Alexis Mac Allister hailed teammate Lionel Messi following his sensational hat-trick in Argentina's 2026 FIFA World Cup opener vs Algeria on June 17. The Liverpool midfielder claimed that Argentina play in a way which brings the most out of their biggest superstar.
What happened?
Lionel Messi shattered several records as he completely demolished Algeria to secure the reigning world champions the best possible start to their World Cup defence. He extended his lead at the top for most appearances in the FIFA World Cup, having now featured in 27 games.
Messi's brilliant hat-trick has now made him the joint-highest scorer in the history of the FIFA World Cup, tied with German legend Miroslav Klose with both scoring 16 goals in the tournament. Alexis Mac Allister said: “There are no longer words to describe him. Today, it’s clear that Leo is the most important of all. We tried to build a team so that he feels comfortable.”
Why it matters for Alexis Mac Allister
The Argentina midfielder added: “It was what we expected, necessary. In the last World Cup, we didn’t start in the best way but we ended up winning it. Today, we were able to start by winning.” This win marks a great start to their FIFA World Cup defence.
Lionel Messi has also broken his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo's record of being the oldest player to score a hat-trick at the World Cup. Ronaldo was 33 when he achieved the record, while Messi is now 38 years of age. Messi has also become the holder of the joint-highest scorer from outside the box in World Cup history with five goals.
What comes next?
Cristiano Ronaldo will start his sixth World Cup campaign tonight against DR Congo. Should the Al-Nassr forward find the back of the net during the tournament, he will become the first player to have scored in six World Cups. Alexis Mac Allister and Argentina will look to continue their winning streak in the upcoming matches.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star scored in the 17th, 60th and 76th minutes, respectively. Lionel Scaloni's side have made a dream start to their FIFA World Cup defence and their biggest superstar, Lionel Messi, has been at the heart of it. Alexis Mac Allister will be crucial in supporting Messi throughout the tournament.
Alexis Mac Allister and Argentina will face their next challenge on June 22. The team is confident after their win against Algeria and will look to continue their winning streak. With Messi's hat-trick, Argentina has sent a strong message to their opponents in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.