Lionel Messi once again made the difference as Argentina lead Algeria 1-0 at half-time in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener.
The Argentine captain struck in the 17th minute with a superb curling finish after a precise pass from Rodrigo De Paul. Messi had earlier seen a goal ruled out for offside as Argentina slowly took control.
At the break, Argentina dominated possession with 59% and completed 320 passes with 92% accuracy, compared to Algeria’s 41% possession and 244 passes at 93% accuracy.
Argentina managed one shot on target from two attempts, while Algeria failed to test the goalkeeper despite two efforts. The African side, however, won two corners and caught Argentina offside three times.
Despite the narrow lead, Argentina remain in control going into the second half, with Messi again the decisive factor.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
