A true madness was experienced in the Buenos Aires Market in Van Nuys, where hundreds of Argentine fans went from the initial shock of a disallowed goal against Algeria, to the consolidation of a convincing 2-0 victory against Algeria.

“Messi is a genius, today he achieved a spectacular triplet,” described Pamela Castro, born in Buenos Aires. “When they scored the goal [by Algerian Fares Chaibi, in the 6th minute] I felt like my heart was coming out.” The score was disallowed for offside, just as Lionel Messi's goal was disallowed a minute earlier.

“Messi again,” said Jennifer Grana, who said that her parents, Margarita and Erasmo Grana, brought her from Argentina to the United States as a child. “Many said that the World Cup in Qatar [2022] had been the last thing he would do and look, he put the national team on his back.”

Lionel Messi, 38 years old, is the top star of Major League Soccer with Inter Miami. He became the hero of the team led by Lionel Scaloni, after beating Luca Zidane, goalkeeper of Granada FC, who is the son of the legend Zinedine Zidane, three times.

Messi, winner of eight Golden Balls, six European Golden Shoes and eight times named FIFA's best player, sparked madness every time he touched the ball and the fans thanked him for the magic of his privileged left foot.

“The best thing Argentina has is Messi,” said Agustín Occhiuzzo, owner of a car rental business in Los Angeles. “I think we have an excellent team to defend the World Cup.” He was accompanied at the Buenos Aires Market in the San Fernando Valley by his girlfriend, Honey Kim.

Leonel Scaloni's Albiceleste team obtained its twelfth victory in its last 17 games in the group stage of the World Cup. He conquered it at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

"Oleé, Oleé, Oleé. Argentina, I love you more every day!", the loud voices of the Albiceleste fans sang a thousand times.

And to the rhythm of the batucada presented by the Iranians and James Majid with drum and tambourine they sang: "Come on, let's go Argentina. Come on, let's win because this quilombera bar won't let you, it won't stop encouraging you!"

“The team is on the field, the game has already started, the stadium shakes, every time Argentina scores a goal,” while the young Israeli Coby Niego, son of an Argentine mother, danced in the middle of the tables of the restaurant, which had overcapacity, in the first game of Group J.

Fernando Rincón, son of Mexican parents, who attended the event with his family and children, praised Argentina's "terrific" performance.

“They did what they wanted with Algeria because they want to be champions again, and I think they are going to achieve it,” he said.

"Messi is almost my age. I don't know how he does it, but football is a gift. He is the skull of the team. May God prevent anything from happening to him because we need him," said Francesco Molica, a native of Buenos Aires.

He added that, beyond Messi's individuality, he also became Argentina's leader in Kansas City as he led it to win the World Cup in Qatar.

For Molica, owner of a bartender company in the San Fernando Valley, the truth about Argentina will come in the direct qualifiers.

“For now we are stable, but we go game by game, with a cool head and humility,” he said, while mentioning the teams of France, Portugal and Brazil as the most dangerous rivals for Argentina.

"They are serious rivals, but Brazil and Germany remain especially strong. Nobody should be underestimated," he concluded.

And, to celebrate the night at the Mercado Buenos Aires restaurant, he and his friends, Frank Andino, Alex Gattas and Eri Arrieta, ordered a classic Argentine barbecue with Malbel 2022 red wine.

Argentina's next match will be on June 27 against the Jordan team.