For Lionel Messi, Argentina's greatest figure, the key to the success with which the Albiceleste started the 2026 World Cup was the willingness, dedication and unity that exists within the Argentine national team, but above all the unity in the locker room that placed it as a special force on the field of play.

This was revealed by Messi himself at the end of the game where he managed to tie the record for most goals scored in the history of the World Cup with the German Miroslav Klose, with 16 scores, after the hat trick that led to the first victory of the 2026 World Cup for the squad led by Lionel Scaloni.

Messi was especially moved after scoring in the 17th minute, precisely 20 years after making his World Cup debut when he managed to beat the son of the legendary Zinedine Zidane, who acted as Algeria's goalkeeper and did not have a good performance.

"This is to enjoy with my family and this is for the people. Thanks to my teammates, we are very happy and I will enjoy it with the locker room, which is united and very strong," Messi said in statements to television after finishing the match. The Argentine star also referred to the fact of playing in his sixth World Cup and said that the key is that he feels in good physical shape and that he has the support of his teammates: “Luckily I feel good.” Regarding the events of the duel against Algeria, he indicated: "It is important to win the first game and doing it this way is better. We got ahead in the first half and in the second we made a relevant difference." Finally, he sent a message to the Argentine fans: "I know that in Argentina it is crazy. I want to thank the people who always follow us and make a great effort; I know the effort they make to always be there. They were in Qatar and now in the United States; people make a great effort and I am very happy."

Messi's interaction with Argentina fans has gone from less to more, because after being highly questioned in his first four World Cups for not having been able to guide the Albiceleste to the title, after Qatar 2022, in which they were crowned by beating France, there is now a romance between both parties, especially after adding 200 games with his country's national team.