Argentina Player Ratings vs Algeria: Messi Sets World Cup Record with Stunning Hat-Trick

Messi Shines Bright as Argentina Starts World Cup With a Bang

Lionel Messi delivered an unforgettable performance, scoring three goals to lead Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Algeria. This stunning hat-trick allowed him to match Miroslav Klose's record of 16 World Cup goals, putting him at the top of the all-time scoring list.

The match was initially tense, with early goals called back for offside. But in the 17th minute, Messi broke the deadlock with a powerful strike that set the tone for the rest of the game. Algeria pressed hard but failed to breach Argentina’s solid defense.

A mistake by goalkeeper Luca Zidane on an Alexis Mac Allister shot gave Messi his second goal around the 60-minute mark. Then, with 10 minutes left, Messi curled a beautiful shot into the bottom corner, completing his first World Cup hat-trick and tying Klose’s record.

This night highlighted Messi’s enduring greatness and sent a strong message: Argentina is prepared to defend its 2022 World Cup crown.

The Moment That Stole the Show

“Miroslav Klose finally has some company.” — Sports Illustrated FC

Messi’s journey in the World Cup began 20 years ago, when he scored his first goal as an 18-year-old substitute during Argentina’s 6-0 win over Serbia in 2006. Tuesday’s opener was classic Messi — finding space between defenders, receiving a perfect pass from Rodrigo De Paul, and unleashing a thunderous shot past Zidane. This goal made Messi one of only two players to score in five different World Cups, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

The second goal came from opportunism after Zidane mishandled a shot, allowing Messi to tap in. That brace put him level with Brazil’s Ronaldo and ahead of Kylian Mbappé with 15 World Cup goals. His third was pure Messi — a curling finish that sealed his place in history.

Arrowhead Stadium witnessed a truly historic display from a legend playing in what may be his final World Cup.

Argentina Player Ratings vs Algeria (4-4-2)

• Emiliano Martínez (GK) – 7.0: Rarely tested, kept a clean sheet comfortably.
• Gonzalo Montiel (RB) – 6.8: Struggled early but improved after settling; lucky on an offside call against him.
• Cristian Romero (CB) – 7.2: Solid defensively and excellent with ball distribution.
• Lisandro Martínez (CB) – 7.7: Dominant, making crucial stops to thwart Algeria's advances.
• Facundo Medina (LB) – 7.2: Covered plenty of ground, steady defensively though possession play was basic.
• Rodrigo De Paul (RM) – 8.2: Silenced critics with a brilliant assist and all-around commanding midfield display.
• Alexis Mac Allister (CM) – 7.2: Reliable in possession and tireless in defensive duties.
• Enzo Fernández (CM) – 7.5: Played deep, controlled tempo, and acted as the team’s midfield orchestrator.
• Thiago Almada (LM) – 7.0: Strong start, faded slightly but overall effective.
• Lionel Messi (ST) – 9.7: Scored a historic hat-trick on his 200th cap, world-class throughout.
• Lautaro Martínez (ST) – 6.5: Minimal impact, denied a key chance by Zidane, substituted early in second half.

Substitutes' Contributions

• Nahuel Molina (46’ for Montiel) – 6.9: Defensively solid despite some errors in possession.
• Nicolás González (55’ for Almada) – 7.2: Injected pace and space exploitation, assisted Messi’s record-tying goal.
• Julián Alvarez (55’ for Lautaro) – 6.0: Limited time to influence the game as Argentina eased off.
• Nicolás Otamendi (80’ for Romero) – 6.5: Made important defensive contributions in brief cameo.
• Nico Paz (80’ for Messi) – 6.2: Came on late in a settled match, little impact.

Insights From the Ratings

Rodrigo De Paul reminded everyone why he's vital to this Argentine squad. His presence on the pitch was felt everywhere, combining sharp passes with grit. Wearing Argentina’s colors seems to lift his game.

Enzo Fernández looked much like the young star who shone at Qatar 2022, acting as a central figure who managed the flow of the game effortlessly.

Lautaro Martínez struggled to make an impression. Starting him raised eyebrows, and Julián Alvarez might get a chance to start in the next match against Austria.

Statistics Back Up Argentina’s Commanding Performance

Argentina’s defense was rock solid, not letting Algeria register a single shot on target. Messi alone contributed 1.03 xG out of Argentina’s total 1.23, outperforming expectations brilliantly.

On June 16, 2006, Messi became Argentina’s youngest World Cup scorer. Exactly 20 years later, he became their oldest, also setting the record as the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick.