Lionel Messi scored his first World Cup hat-trick as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 in Kansas City. The victory tied Messi with Miroslav Klose on 16 men’s World Cup goals and gave Argentina a perfect start to its title defense.
What happened in the match?
Messi’s performance arrived in Argentina’s Group J opener at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It was his first-ever hat-trick in the tournament and his 200th international appearance for Argentina.
Why is this historic?
The hat-trick made Messi the joint all-time top scorer in men’s World Cup history with 16 goals. He also became the first player to appear in six men’s World Cups, adding another layer to the record night.
Reports also highlighted that Messi is now the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick. That detail underlined how rare the achievement is, even for a player with his career record.
How did Argentina control the game?
Argentina looked sharp from the start and turned Messi into the focal point of its attack. His movement between the lines created space, while Algeria struggled to contain the tempo once the first goal went in.
The result reflected both Messi’s finishing and Argentina’s structure under Lionel Scaloni. Reuters noted that Scaloni had already described Messi as fundamental to the reigning champions, and the match validated that view.
What records did Messi break or match?
Messi also moved ahead in total World Cup goal contributions, passing Pelé’s benchmark in that category, according to ESPN. That makes the night even more significant beyond the headline hat-trick.
What does this mean next?
Argentina now carries strong momentum into the rest of the group stage. For Algeria, the focus shifts quickly to recovery and defensive organization after a difficult opening match.
The bigger story, though, is Messi’s continued relevance at 38 years old. Even late in his career, he remains capable of deciding the biggest games on the biggest stage.
