Argentina began its campaign in Group J with a decisive 3-0 victory over Algeria. The win was largely driven by a hat-trick from Lionel Messi, marking a significant performance for the reigning champions. This achievement ties Messi with Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer. The match served as the opening contest for Argentina in this year’s competition. Algeria struggled to contain Messi’s offensive prowess throughout the game. The result establishes Argentina as an early favorite in their group. The team will look to build on this momentum in subsequent matches.