Algeria’s teenage sensation Ibrahim Maza walked off the Arrowhead Stadium pitch with a mixture of frustration and awe after Lionel Messi’s record-equaling hat-trick crushed the Desert Foxes’ World Cup dreams.
The 20-year-old Bayer Leverkusen playmaker, affectionately nicknamed ‘Mazadona’ by fans for his excellent close control and creative spark, started for Algeria in their Group J opener but could only watch as the 38-year-old Argentine maestro single-handedly dismantled his side with goals in the 17th, 60th, and 76th minutes.
‘We Weren’t Completely Outplayed’
Speaking after the 3-0 defeat, Maza acknowledged the electric atmosphere but insisted the scoreline flattered the defending champions.
“Yes, of course, the atmosphere was incredible,” he told reporters. “I wouldn’t say they completely outplayed us; it was just about the start of the match.”
The Berlin-born midfielder, who has made 15 appearances for Algeria and scored two goals, pointed to a pivotal moment early in the contest that could have changed everything.
“If the goal we scored hadn’t been ruled offside, the game would have taken a completely different path—but yes, it was offside,” Maza conceded.
A Game of Fine Margins
That disallowed goal came in the eighth minute when Maza played in Farès Chaïbi, who slotted a low effort past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. VAR intervened, and the flag went up. Just three minutes earlier, Messi himself had a goal ruled out for offside—a chaotic opening that saw both number 10s denied by the narrowest of margins.
Maza, born to an Algerian father and a Vietnamese mother and valued at €40 million, has been one of Algeria’s brightest prospects. He had spoken before the match about his dream of “competing against his idol Lionel Messi”. That dream became a reality, but not on his terms.
‘That’s Just Typical Messi’
“And as you know, unfortunately, Messi managed to score a hat-trick, but that’s just typical Messi,” Maza added, his words carrying a sense of inevitability.
The treble was Messi’s first-ever World Cup hat-trick and took his tournament tally to 16, equaling Miroslav Klose’s all-time record. The reigning champions, who famously lost their 2022 opener to Saudi Arabia before going on to win the trophy, avoided any such upset this time.
What Lies Ahead
Algeria, who advanced from the group stage in 2014, now face a steep uphill battle in Group J, which also includes Austria and Jordan. Coach Vladimir Petkovic’s side showed defensive discipline for long spells and frustrated Argentina, but Messi’s ruthless efficiency proved decisive.
“We have to stay calm, think clearly,” Maza had said before the clash. Now, with two matches remaining, Algeria must regroup quickly if they are to keep their knockout-stage hopes alive. For Maza, the lesson is clear: on a night when history was being written, even the finest young talent could only watch and marvel at the greatness of the man he once dreamed of facing.
