Argentina began its title defense in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with an impressive performance on Tuesday night at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The reigning champions achieved a commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria, largely thanks to a historic performance by 38-year-old captain Lionel Messi.
He opened the scoring 17 minutes into the match and added two more goals in the 60th and 76th minutes, completing his first-ever World Cup hat trick. This feat tied him with Miroslav Klose for the all-time tournament record with 16 goals. The achievement ignited a frenzy among the large crowd outside the stadium, creating a deafening roar that could be heard far beyond Missouri.
Following his remarkable performance, Messi took to Instagram to share his thoughts with his global audience. He posted a photo from the match, accompanied by an emotional caption celebrating the team’s collective effort.
He wrote, “Feliz por el comienzo, agradecido por el cariño, y muy orgulloso de ver a este grupo volver a competir como viene haciéndolo todos estos años.”
(Translated: “Happy with the start, grateful for the affection, and very proud to see this group compete again the way it has been doing all these years.”)
The heartfelt message instantly resonated with millions of fans around the world, reflecting his deep gratitude for their support and his immense pride in watching his team perform fiercely on the global stage.
In addition to his social media post, Messi conveyed a powerful message to the traveling Argentine fans, who transformed the home of the Kansas City Chiefs into a vibrant sea of baby blue.
He expressed deep appreciation for their incredible energy and noted how moving it was to see over 80,000 supporters filling the stadium. Messi emphasized that the unwavering support of the Argentine people is a vital source of motivation for the team as they strive to defend their world title.
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