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Messi hat-trick gets Argentina rolling
Lionel Messi turned back the clock in Argentina’s opening game. He scored all three goals in a 3-0 win over Algeria on 17/06/2026. His first came on 17 minutes, a calm finish to settle the holders.
Messi struck again on 60 and 76 minutes to complete the hat-trick. It was a reminder that he can still decide a World Cup game on his own. Argentina barely had to get out of second gear.
The win put Argentina top of Group J. They look comfortable and hard to stop. Algeria, beaten without scoring, must regroup quickly.