Lionel Messi started his 2026 FIFA World Cup in remarkable fashion by scoring a long-range screamer for Argentina against Algeria in Kansas City on Tuesday.
This was Messi’s 118th goal for Argentina in international football and his 14th in World Cups, drawing him level with Gerd Mueller and Kylian Mbappé.
In the 17th minute, midfielder Rodrigo De Paul made a line-penetrating pass to find Messi in the final third. The Argentinian talisman turned towards the goal, walked a few steps ahead and fired the ball into the top right corner.
Published on June 17, 2026
