Messi fires Argentina ahead as Algeria scare champions early

Last updated: 17 June 2026, 11.42am AEST

Argentina opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J campaign against Algeria at Kansas City Stadium on Wednesday morning AEST, with Lionel Messi scoring in the 17th minute after two early goals had already been ruled out for offside. The defending champions led 1-0 after 35 minutes, but Algeria had given them a proper fright when Fares Chaibi briefly thought he had scored inside the opening 10 minutes.

For Australian viewers watching live and free on SBS or following updates online, it was the kind of World Cup start that makes the coffee feel unnecessary. Messi, now 38, turned a cagey opening into a headline moment with a left-footed strike that curled beyond Luca Zidane.

The Full Story

The match began at a measured pace, with Argentina settling into a compact 4-3-3 shape and trying to move Algeria around through short, tight passing. Messi was stationed on the right of the front three, but he dropped deep to connect play and even won the ball back in his own half inside the opening minutes.

There was almost an instant dream start for Argentina when Messi chipped Luca Zidane after five minutes, only for the assistant referee to flag him offside. Algeria then produced their own shock moment when Ibrahim Maza found Fares Chaibi, whose finish beat Emiliano Martinez at the near post. VAR intervened, and the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside.

That chaotic spell gave the match its edge. Argentina had possession, but Algeria showed they could hurt the champions if Maza found space between the lines and Chaibi timed his run. The warning mattered because Algeria were not simply sitting in and hoping. They were trying to pass through midfield when they had the chance.

Then Messi changed the mood. In the 17th minute, he received the ball centrally, turned into space and advanced towards the edge of the area before striking left-footed into the top-right corner. The Guardian live blog described the finish as an unstoppable effort, while Nine's live coverage said Luca Zidane had no chance.

Who's Involved

Lionel Scaloni started Lautaro Martinez alongside Messi, with Julian Alvarez on the bench. Argentina's midfield featured Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Thiago Almada, while Cristian Romero was fit to start in defence.

Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic made a notable call by starting Anis Hadj Moussa and leaving Riyad Mahrez on the bench. Luca Zidane, son of France great Zinedine Zidane, started in goal while wearing a protective face mask after recovering from a severe jaw and chin fracture suffered while playing for Granada in April.

Ibrahim Maza was one of Algeria's bright early figures, helping create the move that almost gave the North African side a lead. Chaibi finished that chance well, but the offside call kept the score level until Messi struck.

By the Numbers

Messi's goal carried more than scoreboard weight. The sources state he was playing his 200th match for Argentina and his 27th World Cup match, while also appearing at a record sixth World Cup.

The goal was listed as his 14th World Cup goal. According to the live coverage, it also made him Argentina's youngest and oldest goalscorer at a World Cup, a quirky marker that neatly captures the span of his international career.

Argentina were trying to become only the third nation to defend a World Cup title, after Italy in 1934 and 1938 and Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Algeria, meanwhile, entered the tournament in Group J alongside Argentina, Austria and Jordan.

What This Means

This was not just another Messi clip for the highlights reel. Argentina began the match trying to prove that their older core still has enough rhythm, pressing bite and technical control to defend the title won in Qatar. The early phases showed both sides of that argument: Argentina could suffocate Algeria with possession, but one sharp Algerian move nearly flipped the match.

For Algeria, the opening half-hour offered encouragement even with the scoreline against them. Petkovic's side were brave enough to play through Maza and Chaibi when the chance came, and the ruled-out goal showed Argentina's defensive line could be tested by well-timed movement.

For fans in Australia, the immediate angle is simple: this match is available on SBS On Demand, and it sits in the same early-tournament window as Australia's own World Cup story. The Socceroos' 2-0 win over Turkey was already drawing attention in US coverage, and Argentina's opener adds another measure of where the tournament's heavyweights are tracking.

What to Expect

Argentina and Algeria still have Group J matches to play against Austria and Jordan. Business Insider's guide says Argentina will play Austria on Monday, June 22, while Algeria will play Jordan later that night.

The match itself was still live in the supplied sources, so the final score was not available from the provided material. The confirmed picture at the latest update was Argentina leading 1-0 after Messi's 17th-minute goal.