Argentina vs Algeria Extended Highlights 🌎🏆 2026 FIFA World Cup™

As night falls in the loudest stadium in the world, it is bathed not in red tonight, but in surprisingly some very familiar names in this Argentina lineup.

Is that Kansas City or Buenos Aires, Missouri?This is a packed house full of Argentine fans to see the defending world champions take the stage.And it is a very familiar lineup from what they rolled out in that final just four years ago.Six starters, including Emiliano Martinez, the goalkeeper who played every single minute and was voted the best goalkeeper in that tournament.Alexis McAllister and Enzo Fernandez alongside Rodrigo de Paul, such a strong and familiar midfield.And Lionel Messi takes up that place on the right -hand side.

For Algeria, you've heard the guys talking about Lucas Zidane starting in goal, son of Zinedine Zidane, but really impressed at the AFCON end goal and gets the start.Tonight, their all -time appearance leader, Mandi in the back, making his 120th appearance.Some big names missing out from the starting lineup, Mares and Amora, both missing out, but very young players, exciting players in this team, including...

Had it knocked down, crossed it up to him.Martinez first shot of the game for save.Just by being on the field, he is setting a number of new records.The first man ever to play at six FIFA World Cups.Cristiano Ronaldo can join him in that tomorrow.Extending his own record, his 27th World Cup game, I should say.

Messi might be offside.He's in on Zidane.He puts it in.Flag goes.News to the Argentina fans here in Kansas City.

I think I'm offside, but we'll see.He makes a nice run.And it's going to be tight, that left foot.

An Algeria team that had the second most goals scored in African World Cup qualifying.Mazza, it's a great backdoor ball, it's a chance!for Odegaard!

Capable team, and that is tight with Oshaibe.He's offside there as he's leaning, but he catches Emiliano Martinez.He's starting to guess that he's going to the far post, and he catches him at the near post.And he is going to come back as well.He's just been announced by a referee to the crowd.The player is shielding the ball.

As we get a look back at the offside, we're going to zoom in and you can see as he's leaning forward, that part of his body just offside, narrow, just similar to the Messi one, in fact.

See the back from Alexis McAllister, trying to keep it poked away, but no real outlet forward for Algeria.Right up the gut, what a ball that is.Messi on the turn, options on his side.

Is exactly the space that they exploit.Quick ball from Defenders to get Messi on the half turn.Look at that.Little box midfield.No problem.Find Messi there, running in.

your back line.Good luck.Cuts onto the left foot.Still has a lot to do from outside the box.And he picks out that top corner.Sadam gets a touch on it.

But he doesn't stop that.Has two hands on it.Could be stronger with those two.But he gets shielded by a defender in front.And it's Lionel Messi.Mbappe with two.

Holland with two.And now Messi's on the board.

Down there for Nabil Bentaleb, rolls that through from the byline and Emiliano Martinez just beats it away.That was Shaibi there.Sweep in and take it away.Now Messi in transition the other way.Bentaleb trying to slow him up.Lionel Messi, Enzo Fernandez.

Golgali slows up the attack as it comes wide to Tiago Almada.And Almada's shot rising up in his dance.As he gets it away quick for Lautaro Martinez.For Golgali and now Hajimusa.Left to go in the half.Mazza wants it.

A little pump fake, trying to bring it in.Look at the jumpers, they're going to flex it and it bounced.Mameen Ghaleri couldn't get it under control and get a shot away.Messi popping up, picks it up, flips it in.That was the run there of Enzo Fernandez.Couldn't quite get it over the head of the defender.

Trying to play out under some pressure.It's one back on the outside.Messi on the turn, options around him.Lincey puts it over the bar this time.

Patrick Ramos in the center.

And down for Argentina.Algeria now.the other way.This little spot inside there for Hodge Moussa, but a better tackle to take him off of it.Back up on his feet on the far side as Messi carries forward.Latour Martinez making the run.

Latour Martinez on Mondese!And Don, rebound, third away.

This pass again from Messi.These are the positions they want.When the ball comes into him, they go.But he's everything in front of him.It's just a left arm swing there, catching.I was loose on the side of the face, and then it was a great save.

Well, Tom Martinez, now to his last action, and the man with whom he's battling for playing time, who's substitution, former Atlanta United star, being replaced by his Atletico Madrid teammate.Like we said with Spain yesterday, like we saw...I think they're a little quiet right now.

I think their team's been defending quite a bit.They need a little something to come to life.Maybe it's coming here.It doesn't take much.Here they come forward again.

Yeah, Julian Alvarez now furthest forward, and that was Nico Gonzalez waiting for it.It was...Monty the captain the most experienced player and see already a goal tonight 14th of his World Cup career into the near post from a Callister was blocked and then cleared away and see incidentally Last fall was credited with breaking the all -time international record for assists as well for all the goals that he scored It's got an awful lot of assists as well as he clips that in I was gonna get there fires it in looking for Julian Alvarez Clarence only as far as Alexis McCallister the decks and all the sameThe World Cup's all -time top goal scorer, Messi with two, Argentina with two, total control for the defending champions.

And just watch this from Messi.He's on the move as everybody else is standing still.He just anticipates the play.He's starting wide and as it comes out, eventually to McAllister.Look at Messi on the left.He's moving towards the goal as the shot comes off.

So he's just anticipating that there might be a chance.And there is a chance.And then he has to have the composure, even in that moment, to have a look at Zidane, which way is he going to go?He lays out to the right, and Messi just passes it into the back of the net with his right foot.That ball is moving, swerving.It's a tough one for Zidane.

And he spills it.And that's not the man you want to spill it to.Six yards out.That ball is in the back of the net, and it's Lionel Messi's second.

We take the break now.Looks like the subs are gonna come first, and they're dancing in their party again here as you rightly phrased it, Buenos Aires, Missouri.Sandoval replaces Nduri, Nduri is off for Amora, and Ria Mares is on for Anis Hajmusa.They're gonna go.They have the quality to run this score up.Even Algeria can't even really get the ball.

McAllister rolls it through, Messi looking for a hat -trick, Messi saves it all!Just like that!Well, it's a strong hand from Zidane.He controls on the other side.He just rolls it in.Top of the box, through traffic.

Pulled just wide.There's a law there with a chance.As we go into the break, it's a little...Zidane showing a little bit of footwork there.

Pinging one out with his left foot.So, this is an Algerian team that I think don't want to let this run away.

Messi didn't hear the footsteps.He's at a penalty, that's what they're shouting.Simone Martignac says no.Here's the first of all, look at this.

Yeah, that's a tough replay for me to really say, just because it's a slow -mo, it's slowed down, you don't see the force of the contact coming in, but it was...

Paul, a little pocket of space, Alvarez running outside, Messi running inside, out it goes, Nicole Gonzalez, Lionel Messi, Lionel MESSI!

with his 16th World Cup from another planet.Enjoying while he's still playing.The best to do it and he's showing you why.Space on top of the box.Calls his own number as he has done so many times.And just finds that corner.

Listen to this crowd.

We're going to send you down to our right to Rob Stone here in Kansas City.And it finishes Argentina 3, Algeria 0.