Unstoppable Messi hits another high with Selección’s solid support

It wasn't the beauty that moved us in Argentina's World Cup 2026 debut. It wasn't a great collective performance and, if we're looking for flaws, we could say the team is again overly dependent on Messi, as it did in years past. But we must also acknowledge that incredible kid from Rosario, who has shed many of the burdens that once weighed him down and made fools of all of us again: the Algerians, certainly, but also those who once dared to criticise him.

What can you even say about this footballing beast, who is on the verge of turning 39 and keeps breaking records? To begin with, he surpassed Ángel Labruna's mark in the last friendly – Messi became the oldest player ever to score for Argentina and every goal he scores from now on will simply extend his own record.

He has also become the first footballer to play in six World Cups. His debut came exactly 20 years ago, also on June 16, in an extraordinary 6–0 thrashing of Serbia and Montenegro.

And then there is his staggering achievement of reaching 16 World Cup goals, matching the record held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose. France’s Kylian Mbappé had hoped to overtake it and moved closer to doing so with two goals in his opening match of this 2026 tournament. But well, Leo caught up thanks to the three he scored against Algeria. We'll see how that race develops in the next round.

Beyond Messi, Argentina played and beat Algeria 3–0 in a scoreline that doesn't really reflect the flow of the match. Coach Lionel Scaloni's side didn’t create a lot in front of goal, apart from a few offside situations and some attacks that fizzled out before they could be finished properly. Their only four clear chances were Messi's three goals and a one-on-one that Algeria keeper Lucas Zidane managed to turn away for a corner.

Argentina relied on possession and short passing, convinced that keeping the ball is the best form of defence. They controlled the tempo of the game, despite a few lapses and mistakes that were immediately corrected by the team's defensive solidity and the willingness of every player to help a teammate in trouble.

Were there moments of carelessness? Yes. Eight minutes into the first half, for example, when Algeria found the net – but the goal was ruled offside. There were also a few other attempts from the men in green, all comfortably handled by Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez. Aside from dealing with a few cutbacks that ended in corners, the World Cup-winning goalkeeper had little to do beyond linking up with his teammates and attempting the occasional long ball.

Argentina are gradually finding their rhythm in a World Cup that remains difficult to predict. Starting with a victory – and a comfortable one at that – is extremely important. At this point during the opening match of the Qatar World Cup, we were all wondering what had happened after another team in green, Saudi Arabia, had ended Argentina's 36-match unbeaten run.

Scaloni's players move the ball well, keep possession and can hurt opponents on the counter-attack. If we compare them to past defending champions, it's worth remembering that Argentina lost to Belgium in 1982 and to Cameroon in 1990. Granted, those were different World Cups, with stronger competition and fewer teams. But that is something only older fans and football historians tend to remember. 

Scaloni's Argentina still possess all the qualities that crowned them champions in Qatar 2022 – qualities that neither César Luis Menotti managed to preserve in 1982, nor Carlos Salvador Bilardo in 1990.

A very good start for Argentina, led by this unstoppable Messi. If anyone thought he would merely be a ceremonial figure or just a dressing-room leader, they may have to wait until the 2030 World Cup.