Lionel Messi scored in the 16th minute of Argentina's World Cup opener against Algeria, netting his 14th career World Cup goal, according to Israeli sports broadcaster Ben Goldfriend. The goal gave the defending champions an early lead in the match.
Lionel Messi scored in the 16th minute of Argentina's 2026 World Cup opener against Algeria on Wednesday, putting the defending champions ahead and notching his 14th career World Cup goal. Israeli sports broadcaster Ben Goldfriend reported the goal.
Messi's strike continues his record as Argentina's all-time leading scorer in World Cup competitions. As The Zioneer noted earlier today, Argentina opened their 2026 campaign against Algeria after warm-up wins over Honduras and Iceland in recent weeks. The match is being played at the tournament's opening stage.
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