long before kickoff.
Despite being outnumbered, Algeria’s supporters stood out in Lawrence, where local residents warmly welcomed them. Vibrant pockets of green emerged amidst the blue-and-white of Argentina, as the underdog fans rallied behind their team.
Ranked 28th, Algeria aimed for a positive return to the World Cup after a 12-year hiatus, rejuvenated under head coach Vladimir Petković. Known for their energetic play during qualifying, glimpses of this style were evident at times, particularly towards the end of the first half. However, their lack of finishing touch left them at a disadvantage throughout the game.
Algeria’s next match against Jordan is now a must-win situation; they believe they have a better chance against Austria.
In the lead-up to Tuesday’s match, Scaloni had tempered expectations, going as far as to say that defeating the Desert Foxes was not imperative. He certainly recalls the 2022 opener when Argentina suffered an unexpected loss to Saudi Arabia, one of World Cup history’s biggest shocks.
Regardless of expectations, Scaloni will undoubtedly be satisfied with securing three points, bringing Argentina closer to advancing to the last 32. They will face Austria in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, where Messi will be expected to create more history.
