Lionel Messi delivered yet another unforgettable performance on the World Cup stage, scoring a sensational hat-trick against Algeria as Argentina kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in style. The Argentine captain, who became the first footballer ever to feature in six World Cups, once again proved that age has done little to diminish his impact on the game.
The three-goal display carried historic significance. Messi’s tally of 16 World Cup goals now equals the record set by German legend Miroslav Klose, making them joint-highest scorers in tournament history. It was also the first World Cup hat-trick of Messi’s illustrious career, adding another remarkable achievement to an already legendary résumé.
Despite turning 39 later this month, Messi showed no signs of slowing down. He controlled the tempo of the game, found pockets of space with ease and constantly troubled Algeria’s backline. His influence was evident from the opening stages, and each of his three goals highlighted the quality that has defined his career for nearly two decades.
The result provided Argentina with the perfect start to their title defence and served as a warning to the rest of the tournament contenders. Once again, Messi demonstrated that he remains the driving force behind Argentina’s ambitions on football’s biggest stage.
A masterclass from Messi
Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a brilliant strike from outside the penalty area, giving Argentina an early advantage and electrifying the crowd. The goal set the tone for the evening and reinforced his reputation for producing moments of magic when it matters most.
Argentina carried a 1-0 lead into halftime, but Messi had much more to offer after the break.
He doubled the advantage in the 60th minute, calmly finishing from close range following a well-crafted team move. Sixteen minutes later, he completed his hat-trick with another outstanding effort, effectively ending any hopes of an Algerian comeback.
The feat also saw Messi become the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick at 38 years and 357 days, surpassing the previous record held by Cristiano Ronaldo.
With the match firmly under control, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni withdrew Messi in the 80th minute. The substitution was greeted with a standing ovation from the crowd in Kansas City, who rose to acknowledge another historic display from one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen.
Having already secured the result and with a long tournament ahead, Argentina opted to manage their captain’s workload carefully. Yet by the time he left the field, Messi had already delivered a performance that will be remembered as one of the standout moments of the World Cup.
