Nigeria's Super Eagles are no longer the African team that has suffered the most goals from Lionel Messi after the Argentina captain produced a record-breaking display against Algeria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Soccernet.ng reports.
Messi scored all three goals as defending champions Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 in their opening Group J match at Kansas City Stadium on Tuesday night. The hat-trick not only handed Lionel Scaloni's side a perfect start to their title defence but also pushed Algeria above Nigeria on Messi's list of favourite African opponents.
Before the match, Messi had scored three goals in four appearances against the Super Eagles, all coming in World Cup meetings. However, his latest treble means he now has five goals in just two matches against Algeria, making the Desert Warriors the African nation he has punished most in his international career.
Messi rewrites history on milestone night
The encounter was packed with drama from the opening minutes. Messi thought he had given Argentina the lead in the fifth minute when he beat goalkeeper Luca Zidane, but a VAR review ruled the effort out for offside.
Algeria believed they had responded three minutes later through Farès Chaïbi, only for VAR to intervene again and disallow the goal for another offside infringement.
Argentina, not considered favourites to win the World Cup by Calvin Bassey, eventually broke the deadlock in the 17th minute. Rodrigo De Paul found Messi outside the box, and the 38-year-old curled a powerful left-footed effort from about 25 yards into the top-right corner.
Messi struck again on the hour mark. Alexis Mac Allister tested Zidane with a fierce drive from distance, and after the goalkeeper spilled the ball, Messi reacted quickest to convert the rebound and make it 2-0.
The Argentine icon completed his first-ever World Cup hat-trick in the 76th minute, on a night he set multiple new records. After exchanging passes with Mac Allister near the edge of the penalty area, Messi glided into space before guiding a trademark left-footed finish into the corner.
With the result secured, he was substituted in the 80th minute for Nico Paz and received a standing ovation from the crowd of 69,045 spectators.
Algeria surpass Nigeria's Super Eagles in Messi's African scoring charts
Messi's latest performance further strengthened an already remarkable record against African opposition.
His first meeting with Algeria came in June 2007 during an international friendly at Camp Nou in Barcelona. Then only 19 years old, Messi scored twice in Argentina's thrilling 4-3 victory. Nineteen years later, his World Cup hat-trick in Kansas City added three more goals, taking his tally against Algeria to five goals from only two matches.
Nigeria had previously occupied top spot on that list. Messi faced the Super Eagles four times, mostly in high-pressure World Cup contests. He failed to score in their 2010 World Cup clash in South Africa, but netted twice in Argentina's 3-2 group-stage victory in Brazil in 2014. He then added another memorable goal in the decisive 2-1 win at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The hat-trick also delivered several historic milestones. Messi moved onto 16 World Cup goals, drawing level with Miroslav Klose as the competition's joint all-time leading scorer. He surpassed Pelé's long-standing record for total World Cup goal contributions, became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick at 38, and marked exactly 20 years since his first World Cup goal against Serbia and Montenegro in 2006.
Argentina finished the match with six shots on target from nine attempts, while Algeria failed to register a shot on target despite enjoying 53 percent possession. The victory sends Argentina to the top of Group J and sets up their next fixture against Austria in North Texas.
While Nigeria are absent from the 2026 World Cup, the Super Eagles have now surrendered another unwanted distinction to Algeria, with Messi's historic night ensuring the Desert Warriors replace them as the African side he has scored against most often.
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