Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to lead Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Algeria in their Group J opening match of the 2026 World Cup on September 6. The match took place at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, in front of 69,045 spectators [1, 2].
At 38 years old, Messi appeared in his record-breaking sixth World Cup and became a joint-highest scorer in the tournament’s history following his three goals in this match [1, 2]. He is also an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time [1, 2].
The electric atmosphere in the stadium reflected Messi’s global appeal. Fans traveled from across the world, with some paying up to US$10,000 for trips to watch him play in Kansas City. One fan, Andy Xu, said, “This is my first time watching Messi. Every football fan grew up watching Messi on TV and now that I can afford to watch him at a World Cup, I knew I had to do it. I hope he makes some magic today” [1].
The journey was long for some. For example, flights from Guangzhou to Kansas City totaled around 16 hours, underscoring the lengths fans went to witness the opening match [1, 2].
Messi will celebrate his 39th birthday on June 24, 2026. The next fixture in Group J is scheduled soon, where Argentina will look to build on their dominant start in the tournament [1, 2].
