Messi's hat-trick crushes Algeria, Zinedine Zidane heads to dressing room to support his son

Algeria endured a nightmarish opening to the 2026 World Cup, beaten 3-0 by Argentina in Kansas City on a hat-trick from Lionel Messi. A one-sided encounter, marked by numerous defensive errors and a collective lack of inspiration.

Luca Zidane became one of the targets of criticism after the match. The Algerian goalkeeper failed to intervene on several decisive moments: a Messi strike in the first half, a poorly parried shot from Rodrigo De Paul, then another long-range attempt from the Argentine forward. His performance unfolded against a backdrop of generally poor defending.

Present in the stands to watch the match, Zinedine Zidane reportedly made his way to the dressing room area to offer support to his son and attempt to rally the squad, according to several sources including Fennec Football. His message was reportedly unambiguous: do not give in to panic and quickly focus on the rest of the competition.

The 1998 World Cup winner reportedly stressed the importance of mental and physical recovery before the next two matches, deemed crucial for the Fennecs’ qualification hopes. He also reportedly urged the players not to be overwhelmed by outside criticism, asking them to defer any assessment until the end of the tournament to preserve group cohesion.

This intervention, perceived as strong moral support at a delicate moment, illustrates the pressure now weighing on an Algerian squad with their backs against the wall from the very first group-stage match.