Nahuel Molina Follows Messi's 17th-Minute Goal in 1-0 Start

Nahuel Molina was part of the story as Lionel Messi opened Argentina’s World Cup 2026 debut against Argelia with a goal in the 17th minute. The strike came from outside the area and sent Argentina into halftime with a 1-0 lead.

Messi And De Paul

Rodrigo De Paul controlled the ball in midfield before slipping it to Messi, who took it on his left foot, turned and moved toward the Argelia penalty area. From there, he finished into the upper corner beyond Luca Zidane.

The goal was not only the first of the match, it was also captured from a new angle. Szymon Marciniak recorded it using FIFA’s referee body-camera system, which the governing body had already put in place for World Cup matches before the tournament.

Marciniak’s Camera Angle

The device sits at ear level and is meant to make decisions more transparent, punish unsporting conduct and give spectators a different view of match action. Here, it caught the kind of finish that usually gets seen only from the broadcast sideline or behind the goal.

Marciniak was no stranger to the biggest stage. He handled the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, when Argentina beat France on penalties.

Luca Zidane In Goal

Argentina’s opener also put Luca Zidane in the frame. The Argelia goalkeeper, born in France and now with Granada in Spain, chose to represent Argelia through his family roots. He is the son of Zinedine Zidane and trained in Real Madrid’s youth system.

For Argentina, the immediate detail is simple: the lead held through halftime. For viewers, the first World Cup 2026 glimpse of the new referee-camera setup arrived on a goal from Messi, and it will be the angle people remember from the opening stretch of the match.