Lionel Messi added another remarkable milestone to his legendary career on Tuesday night, producing a vintage display to inspire Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Algeria in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Argentine skipper was simply unstoppable in Kansas City, scoring all three goals as the defending champions undoubtedly began their title defence. In the process, Messi etched his name even deeper into football folklore by breaking a World Cup record previously held by longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
At 38 years and 357 days old, the Inter Miami forward became the oldest player ever to score a hat-trick at the World Cup. He surpassed Ronaldo’s record, set during Portugal’s memorable clash against Spain at the 2018 tournament, while also becoming the oldest player to score more than once in a World Cup match.
Messi set the tone early, calmly finding the net in the 17th minute before doubling Argentina’s lead shortly after halftime. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner then completed a memorable hat-trick in the 76th minute, sending the crowd into celebration as Algeria struggled to contain his brilliance.
The historic treble carried even more significance. Messi’s goals lifted his World Cup tally to 16, drawing level with German icon Miroslav Klose as the competition’s all-time leading scorer. It was another landmark achievement in a career already packed with records and trophies.
The evening also marked a pair of personal milestones for the Argentine captain. He became the first player in football history to appear at six FIFA World Cups and reached 200 international appearances for his country, further cementing his status among the game’s greatest-ever figures.
Argentina’s dominant victory places them at the top of Group J and reinforces their credentials as strong contenders to retain the trophy they won in Qatar four years ago.
For Messi, however, the night was about more than statistics. Nearly 20 years after making his World Cup debut, he once again demonstrated his ability to influence the biggest stage in football. With a crucial clash against Austria looming, the Argentine legend now stands one goal away from moving clear of Klose and claiming sole ownership of the World Cup scoring record.
