Lionel Messi scored a remarkable goal in Argentina’s opening match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Algeria. The goal broke a tie during the first matchday of Group J. Details regarding the specifics of the goal describe it as a powerful left-footed shot – a “zurdazo” in Spanish. This marks Argentina’s first competitive game since winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The match serves as the beginning of their campaign to qualify for the 2026 tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The game took place on the first day of qualifying matches for the tournament.