Key events<\/p>\n
85 mins: Aouar makes the most of Mac Allister contact and Algeria get a very good shooting opportunity on the edge of the box. Ideal for Mahrez\u2019s left boot.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n 84 mins: Mahrez tries to inject some energy into proceedings but there\u2019s not a lot happening in front of him.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 82 mins: This contest is now effectively over. It could hardly have gone better for Argentina<\/a>, or FIFA.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 80 mins: \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s an overreach to think that, in the decades to come, today will be looked back on as one of the most memorable days in WC history \u2014 the day Messi, Haaland and Mbapp\u00e9 each scored two or more,\u201d enthuses Pablo Silva Ibarra.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 79 mins: Two more subs for Algeria: Zerrouki and Boulbina seeing some junk time.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 78 mins: Job done, Messi receives a standing ovation as he takes a well-earned break, along with Romero. On comes another golden oldie in Nicolas Otamendi \u2013 and a rare Argentinian youngster, Nico Paz.<\/p>\n Photograph: Fran\u00e7ois Nel\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.47 EDT<\/p>\n Argentina break at speed. Messi controls the tempo like Patrick Mahomes in the Arrowhead pocket, firing the pass to his left, jogging forward to accept the one-two as Algeria\u2019s defence streams beyond him. From there it\u2019s vintage. A touch to steady himself then a sidefoot pass from 20 yards out just inside the post and away from Zidane\u2019s dive. The World Cup goals record now to go with the appearance record. What more is there left to say?<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Argentina 3-0 Algeria (Messi, 76)<\/p>\n GOAT.<\/p>\n Ok, this is getting silly. Photograph: Maja Hitij\/FIFA\/Getty Images Photograph: Michael Steele\/Getty Images Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko\/Reuters Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.44 EDT<\/p>\n 74 mins: The host broadcaster pans to Zinedine Zidane. The 1998 World Cup<\/a> winner shakes his head and looks on ruefully. He will need to be diplomatic when he catches up with his son later on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 73 mins: Penalty? Argentina\u2019s press forces an error and Alvarez is on it in a flash, sliding the ball across the top of the box for Messi. The veteran is slow to clear his feet and is bundled over before he get a shot away. The physical pressure was deemed legal onfield and VAR does not intervene.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 71 mins: Following an ad break Lisandro Martinez gives another couple of demonstrations of his class, stepping out of the heart of defence to intercept, then turning calmly under pressure to retain possession.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 69 mins: Aouar gets Algeria\u2019s first shot away in a long time, dragging a snapshot wide form the edge of the box after sharp interplay between Mahrez and Maza. You\u2019d have to think that pair will be critical if Algeria are to find points against Austria and Jordan later in the group. Their technical skill in the final third looks a class above the rest of the squad.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 67 mins: Algeria get on the ball for a spell, settling things down. It\u2019s all very passive and in front of the Argentinian defence, who drop into a compact narrow shape and keep their opponent\u2019s at arm\u2019s length.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 66 mins: Mbapp\u00e9 with a brace earlier, then Haaland, now Messi. The big boys have come to play today.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 65 mins: And that sentence almost ages instantly as Messi is slipped through, drawing a rare excellent save from Zidane to deny the hat-trick.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.29 EDT<\/p>\n 64 mins: Only Miroslav Klose has scored more World Cup<\/a> goals than Lionel Messi.<\/p>\n Miroslav Klose can probably say goodbye to his record at some point over the next few weeks. Photograph: Adrian Dennis\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.31 EDT<\/p>\n 63 mins: Three subs for Algeria now with Mahrez, Aouar, and Amoura all coming into the game. Hadj Moussa, Gouiri, and Boudaoui make way.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Long ball from E Martinez out to Messi on the left. He slips the ball in behind that Algeria clear as far as Mac Allister \u2013 who hammers low and hard from around 25m out. Zidane makes an almighty mess of it, spilling the effort straight into the path of Messi, who was loitering with intent for a classic poacher\u2019s tap-in.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.26 EDT<\/p>\n GOAL! Argentina 2-0 Algeria (Messi, 60)<\/p>\n He DOES do tap-ins!<\/p>\n The Kansas City chief! Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko\/Reuters Photograph: Fran\u00e7ois Nel\/Getty Images Photograph: Claudia Greco\/Reuters Photograph: Jay Biggerstaff\/IMAGN IMAGES\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.28 EDT<\/p>\n 60 mins: Magnificent interception by Mandi who saves a certain goal, sliding to deflect behind a De Paul cross from the right as Argentina<\/a> counter. Alvarez was waiting to stroke the ball home if that intervention had failed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 59 mins: \u201cWhat\u2019s going on with the weird patches on the pitch?\u201d asks Michael Meagher. \u201cWas there a massive thunderstorm before kick off?\u201d It has been cloudless in Kansas City all day. I think those evenly spaced patches emerged at half-time from some over zealous sprinkling.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 58 mins: Algeria get back in possession, looking for Maza to dictate play. He is tracked by Mac Allister wherever he goes, often double teamed with Fernandez too, but he works a one-two on the edge of the box and fashions a shot that\u2019s charged down by the human missile of Li Martinez.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 56 mins: Couple more subs for Argentina<\/a> with Alvarez and Gonzalez coming on for Almada and La Martinez.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 54 mins: La Martinez draws a save from Zidane, drilling the ball across the keeper on the angle but the son of a gun gets a strong palm to it \u2013 unlike earlier when he didn\u2019t cover himself in glory for Messi\u2019s opener.<\/p>\n Lautaro Martinez gets his shot away, Zidane gets down well to it. Photograph: Charlie Riedel\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.23 EDT<\/p>\n 53 mins: Li Martinez steps out of defence to intercept superbly, taking a little bit of Maza for good measure. Soon the ball is fizzed to La Martinez who shows superb control and skids the ball wide to De Paul in acres of space. He enters the box but fails to find a teammate when there was almost too much on. Decent opportunity goes begging.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 51 mins: Argentina<\/a> get a couple of repeat phases down the right and from the second Messi has time and space to pick his spot from the D cutting inside, but even he balloons his effort into row Z. It must be the ball, surely?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 50 mins: Excellent pass out of the back bypassing the press for Maza. The schemer takes possession and hurtles towards the Argentina<\/a> box, where he is dumped unceremonsionuly by his effective man marker Mac Allister.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 48 mins: Algeria enjoy some nice possession to start the half. There\u2019s a couple of nice crossfield switches and some neat interplay in front of the Argentina<\/a> defence but when they try to cut through there is no quarter given and Fernandez clears.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 46 mins: There is one change at the break with Molina coming on for Montiel at right back for Argentina<\/a>.<\/p>\n We\u2019re back under way for the second half. Photograph: Steph Chambers\/FIFA\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.12 EDT<\/p>\n A couple of you have written in to suggest Messi\u2019s foul on 30 mins <\/a>was worthy of at least a booking, possibly more. It looked innocuous in real time but replays do the goalscorer no favours with a couple of still frames showing his studs raking along A\u00efssa Mandi\u2019s Achilles. As Rob notes: \u201cAngels with dirty faces\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cRemember how Maradona seemed like he was from another era in USA \u201894?\u201d reminisces Thomas Jenkins. \u201cMessi is five years older than Maradona was in \u201894 and he\u2019s still clearly Argentina\u2019s best player. Madness.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Some half-time reading for you. Which, during a match dominated by Lionel Messi, could only be about\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Half-time: Argentina 1-0 Algeria<\/p>\n Lots of neat interplay from the defending champions, a Messi special to open the scoring, but Algeria are not out of this.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45+4 mins: Montiel gets the better of Ait-Nouri, who then takes Almada man and ball. Algeria seize the opportunity to spread the play and attack down the right through Hadj Moussa. His cross-shot bobbles near Gouiri but the striker isn\u2019t alert enough to the opportunity and he can\u2019t divert the ball towards goal.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45+3 mins: Lovely skill from Maza in midfield to weave around Mac Allister and set Algeria in motion. He\u2019s a talent the 20 year old Bayer Leverkusen playmaker.<\/p>\n Ibrahim Maza is not overawed by this occasion in the slightest. Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.56 EDT<\/p>\n 45+1 mins: The ball breaks kindly for Gouiri and Li Martinez has to step in and concede a corner. The delivery doesn\u2019t clear the first defender at the near post.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 mins: Chaibi accepts possession between the lines with his back to goal, spins, and shoots. You guessed it, it soars into orbit.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 44 mins: Vladimir Petkovic doesn\u2019t look too concerned in his technical area. While the scoreline contains just the one goal there\u2019s no need to panic.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 42 mins: Argentina<\/a> then get a rare break with space to run into. Almada takes the opportunity to have a potshot but like so so many this World Cup so far the ball flies miles over the bar. This is now a consistent theme. Is it a ball problem?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 40 mins: I realise I am rhapsodising over Argentina\u2019s pass-and-move one-touch football, but the truth is it hasn\u2019t led to many chances, let alone clear cut ones. Algeria remind them of the importance of creating them when they go up the other end and force a corner when E Martinez has to repel an angled drive from Gouiri at his near post. The corner is headed clear but the second ball is glanced wide.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 39 mins: Almada, Messi, Fernandez, lovely interplay, La Martinez gets involved too. Considering this is only the opening match Argentina<\/a> look in superb sync.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 38 mins: More brilliant close control from Messi on the turn, releasing the ball from a central area to the right. The cross is poor though and Algeria clear. Li Martinez is subsequently forced to slide across and win a 60-40 in his favour with the kind of physical challenge he relishes.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 36 mins: Almada is fouled about 40m out on the left so Messi tries to catch Zidane out with an opportunistic shot but mishits his free-kick too high.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 34 mins: De Paul instigates play down the right, with his long sleeves looking like a veteran of the 1978 title winning side. The attack gains momentum on the left through La Martinez but Algeria clear in the box.<\/p>\n Rodrigo De Paul plays the ball as Fares Chaibi closes in. Photograph: Juan Mabromata\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.42 EDT<\/p>\n 32 mins: Algeria get on the ball in Argentina\u2019s half for the first time in ages. They work the ball from side to side then look to attack down the right but Almada tracks back effectively.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 30 mins: Messi misplaces a pass, then commits a foul trying to win the ball back. He is by no means the passenger we might have expected out of possession.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 28 mins: Only when the ball is back with E Martinez do Argentina<\/a> spread the field. Otherwise it is like a small-sided training exercise. The composure in tight areas and confidence in the collective technical ability is something to behold. The ball is in perpetual motion, then in the final third the single touches become more extravagant and daring, but always effective. Algeria can\u2019t get near it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 26 mins: Messi is now the joint-third highest goalscorer in World Cup<\/a> history. And he joins Cristiano Ronaldo as the only men to find the back of the net in five different World Cups.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 24 mins: Time for a hydration break. That first quarter went according to plan for Argentina<\/a> \u2013 but only just, with a VAR offside check saving them from conceding the opening goal.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 22 mins: Messi works space from one of those rapier-like moves but his cross is overhit and Algeria clear. Argentina<\/a> are hungry in midfield though and soon with the ball back. The North Africans are now defending in a deep low block, scared of pressing for fear the defending champions will just play through them.<\/p>\n The Argentina fans up in the gods at Arrowhead are loving this. Photograph: Steph Chambers\/FIFA\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.29 EDT<\/p>\n 21 mins: Argentina<\/a> return to their game plan of working the ball around slowly and safely across their defence and midfield before darting forward like a fencer with razor sharp incisions.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 20 mins: That goal was exactly how Lionel Scaloni had drawn up on the training ground. Technical excellence from back to front and individual brilliance of historic proportions.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.24 EDT<\/p>\n 18 mins: Sometimes all the hype is actually worth it.<\/p>\n That was sublime from Lionel Messi. Photograph: Charlie Riedel\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.26 EDT<\/p>\n Argentina are looking almost exclusively for vertical passes through the lines with even Messi dropping deep to accept possession. The little genius does just that to start a move with a one-two then ghosts unchecked into space between the lines. A couple of passes later the ball is at his feet with room to turn, which he does, then takes a couple of steps to advance towards the penalty area before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed effort that arcs away from Zidane and into the top right corner. Brilliant.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Argentina 1-0 Algeria (Messi, 17)<\/p>\n You know the script.<\/p>\n Lionel Messi scores an outrageous opening goal for Argentina! Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko\/Reuters Photograph: Claudia Greco\/Reuters Photograph: Claudia Greco\/Reuters Photograph: Claudia Greco\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.25 EDT<\/p>\n 15 mins: Argentina\u2019s structure during build up play is very compact. They\u2019re looking to ping rondo-style passes in tight areas to unlock Algeria on the half-turn with very little space between the back four and the front three.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 13 mins: Argentinian songs rain down from the precipitous stands of Arrowhead Stadium as the team they are cheering on pad their possession stats. Eventually they work the ball through the lines on the left where Almada has an opportunity to do something decisive but he overhits his throughball to Messi when he may have been better off shooting.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 11 mins: Algeria with a free-kick on the left. They go short \u2013 and like London buses, Messi makes a second tackle of the game to dispossess Hadj Moussa. Even though their goal was ruled out, Algeria have gained confidence from the move and started to spray the ball around nicely in midfield.<\/p>\n