Messi Hat-Trick Fires Argentina Past Algeria at 2026 World Cup, But VAR Controversy Overshadows Record-Breaking Night

Argentina opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup title defence with a 3-1 victory over Algeria in Group J on June 17, but the result has been heavily overshadowed by a refereeing incident that has dominated post-match discourse across the football world.

Lionel Messi was the architect of the win, completing a hat-trick that placed him level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose on 16 career World Cup goals — the most in the history of the competition. His first came in the 28th minute, a composed finish at the end of a team move. He doubled his tally just before half-time with a curled strike from the edge of the penalty area, and converted a penalty in the 67th minute to complete the treble and put the result beyond doubt.

Algeria were not without moments of quality. The Desert Foxes pulled a goal back through a well-taken second-half strike and were denied what appeared to be a legitimate equaliser after a marginal VAR offside ruling. The defending champions nevertheless controlled possession for extended periods and demonstrated the sharpness expected of a side protecting their title.

The central talking point of the evening, however, was a challenge in the 37th minute. Messi lunged into a studs-up tackle on Algeria captain Aïssa Mandi from behind, leaving the defender on the turf in visible pain. The incident was reviewed at length by the Video Assistant Referee, which ultimately determined no disciplinary action was warranted. Messi remained on the pitch.

The decision drew immediate and widespread criticism on social media. Spanish-language accounts were among the most vocal, with one widely shared post from @ArchivoVAR describing the challenge as “cleats digging into the back of Mandi’s calf, bending it with excessive force” and calling it a “clear direct red,” adding that “VAR, with absolute cowardice, decided to ignore the action.” Another user wrote that Messi is “the most protected player in the history of football” and that “any other player would have been sent off.” The English-language account @UtdBuzzz stated plainly: “No player is bigger than the World Cup. Lionel Messi should have been sent off.”

SuperSport Football also shared footage of the challenge on X, asking followers whether Messi should have been punished — a post that attracted significant engagement as clips of the Mandi incident continued to circulate.

The controversy arrives at a moment of historic significance for Messi, who is competing in his sixth and likely final World Cup at the age of 38. His tally of 16 World Cup goals surpasses the previous record held jointly with Klose, whose mark of 16 had stood since the 2014 tournament. Messi’s first half of the match alone represented one of the most technically accomplished individual performances of the tournament’s early stages.

For Algeria, the defeat represents a difficult start to their campaign, compounded by the frustration of the disallowed goal and the ongoing discussion around the Mandi incident. The North African side will need to regroup quickly as Group J continues.

Argentina’s next fixture will provide an early indication of whether this opening victory reflects genuine title-winning form or the benefits of a favourable draw. For now, the football world remains divided between recognising the scale of Messi’s achievement and scrutinising the officiating decision that allowed the night to reach its record-breaking conclusion.