The Algeria national football team lost to Argentina 3-0 in the first round of the group stage in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Lionel Messi scored Argentina's three goals in the 17th, 60th, and 76th minutes of the game. Messi became the top scorer in the history of the World Cup, with 16 goals, equaling the record of former German player Miroslav Klose. The Algerian team lost for the eighth time in the biggest tournaments in the world, having suffered seven defeats during the 1982, 1986, 2010, and 2014 editions. Notably, Lionel Messi played his 200th game with his national team, becoming one of the most capped players internationally, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Bader Al-Mutawa. In this context, the loss of the Algerian national football team to Argentina is a disappointing result, especially after the team's good performance in the qualifiers. Now, the Algerian team awaits its next match in the group stage, where it will face a strong opponent in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.