Why So Many Israelis Are Rooting for Argentina (and Messi) at the 2026 World Cup
Messi's hat-trick had Israeli fans going wild - here's why Argentina has always held a special place in Israeli hearts.
Lionel Messi scored his first-ever World Cup hat-trick Tuesday as Argentina crushed Algeria 3-0 in Kansas City, and back in Israel, the reaction was electric.
Argentina jerseys are a common sight on Israeli streets on any given day. But during a World Cup, the Argentine-Israeli connection becomes something else entirely, a phenomenon rooted in history, immigration, and a shared passion that runs generations deep.
Israel is home to one of the largest Argentine Jewish diaspora communities in the world. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis trace their roots to Argentina, and for many of them, cheering for La Albiceleste isn't a choice, it's a birthright. During the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Israeli social media lit up with Argentine flags and Messi tributes. This time, with the tournament on home turf across North America and the games more accessible than ever, the love affair is only louder.
Tuesday night was the kind of performance that reminds you why.
Messi scored in the 17th, 60th, and 76th minutes, becoming the first man ever to appear in six World Cups, on his 200th international appearance for Argentina. The hat-trick moved him level with Miroslav Klose for the most goals in World Cup history, with 16.
His opening goal came from a trademark mazy run capped by a drive from the edge of the box, the power too much for Algeria keeper Luca Zidane, son of French World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane.
Seventeen of Argentina's 26 players on the roster were with the team in 2022, and 11 players who saw action in the opener also played in the World Cup final win over France. This is a team that knows how to win, and Israelis who lived through every agonizing minute of that Qatar final know it too.
For Israeli fans watching from home or traveling to matches across North America, the question of who to root for in a World Cup without Israel (the national team last qualified in 1970) is perennial. For a huge swath of the Israeli public, the answer has always been Argentina. And after last night, that answer just got a lot easier.