World Cup 2026 Golden Boot standings: Harry Kane rivals Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland - The early race for top scorers honour is heating up with every game

Lionel Messi began Argentina’s 2026 World Cup campaign wearing a shirt almost as decorated as his career. Against Algeria, the details stood out immediately.

The Argentina icon avoided a red card and went on to score a hat-trick.

Lionel Messi, who is representing Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is still able to make magic happen on the soccer field. Argentina's opening match came against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

Spain's coach stayed coy on Yamal's health ahead of a must-win vs Saudi Arabia, but had plenty to say about the Messi comparisons.

While the Messi family confirmed that the star player's father is in delicate health, they also slammed those spreading rumors about the situation.

Lionel Messi was at the centre of a 2026 World Cup row after Argentina's 3-0 victory against Algeria. Now, the 39-year-old could potentially be involved in another.

Lionel Messi raised eyebrows with his emotion after scoring against Algeria. The Messi family didn't appreciate the speculation.